Asked by: Lord Weir of Ballyholme (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what (1) discussions they have had, and (2) steps they have taken, to ensure that (a) policing of demonstrations of active support, (b) arrests, and (c) prosecutions, in relation to Palestine Action are carried out in a consistent manner throughout all parts of the UK.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The police are operationally independent of Government and have significant experience in policing protests and ensuring proscription orders are implemented fairly and in line with legislation. The police, through the College of Policing, also review and formulate guidance to ensure that the law is consistently applied in every part of the UK and by every police force. The Home Office also maintains regular contact with policing to ensure that there is appropriate oversight as the police carry out their statutory duties.
Decisions on arrests and prosecutions in relation to Palestine Action are a matter for the police and the prosecuting authorities in England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Palestine Action was proscribed under the Terrorism Act 2000 (TACT), which clearly states what constitutes proscribed activity (including in support of a proscribed group). The law is applicable in all parts of the UK.
The Government is absolutely clear that support for proscribed organisations is unacceptable. The proscription of Palestine Action does not diminish the right to lawfully protest or support Palestinian rights. This government upholds the democratic right that people must be free to express their views, but they should do so within the bounds of the law.
Asked by: Lord Weir of Ballyholme (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many Troubles-related criminal cases are pending to appear in court or currently being processed against (1) members of proscribed terrorist organisations and (2) veterans of the security forces.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
While ongoing prosecutions are a matter for the independent Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland, it is the Government’s understanding that there are nine ongoing Troubles-related prosecutions.
Of those nine prosecutions, six fall in the republican category, one in the loyalist category, one in the former police category and one in the military category.
Asked by: Lord Grocott (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government which organisations are currently designated as terrorist organisations by (1) the UN Security Council, and (2) the United Kingdom.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
There are a number of organisations designated as terrorist organisations by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) under United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1267, ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions. A list of these is publicly available at the UK Sanctions List.
UN Sanctions List: scsanctions.un.org/pnz54en-all.html
UK Sanctions List: docs.fcdo.gov.uk/docs/UK-Sanctions-List.html
The list of proscribed organisations is publicly available on the GOV.uk website and was last updated in April 2024. 81 terrorist organisations are currently proscribed in the UK under the Terrorism Act 2000, with an additional 14 Northern Ireland related terrorist organisations proscribed under preceding legislation.
The information requested is available at this link: Proscribed terrorist groups or organisations - GOV.UK
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what information his Department holds on Ulster Volunteer Force discussions on disbanding; and what recent steps he has taken to encourage the disbanding of terrorist organisations in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
We are aware of recent media coverage of this issue. Monitoring of the continuing threat posed by proscribed organisations in Northern Ireland is a matter for the Police Service of Northern Ireland and security partners who continue to work to keep the people of Northern Ireland safe. The UK Government remains committed to the Fresh Start Agreement goal of a society free of paramilitarism, including through the disbandment of all paramilitary organisations and their structures. Paramilitarism was never justified in the past and it isn’t justified today.
Paramilitary groups and the individuals involved in them cause harm to their communities in ways that are obvious - such as violent attacks - and in ways that are less obvious - using intimidation and fear to exert influence and control. They hold their own communities back, deter investment and jobs and prevent people from moving forward with their lives.
The UK Government supports the NI Executive’s Tackling Paramilitarism Programme, which is working to tackle the presence of paramilitaries through evidence-based early interventions, targeted law enforcement measures and initiatives that provide direct support to help build safer communities resilient to paramilitarism. The UK Government has committed to provide 50% of the funding for the Programme - approximately £8m per year - through to March 2025.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the report entitled Paramilitary Groups in Northern Ireland, published on 19 October 2015, what recent assessment his Department has made of whether that report's assessment of links between the Provisional IRA and Sinn Fein is still accurate.
Answered by Steve Baker
The ‘Paramilitary Groups in Northern Ireland’ report was published in 2015 by the UK Government in order to provide a factual assessment from the UK security agencies and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) on the structure, role and purpose of paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland.
The PSNI and security partners continue to work to keep people safe. The IRA, including the Provisional IRA, remains a proscribed organisation under the Terrorism Act 2000.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland, and (2) the relationship between the IRA Army Council and Sinn Féin.
Answered by Lord Caine - Shadow Minister (Northern Ireland)
An Assessment of Paramilitary Groups in Northern Ireland was commissioned in 2015 by the UK Government in order to provide a factual assessment from the UK security agencies and the PSNI on the structure, role and purpose of paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland.
The Independent Reporting Commission (IRC) was established to report on progress towards ending paramilitary activity connected with Northern Ireland, and to report on and inform the implementation of the NI Executive’s Action Plan for Tackling Paramilitary Activity, Criminality and Organised Crime. The Fourth Report of the IRC is available here:
It is a matter of public record that the structures of a number of paramilitary groups still exist in Northern Ireland - that includes the Provisional IRA.
The IRA, including the Provisional IRA, remains a proscribed organisation under the Terrorism Act 2000. Where any criminality exists, I am clear that it should be dealt with fully by the police.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government which organisations are proscribed under Schedule 2 to the Terrorism Act 2000 due to their association with terrorism in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
As set out under Schedule 2 of the Terrorism Act 2000 and published on gov.uk, the following groups linked to Northern Ireland Related Terrorism are proscribed:
Continuity Army Council
Cumann na mBan
Fianna na hEireann
Irish National Liberation Army
Irish People's Liberation Organisation
Irish Republican Army
Loyalist Volunteer Force
Orange Volunteers
Red Hand Commando
Red Hand Defenders
Saor Eire
Ulster Defence Association
Ulster Freedom Fighters
Ulster Volunteer Force
Asked by: Stephen Farry (Alliance - North Down)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what protocols his Department has on holding meetings with people reported to be associated with proscribed organisations.
Answered by Robin Walker
The names of the participants that attended this meeting from the Loyalist Communities Council is in the public domain.
The Northern Ireland Office will continue to engage widely to ensure that the UK Government is able to meet its objectives in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the statement of 13 February 2020 made by Chief Constable of the PSNI at the NI Assembly Justice Committee, whether the role of determining the status of the Provisional IRA resides with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
Answered by Robin Walker
In 2015, the UK Government commissioned the Assessment of Paramilitary Groups in Northern Ireland in order to provide a factual assessment from the UK security agencies and the PSNI on the structure, role and purpose of paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland.
As the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers, made clear at the time, this assessment was specifically intended to inform then ongoing cross-party talks. The IRA, including the Provisional IRA, remains a proscribed organisation under the Terrorism Act 2000.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent assessment he has made of the status of the Provisional IRA.
Answered by Robin Walker
In 2015, the UK Government commissioned the Assessment of Paramilitary Groups in Northern Ireland in order to provide a factual assessment from the UK security agencies and the PSNI on the structure, role and purpose of paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland.
As the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers, made clear at the time, this assessment was specifically intended to inform then ongoing cross-party talks. The IRA, including the Provisional IRA, remains a proscribed organisation under the Terrorism Act 2000.