VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Domestic Visits: Northern Ireland

Asked by Carla LockhartDemocratic Unionist PartyNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled Answered 20 January 2026UIN 105082

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many visits has each Secretary of State made to Northern Ireland since taking office.

Answered by Hilary Benn

The Northern Ireland Office holds the following information:

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has travelled to Northern Ireland on 54 occasions since taking office.

The Prime Minister has visited Northern Ireland twice since taking office.

The Chancellor has visited once.

The Foreign Secretary has visited once.

The Secretary of State for Education has visited once.

The former Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, visited once.

The former Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Pat McFadden, visited twice.

The former Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Peter Kyle, visited twice.

In addition, there have been 37 visits by other members of the Government to Northern Ireland since 5 July 2024.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim