Asked by: Alex Easton (Independent - North Down)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of recent changes to steel import quotas and tariffs on UK manufacturing businesses; and whether he plans to undertake a review of those changes.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government held extensive consultations with producers and downstream users of steel to inform development of the new steel trade measure, including a Call for Evidence in July 2025, and will continue to engage regularly with companies across the supply chain. The measure has been carefully designed to minimise downstream impacts while addressing the existential threat to UK steelmaking. The Government will monitor implementation of the measure and conduct a review after twelve months to ensure it remains effective and that the balance is right for both producers and downstream users.
Asked by: Alex Easton (Independent - North Down)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made with the devolved Administrations of the resilience of the UK’s insulin supply chain; and whether his Department has assessed the potential merits of supporting increased domestic insulin manufacturing capacity in order to improve long-term supply security.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department is aware of supply issues with some insulin presentations. However, a variety of alternative insulin products remain available, some of which are also suitable alternatives to those affected by shortages or discontinuations. We continue to work closely with the suppliers to ensure alternative insulin products can continue to support increased demand. We have issued comprehensive management guidance to the National Health Service, including all general practitioners and community pharmacists.
The resilience of United Kingdom supply chains is a key priority, and the Department and NHS England are committed to helping to build long-term supply chain resilience for medicines. We are continually learning and seeking to further improve the way we work to both manage and help prevent supply issues and avoid shortages. The Department, working closely with NHS England, is taking forward a range of actions to improve our ability to mitigate and manage shortages and strengthen our resilience. As part of that work, we continue to engage with industry, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and other colleagues across the supply chain as we progress work to co-design and deliver solutions. However, medicine shortages are a complex and global issue and everyone in the supply chain has a role to play in addressing them, and any action will require a collaborative approach. The Government is also enhancing domestic manufacturing capability alongside strengthening international partnerships to build long-term supply resilience and help ensure patients can access the medical products they need.
We are not aware of any current plans to increase domestic production of insulin specifically, but we continue to engage with the pharmaceutical industry and other stakeholders to ensure continuity of supply.
Asked by: Alex Easton (Independent - North Down)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Defence and Cabinet colleagues on the potential role of the Royal Navy in ensuring the safe passage of British-registered vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
I have regular meetings with Cabinet colleagues on the conflict in Iran, and its impact..
The Government is committed to finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict and ensuring the safety of British vessels, and the UK is playing a leading role jointly with France to secure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz through a multinational military mission. Further planning for the UK’s contribution to the multinational mission is ongoing in coordination with international partners.
Asked by: Alex Easton (Independent - North Down)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the volume of retail goods purchased in Northern Ireland and subsequently transported by consumers into the Republic of Ireland.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HM Revenue and Customs does not hold an estimate of the volume of retail goods purchased in Northern Ireland and subsequently transported by consumers into the Republic of Ireland.
There is no routine data collection on the movement of retail goods carried by individual consumers across the land border, and such movements are not subject to customs declarations.
Asked by: Alex Easton (Independent - North Down)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many consignments moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland are declared as at risk of onward movement to the EU; and what estimate she has made of the proportion of those consignments that subsequently move into the Republic of Ireland.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government remains committed to the smooth flow of goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. On 5 November, the Independent Monitoring Panel reported that the Internal Market Guarantee was exceeded for its first monitoring period. This means that 96% of the value of freight was moved within the UK internal market system. HMRC does not hold information on goods declared ‘at risk’ upon entry to Northern Ireland that subsequently enter the EU.
Asked by: Alex Easton (Independent - North Down)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the impact of the (a) administrative burden and (b) associated costs of the “at risk” criteria on small and medium-sized enterprises moving goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government remains committed to the smooth flow of goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.
The Government has set out the Internal Market Guarantee that 80% of the value of freight will move under the UK internal market system. On 5 November, the Independent Monitoring Panel reported that the Internal Market Guarantee had been exceeded for its first monitoring period, with 96% of the value moved under the UK internal market system.
HMRC provides substantial support with guidance, engagement and other education for businesses of all sizes which do move goods at risk. The Trader Support Service is free for all businesses to use and can facilitate all goods movements between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Alex Easton (Independent - North Down)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland regarding the potential impact of an increase in fuel costs on the agricultural sector in Northern Ireland; and whether she is considering targeted support measures for farmers.
Answered by James Murray - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The Government is actively monitoring the increase in fuel costs across the whole of the UK, including in Northern Ireland, and any impacts on our food and farming sectors.
The Government has already announced that the 5p fuel duty cut will be extended until September.
Asked by: Alex Easton (Independent - North Down)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of a reduced rate of VAT for businesses in Northern Ireland on economic growth and competitiveness; and whether her Department has considered piloting such a measure in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
VAT operates on a UK-wide basis and is a broad-based tax on consumption with the 20 per cent standard rate applying to most goods and services. VAT is the UK’s second largest tax, forecast to raise £180 billion in 2025/26.
Tax breaks reduce the revenue available for vital public services and must represent value for money for the taxpayer.
Asked by: Alex Easton (Independent - North Down)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to investigate reports of individuals submitting fraudulent claims in support of visa or asylum applications; and whether she plans to review visas granted in cases where claims relating to sexual orientation have been made from countries assessed as presenting a higher risk of fraudulent applications.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Home Office does not tolerate abuse of the immigration and asylum system and where we encounter such abuse, we take action. Protection status can and will be revoked where evidence emerges that it was obtained by deception.
If someone has concerns that a specific asylum claim may have been made fraudulently, these can be reported here: Report an immigration or border crime - GOV.UK. Any such reports will be fully investigated.
Furthermore, claiming asylum on the grounds of sexual orientation does not automatically result in a grant of asylum or other form of leave. All asylum and human rights claims, including those raised on grounds of sexual orientation are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations. Our guidance for considering asylum claims is available on GOV.UK at: Assessing credibility and refugee status: caseworker guidance - GOV.UK.
A decision maker will not accept a person’s claimed sexual orientation at face value, such declarations constitute the starting point in the consideration process and are subject to probing at interview and a proper assessment of the facts and circumstances.
Each individual assessment is made against the background of relevant case law and the latest available country of origin information. Our assessment of the situation of a given group in a given country is set out in the relevant country policy and information note, which is available on GOV.UK at: www.gov.uk/government/collections/country-policy-and-information-notes.
Asked by: Alex Easton (Independent - North Down)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Prime Minister had discussions with the Irish Government on the potential transfer of ownership or control of public assets in Northern Ireland to the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Prime Minister met the Taoiseach on March 13. A readout of discussions between the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach are made available on gov.uk.