AQO 2005/22-27

Miss Nuala McAllister
Alliance Party
North Belfast

Tabled Date: 08/05/2025
Answered On Date: 19/05/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Finance for an update on his Department's engagement with the UK Government regarding the Hillsborough Law.

Answer:

I welcome the proposed Hillsborough Law as a way of increasing candour and transparency in the public sector.

The Executive has agreed to support the extension of the provisions of the proposed Hillsborough Law legislation here, subject to a Legislative Consent Motion of the Assembly. We agree that our support will depend upon our assessment of the Bill as it is published, and our analysis of its effect in this jurisdiction.

I met Nick Thomas-Symonds, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on 11 March to discuss the proposed Bill, and my officials are in contact with the Bill team and the implementation team in Whitehall.

Department of Finance officials have also convened a cross-departmental working group to consider the drafting of the legislation and its implementation in due course.