Written questions by Burghart.

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 UK Internal Market Guarantee.

The UK Internal Market Guarantee will apply to the operation of the UK internal market system when it is given effect next year. As envisaged in the Command Paper, this will be overseen by the Independent Monitoring Panel, the appointments to which were confirmed on 19 September with preparatory work for its operation underway.

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 October to Question 7835 on Terrorism: Northern Ireland, if he will publish details of all requests for public inquiries that he has considered.

I do not intend to publish details of the requests I receive for public inquiries. I have written to those whose requests I have recently considered.

With reference to his Department's publication entitled Safeguarding the Union, published on 31 January 2024, what progress his Department has made on the implementation of the measures set out in paragraph 43.

The Government is committed to taking all steps necessary to protect the UK internal market. We continue to make significant progress on measures set out in paragraph 43 of the Safeguarding the Union Command Paper. Recent progress includes confirmation of the appointment of Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee as Chair of Intertrade UK; the establishment of the Independent Monitoring Panel; and statutory guidance to public authorities on how they should ensure they have special regard to Northern Ireland’s place in the UK internal market.

Pursuant to the Answer of 8 October 2024 to Question 5643 on Terrorism: Northern Ireland, how many requests for public inquiries he is considering.

I have recently considered several requests for public inquiries and decided to ask all the families involved to get in touch with the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR). The Government will consider any further requests on a case-by-case basis.

Whether he plans to appeal against the judgment of the Belfast Court of Appeal in the challenge to the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023, delivered on 20 September 2024.

On 7 October 2024, I laid a Written Ministerial Statement in Parliament providing the Government’s initial response to the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal’s judgment in Dillon & Others. The statement can be found here: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2024-10-07/hcws108. This is a complex and wide-ranging judgment with significant implications. The Government is therefore carefully considering its findings to inform a decision on the way forward.