Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of veterinary medicine to treat botulism in cattle in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government is committed to taking steps to support the availability of veterinary medicines to Northern Ireland after the end of 2025.

Regarding the botulism vaccines, the situation will not change. Veterinary surgeons can continue to access the vaccines after 31 December; in the same way they do now.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of banning the shooting of hares in their breeding season.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government considers the need for a close season for hares is justified more by animal welfare concerns than biodiversity and species conservation. In short, a close season should reduce the number of adult hares being shot in the breeding season, which runs from February to October, meaning that fewer leverets (infant hares) are left motherless and vulnerable to starvation and predation. A close season is also consistent with Natural England's advice on wildlife management that controlling species in their peak breeding season should be avoided unless genuinely essential and unavoidable. Defra Ministers therefore support the ambition to introduce a close season for hares in England and are considering how this can be brought forward.

Road Traffic (No. 2)

Road Traffic

Celtic FC supporters and banner

Royal Black Preceptory 1000, Royal Black Institution and the Royal 13th at Scarva

12 July celebrations and commending the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland

Impact of net zero targets on UK agriculture and rural communities

Irish Republic and Israel

Twelfth July Celebrations 2025

Impact of net zero policies on the agricultural sector and rural communities

150th anniversary of Carleton Street Orange Hall

80 years of Christian Aid

Dedication of LOL1363 Arch

10th anniversary of the Museum of Orange Heritage at Sloan’s House

75th anniversary of the Corcreeney Branch, Baker Club, Apprentice Boys of Derry

Anniversary of the Battle of the Somme

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the press release entitled New easier British citizenship route for Irish citizens launched, published on 3 July 2025, what estimate she has made of the number of Irish citizens that will apply for British citizenship through this route.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The route was created following a Private Members’ Bill introduced to the House of Commons by the Right Honourable Gavin Robinson MP on 6 December 2023. The new route reflects the unique historical and geographical position of Ireland, and existing Common Travel Area arrangements. The Act received Royal Assent on the 24 May 2024.

Irish citizens already enjoy settlement rights upon entry to the UK under the provisions of the Common Travel Area.

Irish nationals will not be subject to demonstrating Knowledge of Language and Life in the UK. Irish nationals also are already able to demonstrate the language requirement for naturalisation through being nationals of a majority English-speaking country. We recognise that the UK has a unique relationship with Ireland, and the close historical links, geographical proximity and shared experiences between the two countries mean that those in this group would already have a sufficient knowledge of language and life in the UK.

The Home Office receives approximately 300-400 applications per year from Irish citizens on existing routes.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of Irish citizens who will move to the UK as a result of the new route to British citizenship.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The route was created following a Private Members’ Bill introduced to the House of Commons by the Right Honourable Gavin Robinson MP on 6 December 2023. The new route reflects the unique historical and geographical position of Ireland, and existing Common Travel Area arrangements. The Act received Royal Assent on the 24 May 2024.

Irish citizens already enjoy settlement rights upon entry to the UK under the provisions of the Common Travel Area.

Irish nationals will not be subject to demonstrating Knowledge of Language and Life in the UK. Irish nationals also are already able to demonstrate the language requirement for naturalisation through being nationals of a majority English-speaking country. We recognise that the UK has a unique relationship with Ireland, and the close historical links, geographical proximity and shared experiences between the two countries mean that those in this group would already have a sufficient knowledge of language and life in the UK.

The Home Office receives approximately 300-400 applications per year from Irish citizens on existing routes.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason her Department has created the new route to British citizenship for Irish citizens.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The route was created following a Private Members’ Bill introduced to the House of Commons by the Right Honourable Gavin Robinson MP on 6 December 2023. The new route reflects the unique historical and geographical position of Ireland, and existing Common Travel Area arrangements. The Act received Royal Assent on the 24 May 2024.

Irish citizens already enjoy settlement rights upon entry to the UK under the provisions of the Common Travel Area.

Irish nationals will not be subject to demonstrating Knowledge of Language and Life in the UK. Irish nationals also are already able to demonstrate the language requirement for naturalisation through being nationals of a majority English-speaking country. We recognise that the UK has a unique relationship with Ireland, and the close historical links, geographical proximity and shared experiences between the two countries mean that those in this group would already have a sufficient knowledge of language and life in the UK.

The Home Office receives approximately 300-400 applications per year from Irish citizens on existing routes.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason the new route to British citizenship for Irish citizens has removed the (a) English language knowledge and (b) Life in the UK test requirements.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The route was created following a Private Members’ Bill introduced to the House of Commons by the Right Honourable Gavin Robinson MP on 6 December 2023. The new route reflects the unique historical and geographical position of Ireland, and existing Common Travel Area arrangements. The Act received Royal Assent on the 24 May 2024.

Irish citizens already enjoy settlement rights upon entry to the UK under the provisions of the Common Travel Area.

Irish nationals will not be subject to demonstrating Knowledge of Language and Life in the UK. Irish nationals also are already able to demonstrate the language requirement for naturalisation through being nationals of a majority English-speaking country. We recognise that the UK has a unique relationship with Ireland, and the close historical links, geographical proximity and shared experiences between the two countries mean that those in this group would already have a sufficient knowledge of language and life in the UK.

The Home Office receives approximately 300-400 applications per year from Irish citizens on existing routes.

Found: bill was “without the rigour or scrutiny necessary to make assisted dying work in practice”.103 Gavin Robinson

Found: bill was “without the rigour or scrutiny necessary to make assisted dying work in practice”.103 Gavin Robinson

Found: Luke Taylor Helen Hayes Marsha De Cordova Dr Allison Gardner Kirsty Blackman Ann Davies Gavin Robinson

Submit Evidence (by 19 Sep 2025)

Kickstarting economic growth is the number one mission for this Government’s term in office. In this inquiry, the committee will examine plans to deliver economic growth in Northern Ireland, including the recent UK Industrial Strategy, with a particular reference to emerging sectors or ‘industries of the future’. Read our call for evidence here  for more detail about the inquiry and how to contribute your views.