Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with (a) Ofgem and (b) energy companies on introducing a social tariff for low-income households.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is committed to supporting low-income households this winter, and we are continuing to deliver the Warm Home Discount which provides an annual £150 rebate off energy bills to eligible low-income households.
Last month, I met with energy suppliers to discuss the support we will provide to customers struggling with bills this winter, and my team and I will continue to work closely with suppliers in the weeks ahead. The Government expects energy suppliers to do everything they can to support consumers who are struggling with their bills.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to ensure that journalists in Northern Ireland are protected from (a) threats of violence from paramilitary groups, (b) surveillance from security forces and (c) pressure to reveal sources.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
A free, independent media is a cornerstone of our democracy. It is vital that journalists are able to continue their work without the fear of attack or threat. The Department of Digital, Culture, Media & Sport is responsible for the National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists which sets out our approach to increase the safety of journalists.
We work closely with the Northern Ireland Executive in their efforts to tackle the threat and harm caused by paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland. I commend the PSNI on the progress they have made to address journalist safety in Northern Ireland. Two Journalist Safety Officers have been appointed and are notified of all reports of threats to journalists. An internal Journalist Safety Group has also been established.
There are a number of robust legal protections afforded to journalists and their sources. These include Article 10 of The European Convention on Human Rights, the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, and the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989. In addition, the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) can consider allegations of unlawful intrusion by public bodies, including the UK intelligence services and Police.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Police Service of Northern Ireland on recent threats of violence against a Sunday World journalist.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Journalists play a vital role in our society. It is unacceptable that they should find themselves threatened for doing their job.
I meet regularly with the Chief Constable and his senior team regarding national security and discuss a range of issues. I commend the PSNI on the progress they have made to address journalist safety in Northern Ireland. Two Journalist Safety Officers have been appointed and are notified of all reports of threats to journalists. An internal Journalist Safety Group has also been established.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the extender producer responsibility scheme on sustainable glass producers.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
No, the 2022 PePR impact assessment made an assessment of the impact of introducing the scheme on packaging producers as a whole. This does not split the assessment by sector. The Government has now published the first set of pEPR illustrative base fees and is undertaking engagement with relevant industry to ensure that they are based on the best evidence to date. As part of this engagement, the impact on specific packaging sectors is being discussed.
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, what recent discussions she has had with contractors on the provision of appropriate accommodation for asylum seeker families in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)
Home Office officials meet regularly with our accommodation provider for Northern Ireland, Mears, who are obliged under the Asylum Accommodation and Support Services Contract (AASC) to ensure that asylum accommodation meets all statutory requirements.
The AASC Statement of Requirements below gives a detailed breakdown of all of the services to be undertaken by our accommodation providers and the standards we expect: http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2018-1112/AASC_-_Schedule_2_-_Statement_of_Requirements.pdf(opens in a new tab).
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to advance clean water, sanitation, and hygiene programmes globally.
Answered by Anneliese Dodds - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to advancing access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in developing countries and for those most likely to be marginalised, including women and girls. Our £18.5 million WASH Systems for Health programme is supporting governments in six developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia to strengthen WASH systems. The UK also provides support to UNICEF to strengthen the capacity of 11 government partners to establish climate resilient WASH services. Last month I announced a new package of aid for Sudan, South Sudan and Chad. This package includes provision for 40,000 displaced people with safe water in South Sudan. Additionally, support to the Sanitation and Water for All partnership supports the leadership, collaboration and accountability needed for progress globally.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with the (a) NI Executive and (b) Police Service of Northern Ireland on anti-immigration disorder and violence in Belfast in August 2024.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The disorder was unacceptable and does not represent the real Northern Ireland. Public safety and community cohesion are primarily the responsibility of local elected Ministers and I have therefore remained in close contact with the NI Executive and the Police Service of Northern Ireland on this matter.
I met the First and deputy First Minister and spoke with the Justice Minister who all share my shock and concern at the targeting of violence and intimidation towards minority communities in Northern Ireland.
I also met the Chief Constable to express my sincere thanks to the PSNI for working tirelessly in extremely difficult conditions to keep communities in Northern Ireland safe. My officials and I continue to engage regularly with the PSNI.
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 his Department has had discussions with Leukaemia UK on publication of a cancer strategy.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department has not had discussions with Leukaemia UK regarding the publication of a cancer strategy. The NHS Long Term Plan, published in January 2019, sets out the National Health Service’s current key ambitions on cancer. The plan sets out the NHS ambition to increase the number of cancers diagnosed at stages 1 and 2 to 75%, to increase the number of people surviving cancer for five years by 55,000 as a result.
Professor Lord Darzi is currently undertaking an independent investigation into the state of the NHS, the findings of which will feed into the Government’s 10-year plan to build a health service that is fit for the future. The Government will set out any further priorities on cancer and health in due course.
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 discussions she has had with regulators on ensuring that the insurance industry treats consumers equally in all regions.
Answered by Tulip Siddiq - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
Treasury Ministers and officials have regular meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors on an ongoing basis.
The Government is determined that insurers should treat all customers fairly and insurance companies are required to do so under the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) rules.
The FCA is an independent body responsible for regulating and supervising the financial services industry across the United Kingdom and has robust powers to act against firms that fail to comply with its rules.
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 his Department plans to review the immigration health surcharge.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government has not announced any plans to review the policy.