Written questions by Swann.

Who the Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service is responsible to in terms of performance.

Responsibility for the Northern Ireland Civil Service is a transferred matter and civil service reporting lines are, consequently, a matter for the First Minister and deputy First Minister.

What the legal status is of the remedial order brought against the Northern Ireland Legacy Bill.

The Remedial Order was laid on 14 October 2025 as part of the Government’s commitment to repeal and replace the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023. The Remedial Order does not yet have legal effect, whilst it awaits the consideration of the House of Lords. The Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) concluded in their report that there are compelling reasons for proceeding by way of Remedial Order for the purposes of Section 10(2) of the Human Rights Act 1998. The Remedial Order passed with a large majority in the House of Commons and I am committed to seeing it debated and passed in the House of Lords, at which point it will become law.

Pursuant to the answer of 8th January 2026 to Question 103096, who is responsible for requesting the national security vetting for the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman.

Responsibility for recruitment (including requesting national security vetting) for the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland lies with The Executive Office.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 January 2026 to Question 99008, who is responsible for conducting the national security vetting for the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman.

United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) acts as service providers for National Security Vetting (NSV) across His Majesty’s Government (HMG) for specific roles affording access to Protectively Marked Materials (PMM) sites and assets. The ultimate decision on whether to grant any level of NSV will be taken either by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV), the department or police force that requires the individual to hold clearance, or by the sponsoring authority that carries out this task on behalf of departments. In line with the practice followed by successive administrations, the Government does not otherwise comment on security matters.

What discussions he has had with the Irish Government on the €14million Shared Island Media initiative.

I regularly engage with the Irish Government on a number of issues of interest to both Governments, but to date, no discussions have taken place on the Irish Government’s Shared Island Media Fund.

Pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 84511 on Business: Northern Ireland, of the £235 million ring-fenced transformation funding (a) how much has been allocated to each Northern Ireland Department and (b) what is the time scale for future allocations before the funding is withdrawn.

A full breakdown of the funds allocated through the Transformation Fund is available via the Department of Finance’s website:Annual Profiling of Transformation ProjectsThe Public Sector Transformation Board is currently considering further transformation bids from departments with the aim of making recommendations to the Northern Ireland Executive on the allocation of remaining funds in the months ahead.

What recent discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the Transformation Fund.

The Northern Ireland Office, and Ministers, regularly engage with the Northern Ireland Executive on the Transformation Fund. In particular, through its membership of the Public Sector Transformation Board whose role is to advise and make recommendations on how to use the £235m ring-fenced transformation funding. Work is on going to identify and allocate remaining funds to further transformative projects in the months ahead.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department’s policies of the Northern Ireland Minister for the Economy ‘s decision not to engage with the Government’s trade talks with Israel.

Trade policy is a reserved matter and the UK Government is responsible for negotiating international trade agreements on behalf of all the nations and regions in the UK. This Government suspended trade negotiations with Israel on 20 May, owing to the actions of the Israeli Government in Gaza and the West Bank.

With reference to the his Department's press release entitled UK and Irish Governments announce legacy framework to enable truth for families of the Troubles, published on 19 September 2025, whether the proposed (a) right to stay at home, (b) protection from repeated investigations and (c) protection in old age will apply to people who are not veterans that served in the HM Armed Forces.

On 14 October, the Government introduced the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill as part of our commitment to repeal and replace the previous government’s Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy & Reconciliation) Act 2023. The legislation includes strong safeguards for veterans that were not included in the 2023 Act, and that respond directly to the concerns expressed during engagements that the Government has undertaken. The Government is also taking forward some measures on a non-legislative basis. All of the measures that the Government has announced are being introduced in order to protect and ensure fair treatment of any veteran who is asked to engage with legacy mechanisms. Some measures will apply only to veterans, including the protection from cold calling and the new safeguard that ensures veterans from giving unnecessary evidence on historical context and general operational details. Other measures, including the right to give evidence remotely and having regard to the welfare of witnesses, will necessarily apply to others. This will ensure, for example, that former police officers are able to avail of these measures. The Commission’s duty to avoid duplication unless it is considered essential will apply to all of its investigations. This will ensure that the Commission’s investigations are effective, efficient, and focused on getting answers for families, whilst also protecting veterans from having to unnecessarily provide information previously covered.

