Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Government of Mexico on the protection of the Christian and indigenous communities displaced in May by organised criminal violence in Guerrero State.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided in the House of Commons on 8 June in response to Question 5388 - which for ease of reference is reproduced below:
The UK is committed to promoting freedom of religion or belief and to the freedom of expression globally. We are concerned by reports of violence against indigenous and rural communities in Mexico. Any violence against indigenous communities must be fully investigated. We regularly engage with the Mexican authorities and civil society on the issue of the protection of civilians, as well as with the UN in Mexico on the effective investigation of crimes against human rights defenders.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the provisions of the Windsor Framework relating to VAT on the ability to reduce the rate of VAT for the hospitality sector in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The UK’s standard VAT rate of 20 per cent is close to the OECD average of 19.3 per cent and is forecast to raise almost £190 billion in 2026/27.VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the standard rate applies to most goods and services. VAT on services, including hospitality, does not fall within the scope of the Windsor Framework.
There are no current plans to introduce regionally differentiated VAT rates for hospitality, which would add complexity to the tax system.
The Government has announced the Great British Summer Savings scheme. This provides a temporary reduction in VAT from 20 per cent to 5 per cent from 25 June to 1 September 2026 on eligible children’s meals, family leisure tickets and admission to summer attractions across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, providing targeted support for families and for hospitality and tourism businesses across the UK.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions have been held with the Northern Ireland Executive about differential VAT rates for areas of the UK which are in direct competition with hospitality businesses in another jurisdiction.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The UK’s standard VAT rate of 20 per cent is close to the OECD average of 19.3 per cent and is forecast to raise almost £190 billion in 2026/27.VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the standard rate applies to most goods and services. VAT on services, including hospitality, does not fall within the scope of the Windsor Framework.
There are no current plans to introduce regionally differentiated VAT rates for hospitality, which would add complexity to the tax system.
The Government has announced the Great British Summer Savings scheme. This provides a temporary reduction in VAT from 20 per cent to 5 per cent from 25 June to 1 September 2026 on eligible children’s meals, family leisure tickets and admission to summer attractions across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, providing targeted support for families and for hospitality and tourism businesses across the UK.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what recent assessment has been made of the impact of the 20 per cent VAT rate on the competitiveness of the UK tourism and hospitality sectors.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The UK’s standard VAT rate of 20 per cent is close to the OECD average of 19.3 per cent and is forecast to raise almost £190 billion in 2026/27.VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the standard rate applies to most goods and services. VAT on services, including hospitality, does not fall within the scope of the Windsor Framework.
There are no current plans to introduce regionally differentiated VAT rates for hospitality, which would add complexity to the tax system.
The Government has announced the Great British Summer Savings scheme. This provides a temporary reduction in VAT from 20 per cent to 5 per cent from 25 June to 1 September 2026 on eligible children’s meals, family leisure tickets and admission to summer attractions across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, providing targeted support for families and for hospitality and tourism businesses across the UK.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the impact of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (Extension to Maritime Activities) Order 2026 on freight and passenger costs on routes between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Compliance costs from the UK Emission Trading Scheme fall on ship operators, not passengers, and any fuel or ticket price changes are commercial decisions. Internal analysis, including route specific case studies, indicates final cost impacts on Great Britain–Northern Ireland voyages are minimal for passengers on key ferry routes and well under 1% for freight goods. These findings are consistent with international evidence showing only low single digit ticket price changes, not the larger increases suggested.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consultation was undertaken with the Northern Ireland Executive and Northern Ireland-based maritime operators about the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (Extension to Maritime Activities) Order 2026 before its implementation.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
This policy has been developed jointly by the UK ETS Authority, which includes the Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). As with all Authority decisions, DAERA have an equal say on policy positions.
The Authority has conducted extensive consultation with stakeholders over the period between the first consultation in March 2022 and the response to the second consultation in November 2025.
Detailed consideration has been given to Northern Ireland’s specific circumstances, including the convening of several in-person and online engagement sessions with Northern Irish stakeholders, including Stena Line, Warrenpoint Port and B9 Energy Storage Ltd.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the economic impact of extending the UK Emissions Trading Scheme to maritime activities on ferry routes between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, including on trade flows.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government has assessed the economic impact of bringing maritime activities into the UK Emissions Trading Scheme through the published Impact Assessment, which found a positive net present social value for the UK as a whole.
Independent analysis by Frontier Economics identified no material risk of carbon leakage, diversion of trade, or competitive distortion on Great Britain–Northern Ireland routes. Internal route specific case studies also show very small effects on final prices, with increases of under 1% for typical freight goods. Overall, the policy delivers emissions reductions and wider economic benefits in the most cost-effective way possible.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Northern Ireland Executive regarding the withdrawal of the proposed investment by the US financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald; and what discussions they have had with the Northern Ireland Executive and Invest Northern Ireland to support alternative inward investment and employment opportunities.
Answered by Lord Stockwood - Minister of State (HM Treasury)
In April 2025 Invest NI informed DBT that a potential investment by Cantor Fitzgerald would not be proceeding.
DBT continues to work collaboratively with Northern Ireland Executive departments, Invest NI, and other key stakeholders to support inward investment into Northern Ireland. DBT’s extensive international network promotes Northern Ireland as an excellent investment destination within the UK.
In September 2025 Bank of America committed to opening a new office in Belfast creating up to 1,000 roles and recruitment for the first wave of roles is underway. This announcement highlights the continued growth in US investment into Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Mali about the detention of former Prime Minister Moussa Mara.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK regularly calls on Mali to respect international law and to uphold their international human rights obligations. For example, during the recent Human Rights High Level Week in Geneva, the Minister for Multilateral and Human Rights met Mali's Minister of Justice and reiterated the importance of respect for human rights, whilst pressing for continued engagement with the UN Human Rights Council and its mechanisms. Justice and respect for human rights are fundamental to achieving long-term security and stability.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the global level of antisemitism; and how the protection of Jewish communities is reflected in the UK’s foreign policy.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
Antisemitism is completely abhorrent and has no place in our or any society. The global rise in antisemitism is deeply concerning and the UK is taking a strong lead in tackling it in all its forms at home and overseas.
In a speech marking Holocaust Memorial Day on 26 January, the Foreign Secretary underlined her commitment to working with partners around the world to tackle antisemitism, including close collaboration with Canada and Australia in the wake of recent attacks. She also announced that Jon Pearce MP would be appointed as the UK Special Envoy for Post-Holocaust Issues.
This appointment represents the UK's unwavering commitment to the protection of the Jewish community in the UK and abroad. The Envoy will ensure that the UK continues to play a prominent role in international discussions on all Holocaust related matters, including working with international partners, and representing the UK in relevant international fora, including as Head of the UK Delegation to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).
In 2024, the UK supported the development of new Global Guidelines for Countering Antisemitism, which are largely based on the UK's best practice in tackling antisemitism. We continue to urge countries to adopt these guidelines, as well as the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism.