Northern Ireland has a rich and vibrant hospitality sector, with a wide range of pubs and brewing companies. Recent examples such as the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Belfast have demonstrated the vital role this sector plays in the economy and life of Northern Ireland.

This Government has shown its commitment to supporting the brewing and pub sector with Pubs, clubs and live music venues receiving a 20% cut to their business rates bills. This is of course devolved to Northern Ireland, but the Government wants to work with the Executive to support our pubs and brewers amidst the rising cost of living.

The Cabinet Siting and Pole Siting Code of Practice 2016 provides guidance on ways operators can ensure installations are placed appropriately, and that local authorities and communities are engaged. Operators deploying telegraph poles under permitted development rights must notify the local planning authority at least 28 days in advance. The Code of Practice also sets out that operators should place a site notice informing nearby residents of a proposed pole.

This is supplemented by revised industry guidance. The Telecommunications Poles Working Group published its Best Practice Recommendations in March 2025, which sets out expectations for operators on siting infrastructure and community engagement.

I will place a copy of the Cabinet Siting and Pole siting Code of Practice 2016 as well as the Best Practice Recommendations 2025 in the libraries of both Houses.

The Cabinet Siting and Pole Siting Code of Practice 2016 provides guidance on ways operators can ensure installations are placed appropriately, and that local authorities and communities are engaged. Operators deploying telegraph poles under permitted development rights must notify the local planning authority at least 28 days in advance. The Code of Practice also sets out that operators should place a site notice informing nearby residents of a proposed pole.

This is supplemented by revised industry guidance. The Telecommunications Poles Working Group published its Best Practice Recommendations in March 2025, which sets out expectations for operators on siting infrastructure and community engagement.

I will place a copy of the Cabinet Siting and Pole siting Code of Practice 2016 as well as the Best Practice Recommendations 2025 in the libraries of both Houses.

The Prime Minister wants power, opportunity and investment spread more fairly across the country, so that every town, city and community can share in economic success. No10 North is about taking power and decision-making out of Westminster and putting it closer to people's lives.

Housing and homelessness policy and legislation are devolved matters. The Northern Ireland Executive is responsible for homelessness policy, legislation and services in Northern Ireland, including the development of its own homelessness strategies. MHCLG's homelessness strategy applies to England only.

We continue to engage with counterparts in the devolved administrations to share learning and discuss issues of common interest, including homelessness.

The Government has announced a cut in VAT on electricity bills to give millions of households breathing space on the cost of living. These changes to VAT apply and are funded for this winter (from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027).

The Windsor Framework provides the legal basis and mechanism for changes to VAT on goods in Northern Ireland, and the Government has begun discussions about with the European Union on applying this mechanism for these changes.

To ensure that households in Northern Ireland receive the same support as quickly as the rest of the UK, the Northern Ireland Executive will receive comparable funding to enable it to support households in Northern Ireland with the cost of living this winter.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland remains committed to working with the Northern Ireland Executive to discuss all issues of interest, including ensuring the stability of devolved government, with the aim of improving public services and the sustainability of public finances.

Several of the Northern Ireland parties have set out proposals for reform and the Secretary of State looks forward to discussing them further.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland recognises the growing discussion among the people in Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland parties, about how the political institutions could work more effectively and collaboratively.

The UK Government remains open to discussing any proposals put forward by the parties that could command the widest possible support.

The Irish Government is a valued partner and co-signatory to the Good Friday Agreement. We remain in regular dialogue on a range of issues, through established fora.

The Government is committed to building a closer and ambitious relationship with the EU, to the advantage of the whole of the UK. This includes through new agreements on agri-food, electricity and emissions trading, which will benefit Northern Ireland through the Windsor Framework by smoothing flows of trade, lowering prices and increasing choice for consumers.

The Government remains clear that Northern Ireland’s trading arrangements should serve to prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland, account for Northern Ireland’s unique circumstances, and in doing so protect its access to both the UK and EU markets. Only that way can we deliver the certainty for businesses that has made Northern Ireland one of the fastest growing parts of the UK.

Fleur Ravensbergen is undertaking this scoping exercise independently of the Government. To protect the independence of this role we have not been assessing her work as it progresses. We expect to receive her report in the Autumn and will take time to carefully and thoroughly consider it.

The Government is committed to retaining Part 4 of the Legacy Act, which includes the oral history and other measures stemming from the Stormont House Agreement.

The full implementation of Part 4 was difficult in the challenging context created by the Legacy Act’s other provisions, which were widely opposed by all Northern Ireland political parties, victims’ groups and key stakeholders. That is why this Government’s focus has necessarily been on addressing the problems with the Legacy Act by ensuring a reformed and strengthened Legacy Commission can deliver for victims. This in turn will create the space for Part 4 measures to make a meaningful impact.

While preliminary work on these measures continues, progress has been made on two related initiatives: an Official History relating to the Troubles, and a project to digitise and make freely available online Troubles-related records held by The National Archives. A first batch of approximately 1,000 records was published in April 2026 and we expect further announcements on these projects in the near future.

The Government remains committed to an independent and objective examination of UK Government policy in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, and progress continues to be made. Supported by the project’s independent expert advisory panel, the recruitment of a team of historians is now in its final stages, and we expect to make further announcements on this in the near future. The total budget for the project is £3.6 million over its life cycle. The estimated timetable for completion is five years.

This Government continues to support Northern Ireland within the Union. We remain focused on delivering real, tangible benefits of the Union for everyone in Northern Ireland. This includes delivering economic growth in every postcode, providing practical support for families in Northern Ireland and across the UK, and working in partnership with the Northern Ireland Executive for the benefit of the people of Northern Ireland.

In accordance with the Good Friday Agreement and the Principle of Consent, Northern Ireland will remain part of the UK for as long as its people wish for it to be.

There is no clear basis to suggest that a majority of people in Northern Ireland presently wish to separate from the United Kingdom.

As set out in the Northern Ireland Act 1998, the duty to call such a poll rests with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland alone.

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided on 14 July (HL1786), which outlines how the referenced commitment is embedded throughout the continued work of the Government.

The implementation of several Government strategies have been accompanied by the publication of Northern Ireland-specific papers that evidence the mutual benefits of the Union and include long-term plans to support specific sectors. For instance, the launch of the Industrial Strategy in June 2025 was complemented by the publication of a Northern Ireland-specific paper. This paper analysed the Northern Ireland industrial sector, identified the key areas that add significant value to the UK as a whole, and outlined the long-term plan to support and grow the sector.

Through this approach, the Government is moving beyond high-level commitments to deliver tangible results that demonstrate the mutual benefits of Northern Ireland’s place in the Union.

The Government cooperates closely with the Irish Government on the security of the Common Travel Area, with a focus on preventing abuse of free movement by those not entitled to the Common Travel Area’s benefits. Cross-border security is a standing agenda item at the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, with the next Conference expected later this year.