If he will publish a summary of the work completed by Intertrade UK since its appointment.

The Terms of Reference and Work Programme for Intertrade UK were published online on 26 August 2025. The body is now focused on implementing its work programme, which is based on three priorities: overcoming barriers to trade, promoting UK internal market opportunities and enhancing infrastructure and connectivity.

If he will publish a summary of the work completed by the Windsor Framework Independent Monitoring Panel which he appointed last year.

It is for the Independent Monitoring Panel to determine how they conduct their work and then to report to Government. The Panel’s first monitoring period ended on 30 June and the Government expects to receive their first report in due course. The Government will then publish it in accordance with its commitment to do so.

What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the (a) Chief Commissioner and (b) Commissioner of Investigations of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Recovery.

A growing number of families are taking cases to the independent Commission and the Government has confidence in its team of dedicated staff to effectively deliver for them. The Court of Appeal has recognised the Commission’s structural independence and wide powers. The confidence of families in the Commission’s work is paramount and that is why this Government is in the process of repealing and replacing the previous Government's Legacy Act, and is committed to reforming the Commission to further strengthen its powers and independence.

Pursuant the Answer of 30 June 2025 to Question 62482, when he received the review of post-Brexit trading arrangements.

Lord Murphy provided the final report of the Independent Review on 9 July 2025, in line with the Terms of Reference for the Review.

When he plans to publish the report from the independent review of the post-Brexit trading arrangements, conducted by Lord Paul Murphy.

It remains for Lord Murphy to provide the final report of the Independent Review of the Windsor Framework. The Government will then proceed with arranging the publication of that report, laying it in Parliament and transmitting it to the Northern Ireland Assembly, in line with the Terms of Reference for the Review.

For what reason he rejected the Electoral Commission of Northern Ireland's request to separate the next scheduled local government and Assembly elections.

The date for local government elections is set in statute as the first Thursday in May every 4 years, and for the Assembly elections as the first Thursday in May every 5 years. The people of Northern Ireland expect to go to the polls on 6 May 2027 and the Government has no intention of changing that.

Pursuant to the Answer of 22 May 2025 to Question 52795 on Domestic Visits: Northern Ireland, on how many occasions did the Secretary of State notify Rt hon. and hon. Members in advance that he would visit their constituency.

The Honourable Gentleman will be aware it is a requirement to notify Members of Parliament before a visit to their constituency. For the recent occasion when he was not notified, I have apologised to him.

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2025 to Question 51251 on Domestic Visits: Northern Ireland, on how many of those visits the hon. Member for that constituency received prior notification.

The Honourable Gentleman will be aware it is a requirement to notify Members of Parliament before a visit to their constituency. For the recent occasion when he was not notified, I have apologised to him.

How many visits he has made to each constituency in Northern Ireland since his appointment.

I have carried out over 80 visits to 16 constituencies across Northern Ireland since my appointment. I welcome suggestions for future visits from Parliamentary colleagues.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 November 2024 to Question 13304, and the Answer of 18 November 2024 to Question 14268, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that there is not a reoccurrence.

Members of Parliament should be notified in advance of Ministerial visits to their constituency. I have apologised to the Honourable Member for the recent failure to notify him. The Northern Ireland Office is currently reorganising this notification process to ensure there is no reoccurrence.

What criteria he will use to assess the need for a border poll in Northern Ireland.

The responsibility for a referendum sits solely with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, as set out in the Good Friday Agreement. In accordance with that Agreement and the principle of consent, Northern Ireland will remain part of the United Kingdom for as long as its people wish for it to be. In 2020, the Northern Ireland High Court ruled that there is no legal requirement or public interest in setting out a policy detailing fixed criteria on the holding of a referendum.