St George’s Day 2025

Knighthood for Sir Ian Dudson

75th anniversary of Keele University’s foundation

Found: supported by David Baines, Shaun Davies, Dave Robertson, Laurence Turner, Liam Byrne, Maya Ellis, Leigh Ingham

Found: Treasury) • Anna Gelderd (Lab, South East Cornwall) • Damian Hinds (Con, East Hampshire) • Leigh Ingham

The Committee’s Brexit and Northern Ireland inquiry will run on a themed basis with sub-inquiries on different issues. The Committee already has Brexit related inquiries into the land border between Northern Ireland and Ireland and Fisheries.

Brexit and Northern Ireland: Tell us what you think

Thank you to everyone who contributed ideas to the Committee for our next piece of Brexit work. The Committee launched an inquiry into Agriculture based on your suggestions.

• Interactive report: How you've shaped our future work on Brexit and Northern Ireland
  

The inquiry will looked at the implications of Brexit for the fishing industry in Northern Ireland.

The sea fishing sector in Northern Ireland employs over 850 people. In terms of ports, the boats which constitute the sea fishing industry are mainly located in the three County Down fishing villages of Portavogie, Kilkeel and Ardglass. Based on 2015 figures, Ardglass and Kilkeel are within the UK’s top 20 ports for tonnage of fish landed. The Northern Ireland fishing fleet is predominantly focussed on the catching of prawn. The total value of fish landed in Northern Ireland’s three primary fishing ports amounted to £20.8 million in 2015.

Fisheries management is a devolved matter. However, the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) has provided a common framework for fisheries management across the Devolved Nations. The CFP’s main policy areas are; fisheries management, funding for fishing communities, market organisation and import tariffs.

The Government’s decision to withdraw from the CFP, the London Fisheries Convention and the EU raises important questions about the future of the fishing industry.

Terms of Reference

• What opportunities and challenges will Northern Ireland face from leaving the Common Fisheries Policy?
• How would the imposition of export tariffs affect the fisheries industry in Northern Ireland?
• To what extent is EU market access dependent on the UK retaining EU fisheries regulation?
• How should the UK Government manage its fishery resources after Brexit?
• How should scientific data on the sustainability of fish stocks be gathered in future?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages European Maritime and Fisheries Fund? How could funding of fishing communities be improved?
• To what extent do international agreements limit the UK’s freedom to change fisheries policy?
• How will Brexit affect the management of Carlingford, Strangford and Foyle Loughs?
• What are the consequences of leaving the London Fisheries Convention for Northern Ireland?
• What effect will Brexit have on the future of the Voisinage Agreement? To what extent can the UK develop bi-lateral fishing arrangements with Ireland?
• How will regulatory divergence from the Common Fisheries Policy affect management of common fishing stocks?
• How should the interests of the fishing industry in Northern Ireland be represented in the negotiations?

Since the previous Committee’s inquiry into NI’s electricity sector, there have been numerous developments in energy, trade, and infrastructure that impact NI’s electricity sector.

In a report last year, the Committee warned of the grave risk of an energy deficit, and higher energy prices, in Northern Ireland if action wasn’t taken to increase supply by building new power stations or improving interconnection with Ireland. The likely reduction of capacity at Kilroot and Ballylumford power stations raises further questions about the medium and long term energy strategy for Northern Ireland.

Terms of Reference

• What are the positive and negative effects of the Integrated Single Energy Market (I-SEM)?
• What are the broader implications of the Kilroot and Ballylumford power station closings?
• What bureaucratic, legal, or infrastructure obstacles remain for the construction of the North-South Interconnector?
• How will the Republic of Ireland’s proposed energy integration with the EU, through a Celtic Interconnector or other means, affect its energy integration with Northern Ireland?
• What are the implications of the prolonged state of the collapsed Executive and NI’s pressing energy needs?
• What are the implications of the all-island energy market?

