Lord Caine

I am the Government’s chief legal adviser but, by long-standing convention, the fact that I, or a fellow Law Officer, may have advised or not advised, and the content of our advice, is not disclosed outside government, as is reflected in the Ministerial Code.

This is a long-standing policy observed by successive governments. It is also an important legal principle, as confirmed by the Bar Council, that “barristers do not choose their clients, nor do they associate themselves with their clients’ opinions or behaviour by virtue of representing them”.

Law Officers, by their experience and professional nature will sometimes have an extensive legal background and may have previously been involved in a wide number of past cases. That is why there is a robust system for considering and managing any conflicts that may arise, in line with the professional obligations of lawyers.

There is the established process on ministerial declarations, with previous employment and interests having been published for the public record. In general, there has always been an established rigorous system in place within the Attorney General’s Office to ensure that a Law Officer would not be consulted on any matter that could give rise to a potential conflict of interest. This system sits alongside the declaration of interest system overseen by the Prime Minister’s Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards.

If a Law Officer publicly confirmed specific matters where they were recused, this would likely disclose that the other Law Officer was therefore giving advice or infer that legal advice had been requested by the Government on a specific matter, which would risk a breach of the Law Officers’ Convention. In addition, a lawyer cannot breach a client’s confidentiality in relation to advisory work that had previously not been made public so this would limit the ability of a Law Officer to publish in full their previous caseload and conflicts schedule. In that regard, I have been through the same process as previous Law Officers, none of which have gone as far to proactively disclose their specific conflicts of interest for the reasons set out above.

As I set out to the Justice Select Committee (15 January 2025), I confirmed that as a private barrister prior to my appointment as Attorney General, I represented Gerry Adams on an issue unconnected to the Legacy Act.

Sue Gray has decided not to accept the role of Envoy to the Nations and Regions. It would not be appropriate to share details of HR matters.

The Prime Minister began immediate work to reset relationships with leaders in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and regional mayors in England. The Prime Minister travelled to meet with the First Ministers in Scotland and Wales, and the First Minister and deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland within the first week of being in office. He also hosted the regional mayors for a meeting in Downing Street. He has since had further correspondence and conversations with leaders across the nations and regions, including at the first Council of the Nations and Regions. He speaks regularly to the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, including at Cabinet meetings.

The Prime Minister began immediate work to reset relationships with leaders in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and regional mayors in England. The Prime Minister travelled to meet with the First Ministers in Scotland and Wales, and the First Minister and deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland within the first week of being in office. He also hosted the regional mayors for a meeting in Downing Street. He has since had further correspondence and conversations with leaders across the nations and regions, including at the first Council of the Nations and Regions. He speaks regularly to the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, including at Cabinet meetings.

There is no further update following the answer given in HL1373.

There is no further update following the answer given in HL1373.

Qualification for inclusion under each of these employment rights will depend on whether individuals meet the eligibility criteria for each right. If a special adviser meets the eligibility criteria, then a right will apply to them.

The Government has carefully reviewed the evidence from the consultation carried out earlier this year and has conducted comprehensive engagement with businesses. This has informed our planned approach which will safeguard the supply of goods into Northern Ireland.

We will work intensively with industry to monitor those supplies and to be assured that they will be maintained as the implementation of the Windsor Framework continues. At the same time, we will take the powers necessary to apply ‘not for EU’ labelling in the future, if that is required to secure those supplies across the UK internal market.

The Government published information about the reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief on gov.uk.

Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief (or those claiming agricultural property relief and business property relief together) each year are expected to be unaffected by these reforms. It is expected that up to around 2,000 estates will be affected by the changes to APR and BPR. Up to around 520 of these are expected to relate to claims for APR (including those that also claim for BPR), and this number falls to around 430 when claims that include AIM shares are excluded.

The Government takes into account all representations made ahead of the Budget, and meets with stakeholders on a regular basis.

The Government published information about the reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief on gov.uk.

Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief (or those claiming agricultural property relief and business property relief together) each year are expected to be unaffected by these reforms. It is expected that up to around 2,000 estates will be affected by the changes to APR and BPR. Up to around 520 of these are expected to relate to claims for APR (including those that also claim for BPR), and this number falls to around 430 when claims that include AIM shares are excluded.

The Government takes into account all representations made ahead of the Budget, and meets with stakeholders on a regular basis.

The Government published information about the reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief on gov.uk.

It is expected that up to around 2,000 estates will be affected by the changes to APR and BPR. Up to around 520 of these are expected to relate to claims for APR (including those that also claim for BPR), and this number falls to around 430 when claims that include AIM shares are excluded. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief (or those claiming agricultural property relief and business property relief together) each year are expected to be unaffected by these reforms.

The standard clearance processes were followed when the Government decided to withdraw the ECHR aspects of the appeal in Dillon & others following the ruling of the Northern Ireland High Court. This included sections 46 and 47 of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.

As the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland set out in his statement in the House of Commons on 4 December, this Government is committed to addressing the legacy of the Troubles so that society in Northern Ireland can heal from the terrible wounds of the past and look to a better future. This commitment includes delivering on the funding agreed with HM Treasury for the legacy programme, with a total envelope of £250 million. This funding derived from £150 million allocated to implement the Stormont House Agreement and £100 million allocated through the New Decade, New Approach agreement.

This Government is committed to implementing the Windsor Framework in good faith and to protecting Northern Ireland’s place in the UK internal market. We are currently considering the best way to take forward the approach referred to in Annex B of the Safeguarding the Union command paper.

Northern Ireland has a thriving hospitality sector and this Government is committed to working with the NI Executive to support sustainable economic growth. The settlement for Northern Ireland in the Budget is the biggest real terms settlement since devolution.

To repair the £22bn black hole inherited by the Government and help raise the revenue required to increase funding for public services, the Government has taken the difficult decision to increase employer National Insurance. We recognise the need to protect the smallest employers which is why we have more than doubled the Employment Allowance to £10,500, meaning more than half of businesses with NICs liabilities either gain or see no change next year.

The Government has also been clear that we need to take difficult decisions to deliver long-term stability and growth. Stabilising the public finances is the only way to create long-term stability in which businesses can thrive.

The Government is adopting recommendations of the Low Pay Commission to increase the National Living Wage by 6.7% to £12.21 an hour, and increasing the National Minimum Wage for 18-20 year-olds by 16.3%. There are estimated to be almost 100,000 minimum wage workers in Northern Ireland in 2023.

The Government ask the independent and expert Low Pay Commission to monitor the effects of the National Living Wage.

Northern Ireland has a thriving hospitality sector, and this Government is committed to working with the NI Executive to support sustainable economic growth. The settlement for Northern Ireland in the Budget is the biggest real terms settlement since devolution.

To repair the £22bn black hole inherited by the Government and help raise the revenue required to increase funding for public services, the Government has taken the difficult decision to increase employer National Insurance. We recognise the need to protect the smallest employers which is why we have more than doubled the Employment Allowance to £10,500, meaning more than half of businesses with NICs liabilities either gain or see no change next year.

The Government is adopting recommendations of the Low Pay Commission to increase the National Living Wage by 6.7% to £12.21 an hour, and increasing the National Minimum Wage for 18-20 year olds by 16.3%. There are estimated to be almost 100,000 minimum wage workers in Northern Ireland in 2023.