Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much of their annual budget does the National Crime Agency spend on specifically investigating criminality in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)
As a matter of longstanding policy the National Crime Agency does not providebreakdowns and estimates on the specific budget allocations by location.
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, how many meetings or requests for meetings she has had from the Northern Ireland Finance Minister on the the Northern Ireland draft budget since the start of the financial year.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
I lead HM Treasury’s engagement with the Northern Ireland Executive on matters relating to Northern Ireland’s public finances. I most recently met the Northern Ireland Finance Minister on 15 June 2026 and maintain regular engagement through the Finance: Interministerial Standing Committee (F:ISC).
HM Treasury officials remain in regular contact with Northern Ireland Executive on matters relating to Northern Ireland's finances.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, has the Research, Information and Communications Unit within the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism supported the Police Service of Northern Ireland in Policing Operations over the last 24 months.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
RICU conducts open source monitoring to highlight radicalisation risks. Its work supports the wider counter-terrorism system by providing analysis on terrorist and extremist use of propaganda and exploitation of the internet to inform the UK’s counter terrorism system. All activity complies with relevant legislation. RICU provides updates to a range of partners across HMG, including the Northern Ireland Office and national and regional Police forces.
RICU operates within the framework of Home Office governance, including ministerial accountability and established departmental oversight processes. Ministers have authorised RICU’s work since its establishment and receive its outputs as part of the Department’s wider counter-terrorism activity.
The team’s work is subject to appropriate internal assurance and external scrutiny, including by Parliament.
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 assessment she has made of her Department's ability to deliver an automatic release process for HMRC-allocated accounts for unclaimed monies from Child Trust funds.
Answered by Rachel Blake - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is aware of proposals for the automatic release of funds in unclaimed matured Child Trust Fund (CTF) accounts, where the account was opened by HMRC. These savings belong to the account holders and are held by private sector providers. The Government does not have the authority to access or transfer these funds.
The Government is committed to reuniting young people with their CTFs. HMRC works with providers, industry representatives and others to raise awareness and help individuals trace their accounts, including through targeted communications and a free GOV.UK tracing service.
The Government has also established a dedicated Taskforce to address unclaimed matured CTF accounts and improve outcomes for account holders. This brings together Government and industry to strengthen tracing activity, increase engagement, and support access to funds.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, in relation to the Infected Blood Compensation Authority, whether the estates of a deceased affected person who died prior to 21 May 2024 will be eligible to make a claim for compensation.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
No, estates of a deceased affected person who died prior to 21 May 2024 will not be eligible to make a claim on behalf of the estate. In its July 2025 Additional Report, the Inquiry recommended that the compensation scheme be amended so that the estate of a deceased affected person will be eligible to claim compensation where an affected person passed away between 21 May 2024 and 31 March 2029. This is to acknowledge that the passage of time in delivering payments to the affected community since the Compensation Scheme was announced has left some at a disadvantage.
Following the Inquiry’s recommendation, we have amended the scheme so that the estate of a deceased affected person is now eligible to claim compensation where an affected person passed away between 21 May 2024 and 31 March 2031. This date range is a further two years than the date range recommended by the Inquiry.
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 facilitating United States aircraft at Belfast International Airport or Aldergrove Flying Station on missions supporting their military operations in Iran.
Answered by Al Carns
Aldergrove Flying Station (AFS) routinely supports Belfast International Airport by providing additional parking on its estate for visiting NATO aircraft to separate military from civilian aircraft. This is coordinated locally between AFS and Belfast International Airport staff. There is no direct relationship between AFS and visiting military forces.
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.