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1609336

registered interest
date	30/03/2023
answering body	Northern Ireland Office
answering dept id	21
answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
hansard heading	Public Expenditure: Northern Ireland
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will take steps to clarify the funding that will be allocated through NIO direction to Northern Irish Departments for (a) NHS waiting lists in Quarter 1 2023/24 (b) air connectivity to Derry/Londonderry (c) Easter school holiday lunches and (d) rural community transport.
tabling member constituency	North Down
tabling member printed	Stephen Farry
uin	177940
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/04/2023 answer text <p>In the absence of functioning devolved institutions, Northern Ireland Office officials continue to work with their counterparts in the Northern Ireland Executive Department of Finance on the budget allocations for the 2023-24 financial year. Based on the Northern Ireland budget position for the 2022-23 financial year, the expectation is that balancing the 2023-24 budget will be extremely challenging.</p><p> </p><p>The UK Government recognises that there will be impacts on people and businesses in Northern Ireland as a result of the difficult decisions needed in order for Northern Ireland Executive departments to live within their budgets. It remains the UK Government’s firm view that the right people to make these decisions are locally elected politicians in a fully functioning Northern Ireland Executive and local Assembly. In the absence of these, it will be for the relevant Northern Ireland Executive departments to manage their funding, in accordance with powers provided under the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act 2022.</p> answering member constituency Wycombe answering member printed Mr Steve Baker question first answered 17/04/2023 10:05:32 answering member 4064 label Biography information for Mr Steve Baker
tabling member	4856 label Biography information for Stephen Farry

1609371

registered interest
date	30/03/2023
answering body	Northern Ireland Office
answering dept id	21
answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
hansard heading	Northern Ireland Office: Disability
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what proportion of their Department's employees are recorded as having a disability.
tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
uin	177872
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/04/2023 answer text <p>As of January 2023, of the 74.2% of staff working in the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) who have completed their disability declaration information, 9.2% shared they had a disability. 4.9% of those who have declared their information have reported they ‘prefer not to say’. This data is completed anonymously by employees via our online HR system (SOP).</p><p> </p><p>The Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2022 maintains our focus on mainstreaming the delivery of inclusion and achieving our key priorities as outlined in the Declaration on Government Reform. We will continue to build a more inclusive Civil Service going further than the current Equality Act provisions by building on and expanding a previous focus on Protected Characteristics to deliver for all of our people. Incorporating a broader definition of diversity (such as socioeconomic, work experience and geographic backgrounds) and embedding activity in our strategic priorities will enable the successful delivery of our corporate objectives. Disability remains a focus of this work and we continue to identify and remove barriers affecting disabled colleagues.</p><p> </p><p>Representation of disabled staff is increasing at all grades, whilst this trend is positive, we remain committed to improving the representation of disabled colleagues across our workforce and in particular at our most senior grades.</p><p> </p><p>All main Government departments have Disability Confident Leader (level 3) status on the Government’s Disability Confident Scheme, the highest level of accreditation. The scheme gives employers the tools to recruit, retain and develop disabled people, and acts as a catalyst for continuous improvement.</p><p> </p><p>The Civil Service Workplace Adjustment Service is well established, offering specialist advice and access to a review route for disabled employees experiencing difficulties in securing the adjustments they need. The service includes a Workplace Adjustment Passport to facilitate the seamless retention of adjustments on a change of line manager, job role or move between business areas or departments.</p><p> </p><p>We will continue to target action where gaps persist.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wycombe answering member printed Mr Steve Baker question first answered 17/04/2023 13:52:13 answering member 4064 label Biography information for Mr Steve Baker
tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1606180

