Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she plans to take to support Northern Ireland based IT businesses who have been informed that they must provide a UK Internal Market Scheme number by GB based suppliers.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The UK Internal Market Scheme (UKIMS) allows authorised businesses to move eligible goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland with zero duty and to benefit from the simplified processes under the Windsor Framework that took effect from 1 May. Any business established across the whole of the United Kingdom can apply for UKIMS, including a business sending goods established in Great Britain.

The Government has carried out an extensive information campaign to ensure businesses are aware of the options available to them. Detailed guidance is available on https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-authorisation-for-the-uk-internal-market-scheme-if-you-bring-goods-into-northern-ireland.

The free-to-use Trader Support Service (TSS) is also available to support businesses moving goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland with any queries they may have, including on how to acquire a UKIMS authorisation number.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Defending Democracy Taskforce will meet in each of the UK's (a) nations and (b) regions in 2025.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office)

Defending Democracy must be a whole of UK effort, and the Government works closely with colleagues from the nations and regions on a range of issues relevant to the Defending Democracy Taskforce. This includes long term work to understand threats to our democracy and to share lessons and best practice emerging from the work of the Taskforce.

In addition, the Government works closely with partners in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to safeguard democratic processes and institutions. This has included the provision of a new cyber security offer to elected representatives in the devolved legislatures as well as dedicated police points of contact for elected officials to liaise with on security matters across all territorial forces in the UK.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will meet with representatives of Heathrow Airport to discuss the potential inclusion of Heathrow Logistics Hubs as part of its expansion plans.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The government supports airport expansion and has invited proposals for a third runway at Heathrow and expects proposals to be brought forward by the summer.

The specific details of the proposals for a third runway are a matter for the promoters to consider but government has been clear that any airport expansion proposals need to demonstrate that they contribute to economic growth and meet strict environmental requirements on air quality and noise pollution.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the three main contributory factors are in the recent trends in the level of (a) Type 2 diabetes, (b) Coronary heart disease and (c) stroke.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

According to the Global Burden of Disease, in 2021 the three main contributory risk factors for the burden in the United Kingdom for type 2 diabetes were high body mass index, dietary risks, and low physical activity, excluding high blood glucose. For coronary heart disease, the main contributory risk factors were high blood pressure, dietary risks, and high cholesterol. For stroke, the risk factors were high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and tobacco use.

It is not possible to assess how much these risk factors have influenced trends or the change in trends for these three conditions, but the top three risk factors for each condition have remained the same from 1990 to 2021. For all three conditions, the prevalence increases with age, so the ageing population is also a leading contributory factor in recent trends.

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will ensure that the Adjournment restaurant reopens in the mornings.

Answered by Nick Smith

This service was available as a temporary measure whilst the Despatch Box coffee bar was refurbished in October 2024.

There are no plans to reopen the Adjournment restaurant in the mornings. The Commission is working to reduce the cost of the catering operation. Opening the Adjournment in the morning is unlikely to be cost effective now the extended Despatch Box is available.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what funding her Department provides to hotels contracted to accommodate people seeking asylum for (a) restoration and (b) maintenance of the property upon the termination of the contract.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office does not comment on commercial arrangements. All commercial contracts are completed and awarded in line with government procurement rules which are designed to ensure the best value for taxpayers.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2025 to Question 37986 on Electric Vehicles: Charging Points, if she will hold discussions with the Minister for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland on taking steps to increase the number of publicly available electric vehicle charging points.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Secretary of State met with the Minister for the Economy, on 6 May to discuss decarbonising road transport. Minister Lightwood also met the Northern Ireland Minister for Infrastructure in April during the British-Irish Council meeting to discuss the EV transition. Additionally, my officials regularly engage with the Department for Infrastructure on zero emission vehicle initiatives, including charging infrastructure development.

While transport is largely devolved to the Department for Infrastructure, the Department is supporting Northern Ireland’s transition to zero emission vehicles. Through Round 1 of the Levelling Up Fund, we are providing up to £3.27 million to upgrade and expand the EV charging network. Previously, two grants totalling £1.38 million were awarded under the On Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce cases of prostate cancer.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government understands that more needs to be done to reduce the number of cases of prostate cancer in England.

The Government and the National Health Service promote a healthy lifestyle and physical activity to help reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Guidance on healthy eating, including the United Kingdom’s healthy eating model the Eatwell Guide, is communicated through the NHS.UK website. Alongside this, the NHS’s Better Health Campaign signposts people to digital support like the NHS Active 10 walking app.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has announced that following publication of the 10-Year Health Plan, a National Cancer Plan for England will be published this year. The National Cancer Plan will have patients at its heart and will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, from referral and diagnosis to treatment and ongoing care, and will apply to all cancer types, including prostate cancer. The goal is to reduce the number of lives lost to cancer over the next 10 years.

Currently, the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) does not recommend a national prostate cancer screening programme due to the limitations of the current best test, the Prostate Specific Antigen test, which may lead to overdiagnosis and overtreatment of cancers that would not have caused harm during a man’s lifetime. However, the UK NSC is undertaking a comprehensive evidence review to assess six potential approaches to targeted screening for those at higher risk of developing prostate cancer. Recommendations will be published upon the conclusion of this review.

In addition, the Government has invested £16 million in the £42 million UK-wide TRANSFORM trial, led by Prostate Cancer UK, which aims to identify new ways of detecting prostate cancer at an earlier stage, including in men without symptoms.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what living arrangements her Department makes for people seeking asylum when a hotel contract for their accommodation has been terminated.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

All those who remain eligible for support are moved to alternative accommodation.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many and what proportion of people claiming tax relief for working from home between March 2022 and March 2024, have been found to be ineligible for such tax relief.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Work related expenses claims can be submitted by various methods. Due to high volumes of claims, it is not possible to produce data on claims that were found to be ineligible for a specific expense.

We are encouraging customers to check they are eligible for expenses before they claim through our "Don't Get Caught Out" campaign and have introduced a new evidence requirement from 14 October 2024.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the British Business Bank's press release entitled British Business Bank launches £70million investment fund for Northern Ireland, published on 16 November 2023, if he will publish the criteria to determine whether the Investment Fund for Northern Ireland is successful.

Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Investment Fund for Northern Ireland aims to tackle an identified funding gap by increasing the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for smaller businesses in Northern Ireland. The criteria for success includes number of investments, overall deployment of capital, amount of private sector capital leveraged, geographical spread of investments, ensuring distribution across the whole of Northern Ireland, and providing funds to firms that might not otherwise receive investment.

In addition, an interim evaluation of the fund will be commissioned during the first five years of the Fund’s operation, and we expect it to assess the gross value added, turnover growth rates, and finance additionality.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the key programme milestones are in the Global Combat Air Programme.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) has reached several major milestones since its launch in December 2022. In December 2023, the UK, Italy and Japan signed the "Convention on the Establishment of the Global Combat Air Programme – GCAP International Government Organisation", formalising the partnership for developing a next-generation fighter aircraft.

The UK Government ratified the treaty in October 2024, and it entered into force in December 2024, enabling the creation of the GCAP International Government Organisation (GIGO), headquartered in Reading, UK.

Also in December 2024, BAE Systems (UK), Leonardo (Italy), and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co Ltd (JAIEC), agreed to form a joint venture for GCAP, subject to regulatory approvals.

The partners have agreed that the GIGO will let the first joint international contract during financial year 2025-26 for completion of Concept and Assessment and initial Design and Development activities.

The programme's ambition remains to deliver an aircraft into service from 2035, and the detailed milestones will be agreed following completion of the Concept and Assessment phase.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will add an option to specify national identity as British to the online Self-Assessment tax return.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC collects data for Self Assessment returns in compliance with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). These rules ensure that data we collect is adequate, relevant, and limited to what is necessary. National identity is not needed for processing Self Assessment.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Defence Gardens Scheme for veterans.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

We recognise the work of the Defence Gardens Scheme, along with so many others working hard to support our Armed Forces community and make a difference to the wellbeing of veterans. The Minister for Veterans and People saw first hand the Defence Gardens Scheme on a visit earlier this year to Northern Ireland.

The Office for Veterans’ Affairs works closely with many Armed Forces charities and organisations who play a vital part of the wider support system for veterans, and the Minister for Veterans and People is actively exploring ways of simplifying and cohering access to Government support, working in partnership with the charity sector, via VALOUR, which was announced on 5 May 2025.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will have urgent discussions with the Director General of the BBC on recent reports that a journalist with links to Hamas was used by the BBC to report on events in Gaza.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

Under its Royal Charter, the BBC has a duty to provide accurate and impartial news and information. As the BBC is independent the Government does not intervene in the BBC’s day-to-day operational or editorial decisions.

The Secretary of State meets regularly with the BBC to discuss a range of topics and when she met with the BBC Director General in February, they discussed the importance of the BBC in meeting its duty to provide accurate and impartial news and information. In taking forward that duty, the Government believes that it is absolutely fundamental that stories about the events in Gaza are told and heard, but are done so with the utmost care, transparency and sensitivity. It is essential that the BBC in particular maintains the highest standards of reporting.

In addition, it is for Ofcom, the independent regulator, to ensure the BBC is fulfilling its obligations to audiences as outlined in the Charter.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to support the ability of people to make payments in cash.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The government recognises that cash continues to be an important method of payment for people.

The Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 gives the FCA responsibility and powers to protect access to cash.

They have since introduced rules to protect access to cash, which will also support the ability of consumers and businesses to continue to transact in cash.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she plans to hold discussions with Ofcom on potential changes to its oversight role of the broadcast media.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

Ofcom is the UK’s regulator for broadcasting and by law carries out its duties independently of the Government.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many species of plant that previously could not be traded between Great Britain and Northern Ireland have been made available following discussions with the EU on horticultural issues in the last six months.

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

The prohibition has been lifted on 20 key species of plants since EU Exit. The full list for the last 6 months is: four different kinds of cherry (Prunus avium, Prunus canescens, Prunus cerasus, and Prunus pseudocerasus), silver birch (Betula pendula), downy birch (Betula pubescens), and blackthorn (Prunus spinosa).

We continue to work closely with the horticultural sector, including through a Horticulture Working Group which meets regularly, in order to maximise opportunities for trade in plants and plant products within the United Kingdom. We are in active dialogue with the EU Commission on a number of other species which industry has prioritised.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 15 May 2025 to Question 51305 on Asylum: Housing, what proportion of alternative accommodation was (a) another hotel, (b) domestic properties and (c) other dispersed accommodation in 2024.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

Available data, published quarterly, on the number of supported asylum seekers in accommodation can be found within the Asy_D11 tab for our most recent statistics release. The data can be broken down by accommodation type. Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 48852 on Diabetes, whether he has had discussions with universities on how studies into the causes of (a) diabetes 2 and (b) other related health conditions are funded.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department funds research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), which works in partnership with universities, the National Health Service, local government, other research funders, patients, and the public. The NIHR welcomes applications for funding in all topic areas, including diabetes. Funding opportunities are openly published on the NIHR website, which is available at the following link:

https://www.nihr.ac.uk/

Universities and other stakeholders can propose research topics to the NIHR through its website, specifically at the following link:

https://www.nihr.ac.uk/get-involved/suggest-a-research-topic

Each application is peer reviewed, and awards are made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the outcome of the UK National Screening Committee Group B Streptococcus trials completed in 2024.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The UK National Screening Committee does not run its own trials. The committee is currently awaiting the findings of an independent trial into Group B Streptococcus, which concluded its recruitment phase in 2024. Neither the committee nor my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care have any influence over the date of publication for this independent trial.

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, for what reason some of the toilets at Block T-3 in the Parliamentary estate have been sealed since January 2025.

Answered by Nick Smith

The toilets in T-block are closed due to the presence of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC), following guidance from the Institution of Structural Engineers published in 2023 and surveys carried out by structural engineers in 2024.

A further programme of investigation, longer-term mitigation and limited replacement (where possible and practical) continues to be developed by Strategic Estates. This requires thorough and potentially disruptive surveys that are carried out around the business of the House (for example, during recess). The investigations and surveys will provide a comprehensive assessment of the issues and works required to reopen the toilets, and if it is feasible or practical to do so.

The next phase of the programme is currently expected to begin by Summer recess, starting with surveys and investigations; the surveys could continue until the end of Conference recess. The project is envisaged to run to the end of 2027, due to the complexity of the work involved.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an estimate of the number of taxpayers in the 2025-25 financial year who (a) earned below the personal allowance threshold and (b) did not pay income tax in the 2024-25 financial year.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The information is not available.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will hold discussions with InterTrade UK on the potential impact of the trade agreement with the EU on internal trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Government's new strategic partnership with the EU will deliver greater prosperity and security for Northern Ireland and the UK as a whole. In particular, the new SPS Agreement with the EU will facilitate the smooth flow of agrifood and plants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, protecting the UK’s internal market, reducing costs for businesses and improving consumer choice.

Intertrade UK is focused on promoting all internal UK trade including work to support businesses across the UK realise the full benefits of the new SPS Agreement.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many employers were prosecuted for not paying employees the National Living Wage in (a) 2023 and (b) 2024.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC’s priority is to ensure that workers receive the money they are owed as quickly as possible. It is for this reason, in the vast majority of cases, HMRC pursue civil enforcement. In 2023/24 civil enforcement resulted in HMRC issuing 767 Notices of Underpayment to employers. 2024/25 figures are not yet available.

However, for the most egregious breaches of National Minimum Wage law, where employers are persistently non-compliant, or refuse to cooperate with HMRC, criminal prosecution may take place.

The number of employers prosecuted specifically for breaching Section 31(1) “Employer refuses or wilfully neglects to pay NMW” in (a) 2023/24 was 1 and (b) 2024/25 was 1.

200th anniversary of Impartial Reporter Newspaper

National leadership and action on vascular and venous disease

100th anniversary of the Junior Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland

Support for families affected by childhood cancer

Recognising Action for Brain Injury Week 2025

120 years of DC Thomson

Imprisonment of Lucy Connolly

Cardiovascular disease prevention

Nurses Day 2025

Publication of the Police Ombudsman’s Report on the Kingsmill Massacre

World Asthma Day 2025