The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2014-06-25.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many paramilitary prisoners were released on licence after the Belfast Agreement of 1998.
Baroness Randerson
Northern Ireland Office officials are currently undertaking a consolidation exercise with officials in the Northern Ireland Prison Service to confirm the answer to this question. I will write to the Noble Lord once this exercise has been completed.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2015-02-11.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Randerson on 10 February (HL4725) relating to invitations to a briefing on 3 February about Northern Ireland, if such invitations were delivered why Lord Laird did not receive such communication; and why Lord Maginnis of Drumglass was invited only when he complained to the Northern Ireland Office; and whether they will supply a complete answer to the original question and list those Members of the House of Lords who were invited and explain why the question was not answered in full.
Lord Wallace of Saltaire
Invitations to the briefing for Peers on 3 February were delivered to the House of Lords by a Northern Ireland Office official on 23rd January.
Invitations were issued to the following Peers, including Lord Laird and Lord Maginnis of Drumglass:
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The Lord Alderdice |
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Rt Rev the Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells |
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The Lord Bew |
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The Baroness Blood MBE |
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Rt Hon the Lord Brooke of Sutton Mandeville CH |
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The Viscount Brookeborough DL |
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The Lord Browne of Belmont |
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Rt Hon the Lord Browne of Ladyton |
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Rt Hon the Lord Carswell |
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Rt Hon the Lord Cope of Berkeley |
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The Baroness Crawley |
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The Lord Dubs |
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Rt Rev the Lord Eames OM |
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The Lord Empey |
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The Lord Feldman of Frognal |
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The Lord German OBE |
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The Lord Glentoran CBE DL |
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The Baroness Harris of Richmond DL |
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The Lord Hay of Ballyore |
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The Baroness Healy of Primrose Hill |
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The Lord Hylton |
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Rt Hon the Lord Kilclooney |
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The Lord King of Bridgwater |
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The Lord Laird |
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The Lord Lester of Herne Hill QC |
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The Lord Lexden |
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The Lord Lyell DL |
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The Lord Maginnis of Drumglass |
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The Lord McAvoy |
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Rt Hon the Lord Mawhinney |
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Rt Hon the Lord Mayhew of Twysden QC DL |
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The Lord Morrow |
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The Baroness O’Cathain OBE |
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The Baroness O’Loan DBE |
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The Baroness O’Neill of Bengarve CBE FBA |
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The Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale |
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General the Lord Ramsbotham GCB CBE |
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Rt Hon the Lord Reid of Cardowan |
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The Lord Rogan |
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Rt Hon the Baroness Royall of Blaisdon |
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The Lord Shutt of Greetland |
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Rt Hon the Baroness Smith of Basildon |
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Professor the Lord Smith of Clifton |
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Rt Hon the Lord Tebbit CH |
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The Lord Temple-Morris |
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Rt Hon the Lord Trimble |
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The Lord Willis of Knaresborough The list has been compiled of Peers known to be from Northern Ireland or who have shown an interest in its affairs, primarily through Parliamentary business or correspondence. Any Peers not included on this list who have an interest in Northern Ireland Affairs are invited to contact the Northern Ireland Office to be added to future invitations. |
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2015-02-11.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many officials work in each section of the Northern Ireland Office.
Baroness Randerson
The number of staff working in each business group of the Northern Ireland Office in January 2015, the latest period for which figures are available, is shown below:
|
Business Group |
Number of Staff |
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Senior Management |
6 |
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Business Delivery |
40 |
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Security and Protection |
31 |
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Legacy |
23 |
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Community Engagement |
15 |
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Economic Constitutional and Political |
19 |
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2015-02-11.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Randerson on 10 February (HL4487), concerning the state of human rights in the Republic of Ireland, what steps they have taken to ascertain that the government of the Republic of Ireland is and has been carrying out those sections of the Belfast Agreement to which it agreed in 1998.
Baroness Randerson
I have nothing to add to my previous answer of 10 February to the Noble Lord.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2015-09-17.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been the amount of each year’s budget for the Northern Ireland Parades Commission since its establishment.
Lord Dunlop
The Parades Commission is responsible for the management of its own budget and, in line with the Public Processions Act (NI) 1998, it is also responsible for the publication of its Annual Report and Accounts. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is responsible for ensuring that the annual report is laid in Parliament. The total expenditure for the Parades Commission for each year since its establishment in 1998 is listed below:
Financial Year (£000s)
2015/16 810 (projected)
2014/15 969
2013/14 916
2012/13 1,373
2011/12 958
2010/11 1,023
2009/10 1,032
2008/09 1,130
2007/08 1,062
2006/07 1,740
2005/06 1,460
2004/05 1,166
2003/04 1,292
2002/03 1,296
2001/02 1,308
2000/01 1,138
1999/2000 1,055
1998/99 1,147
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2015-09-17.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have discussed, or plan to discuss, with the Northern Ireland Parades Commission the case for making public, along with each decision it makes, (1) a full disclosure of evidence received, including from whom it was received, and (2) all other factors involved in the Commission’s determination; and if not, why not.
Lord Dunlop
This Government has had no discussions with the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland regarding the disclosure of evidence received, or on any other factors which are into account when making determinations.
This is an operational matter for the Commission acting independently of Government.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2014-06-17.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what searches have been undertaken to find the missing files on pre-1998 Northern Ireland royal prerogative of mercy cases; how many are absent; where the paperwork would normally be filed; and whether such paperwork is passed to the National Archives on a routine basis after 30 years.
Baroness Randerson
Before 1998, the use of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy (RPM) in Northern Ireland was relatively common since this pre-dated a number of statutory schemes which enabled sentences to be shortened for various reasons, for example where evidence had been given by prisoners to enable others to be convicted. The overwhelming majority of RPM cases during this period were not terrorist-related.
The Northern Ireland Office continues to seek information on the use of the RPM between 1987 and 1997, including through contacts with other parts of Government which might hold relevant information.
The NIO takes its records management responsibilities seriously and is compliant with all public records legislation and National Archives guidance. This includes routine reviews of records, compliance with records disposal schedules and transfers of records at 30 years to the National Archives.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2014-06-17.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to review electoral law in Northern Ireland in relation to postal voting; what are the major differences from the law in England; and whether they have any plans to enable those over 80 years of age, on application and verification, to have automatic permanent postal votes.
Baroness Randerson
The system of postal voting in Northern Ireland is kept under regular review, both by the Government and the Chief Electoral Officer and Electoral Commission. Legislative amendments will be brought forward shortly with the introduction of anonymous registration which will permit electors with an anonymous entry on the electoral register to vote by post. These provisions will come into force on 15 September 2014.
Postal votes are issued to electors in Northern Ireland who are unable to vote in person at their polling station on Election Day as a result of certain specified conditions. These conditions relate to disability, work or study circumstances. This is different to Great Britain where postal voting is offered on demand and electors are not required to provide a reason for why they are unable to vote in person.
There are no plans to enable those over 80 years of age to have automatic permanent postal votes. However, permanent postal votes are available to all electors who are unable to attend their polling station on a permanent or long-term basis on the grounds of disability; their (or their husband’s, wife’s or civil partner’s) work; or their (or their husband’s, wife’s or civil partner’s) studies.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2014-06-17.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 17 December 2013 (WA 189), what was the text of the Somali nationality law which required in the case of Mohammed Ahmed Mohamed the loss of Somali nationality on his naturalisation as a British citizen.
Lord Taylor of Holbeach
The following is a direct quote from Article 10 of the 1962 Somali nationality law which governed loss of Somali citizenship – Any Somali citizen who:
a) having established his residence abroad, voluntarily acquires foreign country (sic);
b) having established his residence abroad, and having acquired, for reasons beyond his will, foreign citizenship or the status as subject of a foreign country, declares to renounce foreign citizenship;
c) being abroad and having accepted employment from a foreign Government or voluntarily serving in the armed forces of a foreign country, continues to retain his post, notwithstanding the notice from, the Somali Government that, unless he leaves the employment or the service within a definite period of time, he shall lose Somali citizenship; shall cease to be a Somali citizen.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2014-06-17.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Warsi on 25 January 2011 (WA 132), what were the final overall installation costs of the Divis transmitter which enables the broadcasting into Northern Ireland of TG4, and of the new low-power television multiplex; what were their annual running costs in the last three years; which government paid what costs; and in which departmental budget they are accounted for.
Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The capital costs for the installation of the analogue transmitter at the Divis site to carry Telefis na Gaeilge (TG4) services are as set out in the reply by Baroness Rawlings on 25 January 2011 (Column WA132). The operational costs of broadcasting TG4 services in analogue from the Divis site were met by Foras na Gaelige. These arrangements ended with digital switchover on 23 October 2012.
Since 23 October 2012, TG4 services in Northern Ireland have been carried on the new Northern Ireland Multiplex. These arrangements were made under the Memorandum of Understanding between the Governments of UK and Ireland in February 2010 which sets out a framework for co-operation on broadcasting issues in Northern Ireland. Under this arrangement, the Northern Ireland Multiplex carries RTE 1 and RTE 2 services as well as TG4. DCMS meets one third costs of the multiplex (including transmission services) with RTE meeting the remaining two thirds of costs. The costs since October 2012 are shown in the table.
2012-13 £149,984.84
2013-14 £264,211.45