registered interest
date	22/03/2023
answering body	Northern Ireland Office
answering dept id	21
answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
hansard heading	Windsor Framework
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Windsor Framework on Northern Ireland's place in the Union.
tabling member constituency	Broadland
tabling member printed	Jerome Mayhew
uin	904199
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/03/2023 answer text <p>The Windsor Framework protects and strengthens Northern Ireland’s place in our Union and this will be reinforced by the changes we are making to domestic legislation.</p><p>As well as ensuring goods available on the shelves in Great Britain are able to move freely to Northern Ireland, the agreement safeguards Northern Ireland’s place in the UK internal market through agreements on medicines, VAT and State aid.</p><p>The agreement ensures that Northern Ireland will benefit from the same VAT and alcohol taxes as apply in the rest of the United Kingdom.</p><p>With the agreement, we have restored sovereignty by putting the people of Northern Ireland in charge and eliminating the democratic deficit.</p><p>Northern Ireland’s businesses have access not only to the UK market, but also to the European single market and the agreement provides Northern Ireland with excellent opportunities for economic growth. In so doing it supports the prosperity of both Northern Ireland and the whole of the UK.</p><p>As Tony Blair recently noted, political stability is the best way to protect the union between Northern Ireland and Great Britain and by fixing the problems with the Protocol and restoring the delicate balance inherent in the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, we have provided a sound basis for Northern Ireland to move forward economically and politically as an integral and prosperous part of the United Kingdom.</p> answering member constituency Daventry answering member printed Chris Heaton-Harris question first answered 23/03/2023 11:31:48 answering member 3977 label Biography information for Chris Heaton-Harris previous answer version 64341 answering member constituency Daventry answering member printed Chris Heaton-Harris answering member 3977 label Biography information for Chris Heaton-Harris
tabling member	4739 label Biography information for Jerome Mayhew

1606181

registered interest
date	22/03/2023
answering body	Northern Ireland Office
answering dept id	21
answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
hansard heading	Renewable Energy: Northern Ireland
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on support for renewable energy in Northern Ireland.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	904202
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/03/2023 answer text <p>Energy is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland, and that is why it is vital that an Executive is restored to take important decisions such as this on behalf of the people of Northern Ireland.</p> answering member constituency Wycombe answering member printed Mr Steve Baker question first answered 22/03/2023 14:19:53 answering member 4064 label Biography information for Mr Steve Baker
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

1606182

registered interest
date	22/03/2023
answering body	Northern Ireland Office
answering dept id	21
answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
hansard heading	Motor Sports: Northern Ireland
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will take steps to support a bid for a round of the World Rally Championship series to be hosted in Northern Ireland in 2024.
tabling member constituency	Buckingham
tabling member printed	Greg Smith
uin	904203
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/03/2023 answer text <p>Northern Ireland is a fantastic place to host international events, but tourism is devolved in Northern Ireland and therefore this is not something within the control of the Northern Ireland Office.</p> answering member constituency Wycombe answering member printed Mr Steve Baker question first answered 22/03/2023 14:21:07 answering member 4064 label Biography information for Mr Steve Baker
tabling member	4778 label Biography information for Greg Smith

1606183

registered interest
date	22/03/2023
answering body	Northern Ireland Office
answering dept id	21
answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
hansard heading	Cost of Living: Northern Ireland
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps his Department is taking to support women in Northern Ireland with the cost of living crisis.
tabling member constituency	Blaydon
tabling member printed	Liz Twist
uin	904205
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/03/2023 answer text <p>We have taken decisive action to help UK households tackle increases in the cost of living. Women across Northern Ireland will benefit from our package of measures, including energy bill support and support for the most vulnerable, including an additional £900 Cost of Living Payment in 2023-24 for households on means-tested benefits.</p> answering member constituency Wycombe answering member printed Mr Steve Baker question first answered 22/03/2023 14:22:11 answering member 4064 label Biography information for Mr Steve Baker
tabling member	4618 label Biography information for Liz Twist

1606184

registered interest
date	22/03/2023
answering body	Northern Ireland Office
answering dept id	21
answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
hansard heading	Livestock: Transport
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the movement of livestock between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.
tabling member constituency	North Antrim
tabling member printed	Ian Paisley
uin	904206
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/03/2023 answer text <p>The Windsor Framework respects that for decades the island of Ireland has been treated as a single epidemiological unit, meaning that there have been additional requirements for the movement of livestock. These include identification requirements, health certificates and the physical inspection of animals by vets.</p><p> </p><p>In 2021, technical easements were agreed with the EU to simplify livestock moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Defra is working closely with the livestock sector to ensure movements can continue with as little friction as possible.</p> answering member constituency Wycombe answering member printed Mr Steve Baker question first answered 22/03/2023 14:23:46 answering member 4064 label Biography information for Mr Steve Baker
tabling member	4129 label Biography information for Ian Paisley

