Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which central funding pathways are available for places of worship in the devolved regions.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Heritage funding is devolved. The Places of Worship Renewal Fund is an England-only scheme starting in 2026/27 with a £23m annual budget. The Northern Irish Government received Barnett consequentials through the Spending Review.
We work with other funders to maximise UK-wide opportunities. Between 2024 and 2027, the National Lottery Heritage Fund expects to invest around £100m in places of worship, including £30m a year via their National Lottery Heritage Grants open programme.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether VAT reimbursements are available under the Places of Worship Renewal Fund.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The new Places of Worship Renewal Fund is a capital grant scheme which will operate in England only as Heritage is a devolved matter. Where capital grants have been awarded, VAT on eligible works and costs will be rebated where it is not otherwise reclaimable.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has considered standardising chargers for defibrillators.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department has not made an assessment of standardising chargers for defibrillators. The Government’s position is that local communities are best placed to make decisions about procuring, locating, and maintaining automated external defibrillators.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he will provide guidance to businesses who sell to consumers in (a) the EU and (b) Northern Ireland prior to the EU Product Directive 2024/2853 coming into effect.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
My Department is working with the Northern Ireland Government on the transposition of the new Product Liability Directive, which will include working with them to consider whether guidance may potentially be helpful to businesses in understanding the new product liability framework. However, it should be noted that the Directive does not impose any additional rules on businesses governing which products may be placed on the EU or Northern Ireland markets, or the safety requirements they must meet.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what safeguard assessments have been put in place to prevent AI profiling of demographics while investigating fraud, as a result of the Quantexa deal.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMRC applies robust data protection, ethical, legal and security frameworks to any use of artificial intelligence across all its activities, including in areas such as fraud investigation and any technology it employs. These tools are used to support HMRC’s ability to understand and better serve customers effectively across tax and excise regimes, using the data it lawfully holds.
HMRC collects only the data necessary for the administration of the tax system and does not routinely collect demographic or protected characteristics data.
HMRC’s approach to assurance is ongoing rather than one-off. Our use of
Quantexa and any inbuilt AI is subject to close monitoring and evaluation throughout the lifecycle to ensure compliance with legal, data protection requirements and alignment with HMRC’s ethical standards and operational objectives.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department is using the Belfast International airport to support military operations targeting Iran.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
Neither Belfast International Airport nor Aldergrove Flying Station, that shares runways with the airport, have been used by the British Military to support the UK's approach in relation to Iran, which is focused on de-escalation, regional stability, and the protection of UK personnel and regional allies.