The Committee will consider the opportunities and challenges for Northern Ireland’s agricultural sector in the light of the UK’s decision to leave the EU. The inquiry focused on livestock and arable farming.

Terms of Reference

• Are potential challenges and opportunities for Northern Ireland’s agricultural sector post-Brexit properly reflected in DEFRA's consultation on The future for food, farming and the environment?
• For those working in the sector; what have been your main concerns about the current system (e.g. on funding, regulations, policies etc.) and how could post-Brexit policy make improvements?
• Do smaller farms in Northern Ireland have different requirements post-Brexit to large farms?
• How important is the EU as an export market for Northern Ireland agricultural produce?
• How can future UK trade policy best support Northern Ireland’s agricultural sector?
• What funding will Northern Ireland’s agricultural sector require post-Brexit? What should future agricultural support in Northern Ireland look like, and what goals should it seek to achieve?
• What particular challenges does the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland create in terms of future agricultural policy, regulation and trade? How can these challenges best be resolved?
• What future cooperation with Ireland will be necessary in relation to agricultural regulation and management of the environment across the island of Ireland?
• How important are non-UK workers to Northern Ireland’s agricultural sector? How can the labour needs of Northern Ireland’s agricultural sector best be met in post-Brexit immigration policy?
• In the absence of an Executive how can the UK Government best engage with local communities and farmers to develop a post-Brexit agricultural policy? To what extent does current intergovernmental machinery provide for engagement which might be necessary between the UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive regarding post-Brexit agricultural policy, and how might this machinery need to be improved?
  

Following its inquiry on Brexit and the Northern Ireland land border, the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee will carry out a two-part exploration of technical solutions to the border.

The inquiry into education funding in Northern Ireland follows the passage of the Government’s Northern Ireland Budget Act, which set out funding for NI departments, including education, up until 31 March 2019.

The inquiry examined whether the levels of funding allocated to education in the Northern Ireland Budget are sufficient to meet the challenges facing the sector, and what the spending priorities should be for the monies allocated to the NI Department of Education.

The Committee looked into whether funding allocated to the Department of Health is sufficient to meet the growing pressures on health and social care provision in Northern Ireland and how these funds could be used to improve service levels across the Health and Social Care (HSC) service.

On the 11th May 2018, the Northern Ireland Office launched a public consultation on proposals to address the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The Consultation puts forward proposals for four new legacy institutions, which were originally proposed in the Stormont House Agreement of 2014. These are as follows:

• a new independent Historical Investigations Unit (HIU) to take forward investigations into outstanding deaths from the Troubles;
• a new Independent Commission on Information Retrieval (ICIR) to enable victims and survivors to obtain privately information about Troubles-related deaths of next of kin;
• an Implementation and Reconciliation Group (IRG) to promote reconciliation and assess the implementation of the other legacy institutions through production of a report; and
• an Oral History Archive (OHA) to enable people from all backgrounds to share experiences and narratives related to the Troubles.
  The Government has also published a draft Bill, which would establish the four new legacy institutions.

The Stormont House Agreement contained a number of proposals about dealing with the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland which were never implemented. The Government has said it believes implementing the legacy institutions is the best way to meet the needs of victims and survivors. The Northern Ireland Office has excluded the following elements of the Stormont House Agreement from the remit of the public consultation: making sure victims and survivors can access high quality services; making sure people can access advocate-counsellor assistance; setting up a Mental Trauma Service; finding a way to support severely physically injured victims in Northern Ireland through a pension and making sure that inquests have better outcomes for victims and survivors and continue to meet human rights responsibilities. The Northern Ireland Office has stated these areas are excluded from the public consultation because they will be carried out by the Northern Ireland Executive.

The Committee’s inquiry is intended to examine the scope of the consultation to ensure it meets the needs of victims and survivors. We will look at resources, the implementation timetable, stakeholder engagement and remit of the consultation to make sure it is being carried out effectively. Stakeholders are encouraged to engage with the NIO’s consultation, and the Committee’s inquiry offers an additional avenue for comment, which we plan to feed into the Government’s consultation.

Terms of Reference

• How well do the proposals for the Historical Investigations Unit, the Independent Commission on Information Retrieval and the Oral History Archive meet the needs of victims and survivors?
  o Do the proposals address concerns about current arrangements for the investigation of Troubles-related deaths?
• How effectively do the proposals for the Implementation and Reconciliation Group provide for the promotion of reconciliation in Northern Ireland?
• To what extent do the proposals reflect a broad political consensus, and are fair, equitable, and proportionate?
• How can the Government best engage with those affected by the Troubles and ensure they hear their views?
• Are there any areas where the proposals do not adequately reflect the rule of law?
• Are there any areas of the Stormont House Agreement which the proposals fail to address?
• Are there areas that have been included that should not have been?
• Should the UK Government consider implementing the areas of the Stormont House Agreement which are the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive?
  o Such as; pensions for severely injured victims of the Troubles and a Mental Trauma Service?
• Has the Government committed sufficient resources to support the operation of the Stormont House Agreement institutions?
• How should these proposals now be taken forward?
  o What should the timing of the proposals be?

The session will examine the reasons for the disparity in access and cost of passport services and ask what changes could be implemented to reduce or eliminate these disparities.

Following the passage of a bill relating to payments under the NI Renewable Heat Incentive scheme in Westminster, the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee launched a short inquiry into the new payments structure.

The Northern Ireland (Regional Rates and Energy) (No. 2) Bill was fast-tracked through the House of Commons with all relevant stages of the bill taken in one day. The Chair of the Committee, along with many other Members, raised concerns about this process and about the limited time available for scrutiny. The House was assured that the bill must be fast-tracked for payments to continue to be made to businesses.

Terms of Reference

• What was the rationale for the new tariff structure introduced by the bill?
• How will these new tariffs affect the businesses they apply to?
• What other options could be considered for payments to stay line with the 12% approved by state aid?
• How do these tariffs compare with those available in Great Britain?
• If these changes had not been introduced by 31 March, what would be the consequences?
• How far does the voluntary buy-out scheme mitigate the potential impact of the new tariffs?
  

In this new inquiry, the Committee will examine the importance of tourism to the economy and society of Northern Ireland more widely and investigate ways in which the industry could be improved or further supported.

Terms of reference

(I) The economic and societal impact of the tourism industry in Northern Ireland

• How does tourism contribute to the Northern Ireland economy, either directly or indirectly?
• Which other industries rely on tourism for income?
• What sectors of the industry are performing well, and which are struggling?
• What can be done to support all sectors within the industry?
• How is the tourism industry’s economic contribution distributed geographically?
• What can be done to support tourism in underdeveloped areas in Northern Ireland?
• Is tourism in Northern Ireland seasonal? What can be done to support Tourism throughout the year?
• How can Northern Ireland maximise on the impact of events such as the 2019 Open Championship?
• How can repeat tourism to Northern Ireland be encouraged?
• How does the tourism industry support employment in Northern Ireland?
• What is the quality of the employment provided by the tourism industry?
• Can tourism help to address legacy issues?
• Are there any negative impacts of tourism to Northern Ireland? How can these be mitigated?

(II) Transport links to Northern Ireland

• What travel links currently exist between Northern Ireland and i) Great Britain, ii) the Republic of Ireland, iii) the rest of Europe and iv) the rest of the world?
• How can current travel links be expanded to encourage greater numbers of tourists to Northern Ireland?
• How well is Northern Ireland’s tourism industry served by its airports?
• How could Northern Ireland’s airports be supported further to improve opportunities for travel to Northern Ireland?
• How has Northern Ireland performed as a cruise destination? How could this area be expanded?

(III) The promotion of Northern Ireland as a destination

• How is Northern Ireland as a tourist destination currently promoted i) domestically and ii) abroad?
• How effective is Tourism Ireland in promoting Northern Ireland as a destination?
• Would Northern Ireland benefit from having its own promotion agency?