1605909

registered interest
date	21/03/2023
answering body	Northern Ireland Office
answering dept id	21
answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
hansard heading	Bus Services: Northern Ireland
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to ensure the continuation of Easilink bus services in rural areas in Northern Ireland in the next financial year.
tabling member constituency	Foyle
tabling member printed	Colum Eastwood
uin	170763
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/03/2023 answer text <p>Transport is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland. The Department for Infrastructure has the responsibility for matters relating to the provision of rural community transport services in Northern Ireland.</p><p> </p><p>In the absence of functioning devolved institutions, Northern Ireland Office officials are working with their counterparts in the Northern Ireland Executive Department of Finance on the budget allocations for the next financial year. Based on the Northern Ireland budget position for the 2022-23 financial year, the expectation is that there will be impacts on people in Northern Ireland as a result of the difficult decisions needed in order for Northern Ireland Executive departments to live within their budgets.</p><p> </p><p>It remains the UK Government’s firm view that the right people to make these decisions are locally elected politicians in a fully functioning Northern Ireland Executive and Northern Ireland Assembly. In the absence of these, it will be for the relevant Northern Ireland Executive department, in this case, the Department for Infrastructure, to manage its funding including provision for rural community transport.</p> answering member constituency Wycombe answering member printed Mr Steve Baker question first answered 28/03/2023 08:52:10 answering member 4064 label Biography information for Mr Steve Baker
tabling member	4846 label Biography information for Colum Eastwood

1606044

registered interest
date	21/03/2023
answering body	Northern Ireland Office
answering dept id	21
answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
hansard heading	Northern Ireland Office: Billing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the proportion of invoices his Department paid to small and medium-sized enterprises within five days in (a) the 2021-2022 financial year and (b) each of the last 12 months.
tabling member constituency	Feltham and Heston
tabling member printed	Seema Malhotra
uin	170625
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/03/2023 answer text <p>All Government Departments publish payment performance quarterly showing the percentage of invoices paid in 5 days, the percentage of invoices paid in 30 days, and net debt interest liability. This is available on GOV.UK. The Northern Ireland Office’s payment performance is available at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/search/transparency-and-freedom-of-information-releases?parent=northern-ireland-office&amp;keywords=prompt%20payment&amp;organisations%5B%5D=northern-ireland-office&amp;order=updated-newest" target="_blank">NIO Prompt Payment Data Link</a></p><p> </p><p>In addition, in accordance with regulation 113 of the Public Contract Regulations 2015, Contracting Authorities are required to publish annually the percentage of invoices paid in 30 days online. This is available as part of the annual report for 21/22:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-northern-ireland-office-annual-report-and-accounts-2021-to-2022" target="_blank">Annual Report and Accounts 21/22</a></p><p> </p><p>The Procurement Bill, currently passing through Parliament, will create a simpler and more transparent procurement regime that will further open up public procurement to SMEs. The Bill includes a new duty on contracting authorities to have regard to the particular barriers facing SMEs. Specifically, the Procurement Bill will imply 30 day payment terms into every sub-contract that is substantially for the purpose of performing a public contract. This will ensure SMEs at every tier of the public supply chain can benefit from faster payments, even if 30 day terms aren't explicitly written into the contract.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wycombe answering member printed Mr Steve Baker question first answered 28/03/2023 10:37:17 answering member 4064 label Biography information for Mr Steve Baker
tabling member	4253 label Biography information for Seema Malhotra

1605411

registered interest
date	20/03/2023
answering body	Northern Ireland Office
answering dept id	21
answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
hansard heading	Gender Based Violence: Northern Ireland
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Department of Justice on steps to (a) reduce violence against women and girls and (b) encourage women and girls to report incidences of violence.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	169287
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2023 answer text <p>The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland recently visited Women’s Aid Federation NI and the Foyle Family Justice Centre in Derry-Londonderry in support of their crucial work.</p><p> </p><p>It is disappointing that Northern Ireland remains the only region of the UK without a dedicated strategy to tackle violence against women and girls. The UK Government supports ongoing work by Northern Ireland departments to develop strategies tackling violence against women and girls, and domestic and sexual abuse. It is vital that the Northern Ireland Executive is restored to implement these strategies.</p> answering member constituency Wycombe answering member printed Mr Steve Baker question first answered 27/03/2023 10:34:27 answering member 4064 label Biography information for Mr Steve Baker
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon