Written questions by Burghart.

When he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar dated 27 October 2025.

I replied to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar on 13 November 2025 by email.

How much funding he has allocated to the Finucane Inquiry.

As I outlined in my oral statement of 11 September 2024, I considered the likely costs and impact of the Patrick Finucane Inquiry on public finances. It is the Government’s expectation that the Inquiry will avoid unnecessary costs given all the previous reviews and investigations and the large amount of information and material that is already in the public domain. Public inquiries regularly publish financial reports on their expenditure in the course of their work.

With reference to his oral contribution of 26 February 2025, Official Report, column 763, by when he plans to have signed a memorandum of understanding with the Irish government on their co-operation with the Omagh Inquiry.

The Government has the deepest sympathy for all of those affected by the Omagh bomb in August 1998. It was a terrible atrocity committed by the Real IRA at a time when the people of Northern Ireland were looking to a future without violence, causing immeasurable damage to the families who lost loved ones and those who were injured.I welcome the Irish Government's public commitments to cooperate with the Omagh Bombing Inquiry, through the memorandum of understanding which will be agreed directly between the Inquiry and Irish Government in the coming weeks. The Inquiry is independent of Government, however as sponsoring Minister, I see this as a positive step in enabling the Inquiry to fulfil its important role.

When he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar dated 5 December 2024.

I replied to the Honourable Members letter on the 23rd December by email.

When he plans to publish the terms of reference for Intertrade UK.

I confirmed the appointment of Baroness Foster as the chair of Intertrade UK on 19 September and work is continuing on other necessary preparatory activity. We will announce further details - including the Terms of Reference - in due course.

With reference to paragraph 4.140 of the Autumn Budget 2024, published on 30 October 2024, HC 295, how much has been allocated to the Finucane inquiry.

The settlement in the Autumn Budget for the Northern Ireland Office includes funding for priorities related to the legacy of the Troubles, including making provision for the establishment of the Inquiry into the death of Patrick Finucane. The bulk of the costs of the Inquiry will fall in the next Spending Round. It is the Government’s expectation that the Inquiry will avoid unnecessary costs given all the previous reviews and investigations, and the large amount of information and material that is already in the public domain.

When he plans to publish the terms of reference of the Finucane inquiry.

I am keen that the Inquiry is able to begin its work without undue delay. The Inquiries Act 2005 sets out clear steps to follow in setting up an inquiry, including the appointment of the Chair, agreement on the Terms of Reference, working through the necessary logistics such as facilities and services procurement, and setting up the Inquiry secretariat.I will provide an update on the Terms of Reference once it has been agreed with the Chair.

Whether his Department plans to appeal the Dillon judgement handed down in the Belfast Court of Appeal on 20 September 2024, NICA 59.

The Government is committed to repealing and replacing the Legacy Act, and to implementing legacy mechanisms that are compliant with human rights and can be supported by communities across Northern Ireland. We are considering the implications of the Court of Appeal judgement, which are complex and wide-ranging, and I will update the House as soon as possible. In the meantime, the Government has lodged an application with the Court of Appeal seeking leave to appeal the judgement.

How much additional security funding the Government plans to provide to the Police Service of Northern Ireland in the 2025-26 financial year.

Recognising the unique security situation in Northern Ireland, the UK Government makes an additional contribution to the PSNI through Additional Security Funding.As we announced in the Spending Review last week we have increased Additional Security Funding (ASF) for the financial year 2025-26 to £37.8 million . ASF was previously c£32m a year.This increased funding from the Government will provide the PSNI with more resources they need to tackle the threat posed by Northern Ireland related terrorism in Northern Ireland, and so help them to continue to keep people safe.

Pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2024 to Question 9532, when the Independent Monitoring Panel will make its first report.

The Independent Monitoring Panel will report every six months to the Government on the basis set out in the Safeguarding the Union command paper. The support arrangements for the Panel are in the process of being put in place presently, as set out in my answer to question 9532.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 October to Question 8847 on Terrorism: Northern Ireland, for what reason he will not publish the details of these requests.

There is no obligation to publish details of the requests the government receives for public inquiries. I do not intend to do so, especially as there are victims, survivors and families at the heart of those requests, who should be treated with respect and confidentiality.I have written directly to those whose requests I have recently considered. Further requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

With reference to his Department's publication entitled Safeguarding the Union, published on 31 January 2024, what progress his Department has made on establishing ministerial structures to (a) monitor and (b) manage issues arising from the Windsor Framework.

Matters related to European affairs may be considered by Government Ministers at the Europe Cabinet Committee. These arrangements are complemented by interdepartmental structures to manage the implementation of the Windsor Framework and any issues arising therefrom, reflecting the commitments made in Safeguarding The Union.

With reference to his Department's publication entitled Safeguarding the Union, published on 31 January 2024, what progress his Department has made on setting out how public authorities should have special regard to Northern Ireland's place in the UK's internal market.

Consistent with the commitments made in Safeguarding the Union, the Government published statutory guidance to public authorities on upholding their legal duties to have special regard to the UK internal market on 30 September.

With reference to his Department's publication entitled Safeguarding the Union, published on 31 January 2024, what progress his Department has made on establishing a strengthened independent review of the Windsor Framework.

The Windsor Framework (Constitutional Status of Northern Ireland) Regulations 2024 introduced new legal requirements on the conduct of an independent review of the Windsor Framework. The commissioning of an Independent Review is dependent on the outcome of the democratic consent vote process due to take place in the Northern Ireland Assembly later this year, and the Government will follow the legal duties that apply in full.

With reference to his Department's publication entitled Safeguarding the Union, published on 31 January 2024, what progress his Department has made on establishing an independent monitoring panel.

On 19 September, I announced that Aidan Reilly, Anna Jerzewska and Alastair Hamilton will be the members of the Independent Monitoring Panel. As set out in the Command Paper, the Panel will monitor and report on the implementation of the Windsor Framework.

With reference to his Department's publication entitled Safeguarding the Union, published on 31 January 2024, what progress his Department has made on ensuring continued supply of necessary veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland beyond 2025.

The Government’s priority is to secure the long-term sustainable supply of veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland and we are continuing to progress urgent work on this. We have re-established the Veterinary Medicines Working Group to advise the Government, and this met on 11 September 2024 and will meet again on 5 November 2024. A grace period arrangement is in place until the end of 2025 which supports the continuity of supply to Northern Ireland.

Whether the Armed Forces Veteran Cards can now be used as Voter ID in forthcoming elections in Northern Ireland.

Legislation is required to add documents to the list of ID documents that may be produced in Northern Ireland polling stations in order to vote. The Government intends to legislate to add the HM Forces Veteran Card to the Northern Ireland voter identity document list in advance of the next elections in Northern Ireland which are scheduled to be held in 2027.

With reference to his Department's publication entitled Safeguarding the Union, published on 31 January 2024, what progress his Department has made on ensuring there will be no checks when goods move within the UK internal market system save those conducted by UK authorities.

As set out in the Command Paper, as we transition to the UK internal market system we are focused on ensuring the smooth flow of trade through a risk-based and intelligence-led approach to tackling criminality, abuse of the scheme, smuggling and disease risks. Those checks that are required in order to meet our international commitments will be carried out only by UK authorities or those authorised to act on their behalf.

With reference to his Department's publication entitled Safeguarding the Union, published on 31 January 2024, what recent progress his Department has made on removing prohibitions on shrubs and trees.

Since the publication of the Safeguarding the Union Command Paper, bans have been lifted on five species of plant including hazel, wild privet and linden. The Commission has published a further seven commodity risk assessments for other species, following the provision of scientific evidence by the UK Government on the basis of industry demand. We continue to work closely with the horticultural sector, including through the Horticulture Working Group, in order to maximise opportunities for trade in plants and plant products within the United Kingdom.

With reference to his Department's publication entitled Safeguarding the Union, published on 31 January 2024, what progress his Department has made on replacing the green lane with a UK internal market system.

The Government is continuing, as set out in the Command Paper, to take steps to give effect to the internal market system. More than 9,000 businesses are registered for the existing UK Internal Market Scheme, which enables them to move goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland without incurring duty. From 2025, the Scheme will enable businesses to move goods into Northern Ireland using a significantly reduced data set which draws on ordinary commercial information, assisted by the new Trader Goods Profile tool which provides relevant data based on descriptions of goods.While we will provide in due course further information on the detailed timeline for the new arrangements coming into effect, businesses should be fully prepared for them by 31 March 2025.