Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what tangible outcomes have resulted from the Northern Ireland Investment Summit in Belfast on 12–13 September.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
1000 jobs were announced at the Summit and work is now underway to deliver a strong legacy from it, with more investments expected as a result, including follow up activity such as the No. 10 hosted venture capital roundtable, aimed at encouraging venture capital investment into Northern Ireland. We also offered support for Joe Kennedy III’s incoming mission to Northern Ireland in October 2023 (US Special Economic Envoy to Northern Ireland).
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with (1) representatives of the devolved governments, and (2) trade unions, regarding the geographical discrepancies in starting salaries for teachers across the UK.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) makes recommendations on Teachers’ Pay and Conditions in maintained schools in England. If my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, agrees to these recommendations they are implemented through the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document.
In 2023/24, the government fully accepted the STRB’s recommendations for teachers’ and leaders’ pay awards.
This means that teachers and leaders in maintained schools received a pay award of 6.5% this academic year, the highest pay award for teachers in over thirty years.
This award also delivered the government’s manifesto commitment of a minimum £30,000 starting salary for school teachers in all regions of the country, with a pay award of up to 7.1% for new teachers outside London.
Teacher pay is a devolved matter in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and is not affected by this pay award. Any decisions on pay within the education sector of devolved administrations is a matter for their national governments to decide upon. Departmental officials have regular contact and discussions with their devolved administration counterparts on developments on respective pay and conditions policy.
The department engages with unions regarding pay and other matters throughout the year. Furthermore, all statutory consultees (including unions) have the opportunity to provide written and oral evidence to the STRB and are consulted on the department’s proposals for pay and conditions.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care intends to respond to the letter from Lord Rogan dated 13 October 2023 enclosing correspondence on behalf of the board of trustees of EGFR Positive UK, and if so, when.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department has received the noble lord’s letter of 13 October 2023 and will reply as soon as possible.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much Round 3 Levelling Up funding has been ring-fenced for spending in Northern Ireland; and when, and by whom, the decision was taken to exclude Northern Ireland from the announcement on 20 November regarding the release of Round 3 funding for the rest of the UK.
Answered by Baroness Penn - Minister on Leave (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State)
£30 million has been reserved for Northern Ireland from Levelling Up Fund round 3. The Northern Ireland budget pressure is a critical factor affecting Northern Ireland’s economic prosperity and the lives of citizens. In this context it is right that UK Government should consider its approach to funding available for Northern Ireland in a rounded way. As part of our commitment to levelling up, we want to work with a restored Executive to find the best approach to supporting people in Northern Ireland, taking account of current budget pressures.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the long-term impact of the redevelopment of Casement Park in preparation for hosting the UEFA Euro 2028 competition on domestic football in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Lord Caine - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Northern Ireland Regional Stadia Programme, including the redevelopment of Casement Park, is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Department for Communities.
Matters such as the assessment of the long-term impacts of the completion of stadiums in Northern Ireland rests with the Department for Communities and the Regional Stadia Development Programme Board. My department has no role in the Regional Stadium Development Board.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to deploy UK Armed Forces to the Indo-Pacific region to help counter the threat from China to Taiwan.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The UK has a clear interest in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. We consider the Taiwan issue one to be settled peacefully by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion. We do not support any unilateral attempts to change the status quo. This includes increased Chinese assertiveness towards Taiwan.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had, or are intending to have, with (1) Takeda Pharmaceuticals, and (2) EGFR Positive UK, following the withdrawal of the drug Mobocertinib from the UK market.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is engaging with Takeda Pharmaceuticals. This is to ensure that where appropriate, patients can have continued access to Mobocertinib following its withdrawal from the United Kingdom market.
The MHRA has not had discussions with EGFR Positive UK, but if approached would answer any questions they may have regarding the withdrawal of Mobocertinib from the UK market.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have held with manufacturers about providing support for opening electric vehicle factories in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
My officials regularly engage with the automotive industry to discuss manufacturing opportunities in the UK, including in Devolved Administrations.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 18 September (HL9844), what discussions if any they are holding with the government of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to support both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots living in the village of Pile.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In accordance with the rest of the international community, with the sole exception of Turkey, the UK does not recognise the self-declared 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' as an independent state. The UK recognises the Republic of Cyprus as the sovereign authority for the island of Cyprus. We have engaged with all parties, including Turkish Cypriot authorities, about recent events in the UN Buffer Zone. We welcome the diplomatic understanding announced on 9 October and recognise the constructive approach taken by all sides, along with the critical role of the UN, to find a way forward that meets the needs of both communities.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of food purchased by UK public sector bodies in each of the last three years has been sourced from UK producers.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government does not collect data on the quantity of UK produced food sourced by public sector bodies. Defra consulted on proposed changes to the public sector Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services last year and expect to publish revised standards in due course. Proposed changes to data reporting in the public sector supply chain formed part of this consultation.