• The Northern Ireland backstop and the border: interim report
• The Northern Ireland backstop and the border: interim report (PDF 478 KB)

The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee published its report on the land border in March, before the text of the Withdrawal Agreement was agreed with the EU. In this new inquiry, the Committee will examine the implications of the Government’s Withdrawal Agreement for Northern Ireland, as well as the state of no-deal planning in Northern Ireland.

(I) The impact of implementing the backstop in Northern Ireland

• What goods travelling between Great Britain and Northern Ireland would require extra checks from day one of the backstop?
  o Where would these checks be carried out and by whom?
  o What additional, if any, infrastructure and resources would need to be put in place to carry out these checks?
• How would trade in services between Great Britain and Northern Ireland be affected by the backstop?
• Would goods travelling between Northern Ireland and Ireland undergo any additional checks or customs processes under the backstop?
• What steps, if any, do businesses need to take to prepare for implementation of the backstop?
• What, if any, additional costs would Northern Ireland businesses face when trading with Ireland under the backstop arrangements?
• What lessons can be learnt from the EU-Turkey customs union about the "single customs territory" set out in the Withdrawal Agreement?
• How will supervision and enforcement of EU rules in Northern Ireland differ under the backstop from the current regime?
  o In which areas could the UK be required to make financial contributions to the EU as a consequence of the backstop being operational?

(II) Scrutiny of the Withdrawal Agreement mechanisms

• How should the views of Northern Ireland be represented on the Joint Committee?
  o In the continued absence of devolved Northern Ireland Ministers, should UK politicians or Northern Ireland civil servants represent Northern Ireland?
• On what basis will the Joint Committee determine conditions and quantitative terms on which Northern Ireland fisheries products can enter the EU market?
• To what extent can the Joint Committee behave dynamically to develop the backstop during its implementation?
• How will membership of the Specialised Committee on the Northern Ireland Protocol be constituted?
  o Should consideration be given to cross-community representation?
• How will the Joint Working Group on Northern Ireland be constituted?
  o Should consideration be given to cross-community representation?
• What lessons can be learnt about the mechanisms in the Withdrawal Agreement from the experience of the Eastern Partnership countries, Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia, who have association treaties with the EU?
• To what extent does the Article 20 review clause provide an exit route from the backstop?
• If the backstop is triggered, should Northern Ireland maintain some representation on EU bodies in recognition of the fact it would be subject to a greater level of EU supervision and control?
• What conditions would be required to extend the transition period in lieu of triggering the backstop?
  o What are the advantages and disadvantages of this approach?
  o How would the UK’s agreed financial contribution to the EU budget be affected by this decision?

(III) Securing an overall EU-UK relationship which supersedes the Withdrawal Agreement and obviates the need to enter the backstop

• What can we learn from the Ukrainian association agreement about fast tracking treaty negotiations with the EU?
• To what extent can technical solutions obviate the need for NI regulatory alignment with the EU in the policy areas set out in Annex 5?
• Which aspects of Annex 5 could the UK unilaterally adopt to reduce barriers between Great Britain and Northern Ireland whilst maintaining an independent trade policy?
• How can the future UK-EU relationship protect integrated supply chains across the island of Ireland?
• What does the mapping exercise, which identifies protected areas of North-South cooperation, tell us about the future shape of the UK-EU deal in respect of Northern Ireland?
• What does the framework outlined in the Political Declaration for the future UK-EU relationship tell us about how cross-border trade in Northern Ireland will operate?
• Would the ‘Norway option’ meet the conditions set out in protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland?
  o If not, what additions would be required to the Norway model?

(IV) No deal

• In a no deal scenario, what are the key actions the Government must take in advance of 29 March 2019 to prepare Northern Ireland?
• To what extent has the Government worked with businesses in Northern Ireland to make contingency plans for a no deal scenario?
  o What has been the impact of the Government’s technical notices on no deal?
• In a no deal scenario, what scope is there for the UK to make a series of mini-deals with Ireland to manage cross-border issues?
• What would trade under World Trade Organisation terms mean for Northern Ireland?
• How could the lives of ordinary citizens in Northern Ireland be affected during the first three months of a “managed no deal”?
  o What steps, if any, should Northern Ireland citizens take to prepare?

The Committee examined the role of the UK Government in seeking compensation for the victims of IRA attacks made possible by the provision of Semtex and other weapons by the former Gaddafi regime.

The Committee held a hearing with representatives of Historical Institutional Abuse victims and survivors to consider plans for support and the process of securing compensation.

The Northern Ireland Affairs and Work and Pensions Committees are holding a joint inquiry into welfare policy in Northern Ireland. The inquiry follows the passage of the Northern Ireland Budget Act which set out funding for NI departments, and the upcoming end in 2020 of the social security ‘mitigation’ package put in place by the NI Executive. The inquiry will consider the impact of the mitigation package, the operation of Universal Credit (including alternative payment arrangements) and the effect of the two-child limit.

The social security ‘mitigation package’—an additional £585m of welfare spending put in place by the NI Executive as part of the Fresh Start Agreement—is due to end in 2020. The package currently provides payments to people to offset the benefit cap and the ‘bedroom tax’. The inquiry will examine the likely impact of the spending ending in 2020 and the effects of having higher levels of welfare entitlement in Northern Ireland.

It will also look at the operation of Universal Credit in Northern Ireland, including issues with housing arrears and deductions, and how the alternative payment arrangements—which allow people to get UC payments on a different frequency or split them between members of a household—are working in practice. The inquiry will also consider the impact of the two-child limit—the Government’s policy that families can’t claim child benefits for any third or subsequent child born on or after 6 April 2017—in Northern Ireland.

Send us your views

The Committee would like to hear your views on the following questions. We are interested in hearing from people with personal experience of the issues—such as using the Universal Credit system in NI—as well as policy organisations and expert groups.

You can respond as an individual, a group or an organisation. You don’t need to answer all of the questions.

Terms of Reference

• What has been the impact of the NI Executive social security 'mitigation package'?
• What would be the likely effects of the mitigation package coming to an end in 2020?
• What, if anything, should replace the mitigation package from 2020?
• What are the effects of having higher levels of welfare entitlement in Northern Ireland? Is it feasible for Northern Ireland to have differing levels of welfare entitlement in the long term?
• How well is Universal Credit working in Northern Ireland? Are there issues with Universal Credit that are specific to Northern Ireland compared to the rest of the UK?
• Do people in Northern Ireland benefit from the flexibility to have Universal Credit paid at a different frequency or with split payments?
• What is the impact of the two-child limit on families in Northern Ireland?
• Do social housing tenants in Northern Ireland (including NIHE tenants) regularly experience rent arrears? What are the reasons for this? What level of deductions do tenants face to pay back arrears?

The deadline for written submissions was Friday 24 May 2019

In this inquiry, the Committee will examine the drivers behind organised crime gangs (OCGs) in Northern Ireland and the impact their illegal pursuits are having on many communities. The inquiry begins with a call for evidence from any individual or organisation who wants to tell the Committee more about OCGs in Northern Ireland. The Committee is investigating three main areas:

• The drivers and operation of OCGs in Northern Ireland
• Cross-border criminality related to OCGs in Northern Ireland; and
• Combating the operations of OCGs both in Northern Ireland and internationally.
  

Terms of reference

The Committee is inviting written evidence on the following questions:

Drivers and operation of OCGs in Northern Ireland

• What motivates the formation of OCGs in Northern Ireland?
• Who joins OCGs and why?
• What are the main types of criminal activities which they are involved in? And where do the proceeds go?
• How are OCGs using technology and the ‘dark net’ to assist and adapt their current activities?
• What is the level of co-operation between difference OCGs within Northern Ireland?

Cross-border and international criminality

• In what ways do OCGs use a) the land border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and b) the Common Travel Area (CTA) to facilitate and enable crime?
• How does the CTA influence cross-border crime between Northern Ireland and i) the Republic of Ireland and ii) Great Britain?
• What linkages exist between OCGs in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland? How well developed are such collaborations?
• What known links exist between OCGs operating across the island of Ireland and OCGs in i) Great Britain ii) the rest of Europe and iii) the rest of the world?
• What affect could Brexit have in shifting the nature of cross-border criminality?

Combatting the operations of OCGs both in Northern Ireland and internationally

• How do the PSNI and Garda co-operate to combat OCGs?
• How is tackling of OCGs in Northern Ireland funded? Are the efforts of different agencies sufficiently co-ordinated?
• How is data shared between authorities in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and used to identify the illicit activities of OCGs? What barriers exist to sharing data across these jurisdictions in the detection and prosecution of criminals?
• How may Brexit affect the co-operation of the PSNI and Garda in disrupting the activities of OCGs? How can the UK prepare for this in the context of the different scenarios which might occur?
  

The inquiry will look at solutions for restoring devolved bodies and accountability as well as investigate the need for further intervention from the UK Government. It will also examine the impact of the lack of an Executive on communities, public services and businesses and what can be done in the absence of an Executive to ensure Northern Ireland’s voice is heard

The inquiry examined the company’s recent deal with Airbus and the steps taken to protect jobs in Northern Ireland.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon Julian Smith MP, appeared before the Committee on Wednesday 23 October 2019.

Issues covered:

• the status of Brexit negotiations
• the lack of an Executive in Northern Ireland
• Northern Ireland Office’s legislative programme.

The Committee investigates the need for long-term planning which comes at a crucial time, with competing Brexit scenarios creating a range of outcomes for Northern Ireland, most notably concerning the border.

The inquiry builds on work begun in the last Parliament and focuses on the specific challenges facing the region as the UK negotiates to leave the European Union.

Northern Ireland, as the only part of the UK to share a land border with the EU, faces a unique set of challenges resulting from Brexit.

As the EU and UK negotiating positions become ever clearer, the Committee will examine what impact their proposals would have on Northern Ireland. How will communities and businesses be affected by key decisions, such as the future customs relationship between the UK and the EU? What are the implications for the Common Travel Area and the Good Friday Agreement? What are the potential benefits and pitfalls of competing models?

A key part of the inquiry will be to examine aspects of the UK's Brexit strategy which have a disproportionate effect on Northern Ireland. How are the views of Northern Ireland represented in negotiations, particularly given the impasse in restoring the Assembly.

The Committee invites written submissions on the following questions:

• Which models for the UK's future relationship with the EU provide the best outcomes for the Irish land border?
• How should the reciprocal citizenship rights of UK and Irish citizens be protected after the UK leaves the EU?
• What are the strengths and limitations of the Government's position as outlined in the policy paper 'Northern Ireland and Ireland'?
• Can the existing framework for North/South and East/West cooperation under the Belfast Agreement continue unaltered once the UK leaves the EU?
• How would leaving the single market affect the movement of goods and services across the Irish land border? Outside the single market, what new mechanisms will be required?
• How would leaving the customs union affect the movement of goods across the Irish land border? Outside the customs union, what new mechanisms will be required?
• To what extent can technological solutions replace physical border infrastructure?
• What are the potential advantages for business in Northern Ireland?
• What lessons can be drawn from the other parts of the EU that have an external land border?

Submissions made to the Committee in the previous Parliament will be used in this inquiry and do not need to be resubmitted.

Government Response

• Special Report: Northern Ireland and the EU Referendum: Government Response to the Committee's First Report
• Special Report: Northern Ireland and the EU Referendum: Government Response to the Committee's First Report (PDF 108KB)

The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee launched a wide-ranging inquiry into the issues affecting Northern Ireland in respect of the forthcoming referendum on UK membership of the EU. The aim of the inquiry was to inform and encourage public debate in Northern Ireland ahead of the referendum.

The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee holds one-off public evidence session with Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP, Leader of the House of Commons, to discuss the implementation of English votes for English laws. The session will examine, among other issues, the use of the new procedures since their introduction in October 2015; how they affect MPs representing constituencies in Northern Ireland; the application of the certification process for England-only and England and Wales-only legislation; the potential future implications of the new procedures for the Barnett Formula; and the anticipated review process in the next Session of Parliament.

Northern Ireland could face further rises in energy bills if action is not taken to prevent a deficit in electricity supply, finds a report by the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee. Without urgent investment in Northern Ireland's energy infrastructure, the industry is not confident it will be able to keep the lights on after 2021.

Northern Ireland's electricity sector faces a number of challenges in the coming years. It has an ambitious target to achieve 40 per cent renewables by 2020, against a backdrop of reductions in the subsidies for onshore wind.

There are concerns regarding security of supply in the coming years because of constraints on the interconnectors with the GB and Republic of Ireland markets, and implementation of the EU Emissions Directive. And there are long-standing concerns over the cost of electricity, and the impact this has on both domestic and business consumers.

Responding to these challenges within the context of trying to make UK policy work in an all-island market places Northern Ireland in a unique position.

This inquiry consists of a one-off evidence session, the purpose of which is to receive an update from the Commissioner on a number of issues.

These include progress towards the implementation of the institutions agreed within the Stormont House Agreement, support for victims of IRA attacks that used Gaddafi-supplied weapons and jurisdictional access to victims funding and services.

The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee hold a public evidence session with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP.

This will be the Secretary of State’s first appearance in front of the Committee, and will cover the full range of his responsibilities. Among other issues, the session will cover the implications for Northern Ireland of Brexit, including the future of the land border with the Republic; the security situation and progress in tackling paramilitarism; and recent progress in reaching agreement on legacy matters since the Assembly elections.

The UK and the Republic of Ireland have long-shared a Common Travel Area, allowing the free movement of people, goods and services across the border. The potential implications of Brexit for the land border formed a key part of the debate during the referendum campaign, with contrasting statements made by both sides. Since then, the new Prime Minister has stated that she does not wish to see a return to the borders of the past. The aim of the inquiry will be to assess the options for the future of the border under the different potential scenarios for the UK’s future relationship with the EU.

The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee hold a one-off public evidence session with the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland, Graham Shields. The session will cover issues including the proposed closure of regional electoral offices, the implementation of online voter registration, and lessons learnt from the conduct of the Assembly elections and EU referendum.

The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee held an inquiry into air transport strategy for Northern Ireland, and reported on 30 November 2012.

• Report: An air transport strategy for Northen Ireland
• An air transport strategy for Northern Ireland: Call for evidence

The Committee's inquiry looked at:

• the implications of current air links for Northern Ireland, specifically the economy;
• regional and international connectivity;
• the lack of public transport links to, and between, Belfast International, Belfast City and City of Derry airports;
• the implications for Northern Ireland of the Civil Aviation Bill;
• the implications of the proposed takeover of BMI by IAG; and
• tax policy.

The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee conducted short inquiry into how Air Passenger Duty (APD) affects individuals, airports, airlines, businesses and tourism in Northern Ireland.

Report

The Committee published its Second Report of Session 2010–12, Air Passenger Duty: implications for Northern Ireland (HC 1227), on 8 July 2011.

• Report (HC 1227) (HTML) | (PDF 1 MB)

Response

• Written Ministerial Statement by Miss Chloe Smith MP, Economic Secretary, 21 February 2012
• Government Response to its consultation on Air Passenger Duty, December 2011
• Written Ministerial Statement by Miss Chloe Smith MP, Economic Secretary, 18 October 2011

On 28 July 2010, the Committee announced it would inquire into corporation tax in Northern Ireland. It called for written evidence and held meetings to take oral evidence from witnesses.

While it was looking at corporation tax in Northern Ireland, the Committee announced it would hold an inquiry into the proposal to make Northern Ireland into an enterprise zone. Again, it invited written evidence and took evidence from witnesses.

Ultimately, the Committee viewed that the two subjects were interlinked, and decided to publish all the evidence together in one Report (with transcripts of evidence taken from the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the Exchequer Secretary). It agreed a single Report based on this combined evidence.

The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee inquired into fuel laundering and smuggling. There are several criminal activities associated with fuel in Northern Ireland.

Fuel is smuggled across the border to exploit the differential in duty rates. Fuel is stretched by the addition of other low duty fuels such as kerosene. Fuel can also be laundered so low duty fuels such as red diesel are adulterated and passed off as a higher duty fuel.

The Committee published its Third Report of Session 2010–12, Fuel laundering and smuggling in Northern Ireland (HC 1504), on 27 March 2012.

A follow up evidence session was held with HMRC on 5 September 2012.

The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee undertook pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill (published 11 February 2013). The Committee published its Report on 25 March 2013.

The Committee is holding an inquiry into the banking structure in Northern Ireland.

The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee holds a one-off evidence session with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the Permanent Secretary of the Northern Ireland Office to discuss the outcome of the 2015 Spending Review and the cross-party talks that led to the agreement, ‘A Fresh Start: the Stormont Agreement and Implementation Plan’, in November 2015.

Tourism in Northern Ireland is worth over £750 million to the local economy, and is responsible for 43,000 jobs. The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee has decided to examine whether the UK’s VAT rate places Northern Ireland’s tourism and hospitality sector at a competitive disadvantage, and whether its reduction in Northern Ireland could promote growth.

• Promoting the tourism industry in Northern Ireland through the tax system
• Promoting the tourism industry in Northern Ireland through the tax system (PDF 608 KB)
• Promoting the tourism industry in Northern Ireland through the tax system: Government Response to the Committee's Second Report of Session 2016–17 (PDF 76.6 KB)

• Terms of reference

Northern Ireland Secretary gave evidence on her roles and responsibilities for the Northern Ireland Office.

The report, HM Government support for UK victims of IRA attacks that used Gaddafi-supplied Semtex and weapons, highlights a series of missed opportunities to secure compensation and urges the next government to take firm action to end two decades of failure.

There is no doubt that the weapons, funding, training and explosives provided by the Gaddafi regime to the provisional IRA both extended and exacerbated the Troubles.

In particular, the Semtex that was supplied made possible a deadly bombing campaign from the late 1980s, that included atrocities at Enniskillen, Warrington and the London Docklands amongst many others.

For the inquiry, the Committee will look at in particular:

• Background to, and origins of, the scheme, and what was the purpose and intended effect of the scheme
• The scheme itself, including the determination of who constitutes “on-the-runs”
• The legal status and legal implications of the scheme
• Involvement by HM Government, other Governments, the Attorney General’s Office, the Armed Forces, Police services, The Public
• Prosecution Service for NI, and any others, and any advice sought by them
• Accountability to Parliament about the scheme, and the political implications of the scheme
• People on the scheme
• The letters themselves, including their contents and their legal standing; can holders of such letters still be prosecuted if the relevant authorities deem such action to be appropriate
• The Royal Prerogative of Mercy
• Errors made under the scheme
• The impact of the scheme on victims and relatives
• Devolution of policing and justice
• The current situation regarding the scheme and “on-the-runs”
• What effect does the scheme have on existing Human Rights and/or Equalities legislation
• The future regarding “on-the-runs” and others
• Any other related matters

Inquiry timeline

Watch the videos of all the evidence sessions with the most recent first in the Committee's inquiry timeline

• Administrative scheme for "on-the-runs" inquiry timeline

The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee is launching an inquiry into the funding of public services in Northern Ireland.