Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will have discussions with car manufacturer representatives on the advisability of continuing with the installation of Euro New Cap Assessment Programme systems on all new vehicles.

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

The Department for Transport has regular discussions with representatives from the automotive industry to help guide future policy.

The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) is an independent charity, of which the Department is one of many members. It provides information to consumers on the relative safety of a range of new vehicles, including cars, so that they can factor safety into their vehicle buying decisions. Not all new vehicles are rated, but the process incentivises manufacturers to develop increasingly safer vehicles through better design and the use of new technology. It imposes no mandatory requirements, and it is a commercial decision for the vehicle manufacturers to determine which safety systems they choose to fit.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the source of the reported drone activity near (a) RAF Lakenheath, (b) RAF Mildenhall and (c) RAF Feltwell in November 2024 has been determined.

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

The Ministry of Defence Police is leading the investigation into drone activity in November 2024 over RAF sites on behalf of the Ministry of Defence and we continue to work in partnership with our allies and the appropriate civilian authorities. We are unable to release information relating to the ongoing criminal investigation or operational security matters.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Chinese counterparts on the case of Mr. Jimmy Lai since November 2024.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Jimmy Lai's case remains an utmost priority. This Government continues to call on the Hong Kong authorities to end their politically motivated prosecution and release Jimmy Lai.

The Foreign Secretary has raised this case at every opportunity with Foreign Minister Wang Yi, including in February, and April this year. I also remain in regular contact with Mr. Lai's son and last met him on 28 April. I raised Mr. Lai's case most recently with Chief Secretary, Eric Chan, on 30 May 2025.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 23 April 2025 to Question 44921 on Electronic Travel Authorisations: Northern Ireland, if she will make an estimate of the number of people travelling between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland since January 2025 that should have had a valid Electronic Travel Authorisation but did not.

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

The UK does not operate routine immigration controls on journeys made within the common travel area, including from Ireland into Northern Ireland, and holds no data on total journeys made.

The Home Office makes data relating to electronic travel authorisations (ETAs) available as part of its quarterly release of immigration system statistics.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how long the Global Combat Air Programme development phase is expected to last.

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

Work is ongoing with our GCAP Partners Japan and Italy to establish the core platform concept and set up the structures needed, ready to launch the Development Phase in 2025.

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 Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54630 on Gaza: Humanitarian Aid, if he will make an estimate of the quantity of aid supplied into Gaza between 19 January 2025 and 18 March 2025.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

After months of limited or no humanitarian aid being delivered, essential supplies are either no longer available or quickly running out. As mentioned in my previous response, due to the complex operating environment and limited real-time data, it is difficult to quantify the volume of aid that has been supplied and aid currently awaiting entry. Israel must urgently allow the UN and other humanitarian partners to do their jobs and deliver aid to those who so desperately need it.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership on Northern Ireland in its first year of operation.

Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The UK acceded to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) on 15 December 2024.

This comprehensive agreement will support businesses by making it easier for them to trade with CPTPP, and all nations of the UK are expected to benefit.

It will reduce tariffs on some of Northern Ireland’s most-exported products to CPTPP countries, with tariffs of up to 30% eliminated on UK exports of machinery to Malaysia within five years.

Government analysis estimates that the UK’s accession could boost Northern Ireland’s economy by around £70 million annually when compared to 2019 levels, in the long run.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will hold discussions with representatives of businesses with government contracts on ensuring that UK residents who are entitled to a UK passport following the passing of the British Nationality (Irish Citizens) Act 2024 are not excluded from employment because they hold dual nationality.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

None planned, as there is no DBT policy in relation to Govt contracts which differentiates treatment of UK residents who are entitled to a UK passport following the passing of the British Nationality Act 2024 from other UK residents.

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, what assessment the Commission has made of the reasons for the frequency of recent interruptions to online services on the Parliamentary estate.

Answered by Nick Smith

The recent interruption to network services was caused by a problem with the way Parliament-issued devices, such as laptops, connect to our network; this prevented users from accessing the corporate wi-fi network. During this period, users were advised of alternative ways to access services, by connecting to our Wi-Fi Connect service.

The issue has now been resolved and there should be no further impact to users but, as a precaution, wherever possible future work in this area will be scheduled to coincide with recess periods. A representative from the PDS Members’ Services Team is happy to meet with the Member to discuss this and any other issues arising from the outage.

The Digital Service manages all technical issues with the potential to have significant impact to Parliament through a dedicated “Major Incident” process. This is mobilised to help both triage and resolve the technical issue and also to manage the impact, including keeping users informed and implementing any workarounds to minimise disruption.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when was data added to the NHS Federated Data Platform for (a) NHS trusts and (b) integrated care systems.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP) began rolling out to National Health Service trusts in April 2024, following a pilot phase from 2022. Integrated care boards began receiving their local instances from September 2024. Each organisation controls its own instance, enabling secure data sharing, where permitted by data protection law and supported by the appropriate governance. Information on uptake and benefits is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/digitaltechnology/nhs-federated-data-platform/impact/fdp-uptake-and-benefits/

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has ordered F35 aircraft for delivery after 2025.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Ben Obese-Jecty) to Question 56964 on 9 June 2025 and for Question 58351 on 12 June 2025.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what work Innovate UK plans to take to increase advertising of the Contracts for Innovation grants programme in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Innovate UK designed the methodology and provides guidance on Contracts for Innovation but most competitions are organised and delivered by other public bodies.

Innovate UK promote all Contracts for Innovation competitions it is aware of through social media and other communication channels. When Innovate UK directly operates competitions, it advertises them through its Innovation Funding Service alongside all other R&D funding opportunities. Innovate UK’s regional support advisors active in Northern Ireland can help direct local firms to appropriate funding programmes.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 23 April 2025 to Question 44913 on Electric Vehicles: Charging Points, if he will hold discussions with the Northern Ireland Infrastructure Minister on the reasons for the difference in the rate of public electric vehicle charging devices per 100,000 of population between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom.

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

My officials regularly engage with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland on zero emission vehicle initiatives, including charging infrastructure development. Minister Lightwood met the Northern Ireland Minister for Infrastructure in April during the British-Irish Council meeting to discuss the electric vehicle transition. We will continue to work, where appropriate, with the Devolved Governments to improve transport outcomes for all people of the UK.

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 HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how she plans to allocate the accruing interest on the assets of the previous Libyan regime.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Interest accrued on frozen assets is still subject to an asset freeze to be frozen immediately by the person in possession or control of them, but there is no change in ownership of the frozen funds or economic resources, and they are not transferred to HM Treasury.

The Office for Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), part of HM Treasury published in its 2023-2024 Annual Review that £13.4 billion in assets relating to the Libya sanctions regime have been reported as frozen as of September 2023.

As there is no obligation for a relevant institution to inform OFSI when it has credited interest to a frozen account, OFSI does not hold this information.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in the devolved Administrations on increasing the availability of NHS dental (a) practices and (b) other services in all parts of the UK.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

State funded healthcare is a devolved matter outside of England, and is the responsibility, respectively, of the Scottish, Welsh, and Northern Irish administrations. However, governments across the United Kingdom routinely work together to share best practice and to deliver on our common goals for improving patients’ experience of healthcare services, including access to dentistry.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 57213 on Electronic Travel Authorisations: Northern Ireland, how many and what proportion of the Electronic Travel Authorisations issued up until the end of 2024 were issued to travellers entering Northern Ireland from the Irish Republic.

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

Journeys from Ireland to the UK are within the Common Travel Area (CTA). As part of the CTA arrangements, the UK does not operate routine immigration controls of individuals arriving in the UK by air or sea from within the CTA, and no immigration checks are undertaken at the land border with Ireland.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 57987 on Immigration: Northern Ireland, if she will make an estimate of the number of people from (a) Europe and (b) Africa who travelled to the Irish Republic and then made onward journeys to Northern Ireland in the last three years.

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

Journeys from Ireland to the UK are within the Common Travel Area (CTA). As part of the CTA arrangements, the UK does not operate routine immigration controls of individuals arriving in the UK by air or sea from within the CTA, and no immigration checks are undertaken at the land border with Ireland.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2025 to Question 58921 on Innovate UK: Northern Ireland, how Innovate UK’s regional support advisors in Northern Ireland promote the availability of Innovation Funding Services in Northern Ireland to small firms that previously had no contact with Innovate UK.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Innovate UK actively promotes its products and services to Northern Ireland businesses to improve their access to innovation funding and resources and foster growth within the region’s innovation ecosystem. It does this through a variety of channels. These include Innovate Local events, joint webinars with Invest NI, and participation in Enterprise NI’s finance series. Innovate UK competitions are also promoted on nibusinessinfo.co.uk by Invest NI. The programmes they promote are an important source of support for businesses in Northern Ireland. For example, Innovate UK Business Growth has supported 339 businesses over three years, while the ‘New Innovators’ funding program, which is only available to businesses without prior Innovate UK engagement, has provided £1 million to 23 small and micro businesses since 2020.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to announce a replacement to the Sustainable Farming Incentive programme by 22 July 2025.

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

Defra is working closely with farmers and industry stakeholders to design a future Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer that fairly and responsibly directs funding. Further details about the reformed SFI offer will be announced in summer 2025.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will have discussions at the United Nations with his international counterparts on the potential impact of international sanctions related to the invasion of Ukraine on the Russian economy.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Ministers and officials regularly engage with international counterparts bilaterally and at key multilateral fora, such as at the United Nations, to discuss a range of sanctions issues including the potential impact of sanctions related to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Such discussions cover the effect of our collective sanctions, which have deprived Russia of at least $450 billion since February 2022. They cover the global impact of Russia's war on Ukraine and challenge false and damaging narratives on impact. We use sanctions to deter and disrupt malign behaviour and demonstrate our defence of international norms. Our sanctions are designed to reduce the flow of arms and funding. They are used to support peace processes and to respond to threats to international security.

We will continue to coordinate and cooperate with our international counterparts on sanctions issues at the United Nations and in a range of other fora, particularly the G7.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people were employed under the Government Social Research Profession in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland as of 1 January 2025.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The following estimates were made following a data collection exercise in February 2025.

(a) England, 2020

(b) Scotland, 220

(c) Wales, 340

(d) Northern Ireland, between 1 and 9

There are an additional 65 members of the Government Social Research where a full record is not available.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 56735 on Cars: Credit, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the banking sectors' resilience in ensuring the scale of regulated motor finance is manageable.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Treasury works in close coordination with the Bank of England, the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), monitoring the resilience of the banking sector and the overall stability of consumer credit markets, including motor finance. Regular stress testing by the Bank of England shows the UK banking system remains strong, resilient, and well capitalised. HM Treasury continuously monitors risks across the financial sector and escalates its response where appropriate in coordination with the independent financial authorities.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 12 December 2024 to Question 18502 on Consumer Goods: Safety specifically that his Department is supporting businesses to trade freely across the UK, if he will make it his policy that free movement of goods without bureaucratic requirements is applied across the UK.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government is committed to implementing the Windsor Framework and protecting the UK internal market.

With respect to the updated General Product Safety Regulation, as referenced in Question [18502], I understand that, for some businesses, the regulation has required changes. The Department has issued guidance for businesses selling to Northern Ireland and has continued to engage businesses directly to ensure that they understand the obligations.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to announce proposals to strengthen the rules on donations to political parties before the summer recess.

Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

In line with its manifesto commitment, the Government is currently considering a series of policy interventions, such as enhanced checks by recipients of donations and tighter controls on donors, including more restrictions around company donations. This will help enhance the protections of our system against potential risks.

The Government plans to set out further details in its Strategy for Elections, which is expected to be published this summer.

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 19 May 2025 to Question 52196 on Prostate Cancer: Preventive Medicine, when he expects to receive the outcome of UK NSCs comprehensive evidence review.

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

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) has commissioned work to update its recommendation on population screening for prostate cancer screening last made in 2020. The review this time round however has been expanded in response to calls to consider evidence that looks at targeted screening using prostate-specific antigen testing and other high-risk factors, as well as screening specifically Black men of a set age group and looking at other screening tests. To do this comprehensive review, the UK NSC has commissioned a cost effectiveness model to explore these various screening strategies.

It is expected that the model will report back to the UK NSC in early autumn 2025. The committee is in contact with the reviewers and stands ready to review this and consider next steps before opening a public consultation on this.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2025 to Question 58165 on Unmanned Air Systems: Military Bases, whether any investigations were ongoing into drone activity in the vicinity of other security bases in the three months (a) prior to and (b) after the incidents at the bases outlined in that Answer.

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

The use of uncrewed aerial systems around protected areas in the UK causes a risk to life and is illegal. Such activity will be subject to thorough investigation.

We are unable to release information relating to ongoing criminal investigations or operational security matters.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce instances of wildfires during the summer.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra encourages landowners and land managers to undertake wildfire risk assessments and consider mitigating actions as part of good quality wildfire management plans. Defra regularly engages with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and other Government departments in addition to bodies such as the National Fire Chiefs Council and the England and Wales Wildfire Forum, to monitor and review sector-led improvements and mitigations.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 20 May 2025 to Question 52581 on Broadcasting, whether her Department is responsible for initiating changes to OFCOM's oversight role.

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

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has overall sponsorship responsibility for Ofcom. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport retains responsibility for broadcasting policy. This includes relevant legislation that sets out Ofcom’s duties regarding broadcasting regulation.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Spending Review, published on 11 June 2025, whether the funding allocated to Casement Park is a (a) grant or (b) loan; whether a payment will be made to the (i) Gaelic Athletic Association or any body associated it or (ii) the Northern Ireland Executive or any Department associated wth it; and whether the UK Government will require any subsequent repayments or returned profits from activities at the Stadium when completed.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The UK Government has provided £50m of Capital Financial Transactions funding to redevelop Casement Park. The UK Government will continue to work with the Northern Ireland Executive, however it is up to the Executive to design and implement the Financial Transaction. The Financial Transaction will be provided to the Executive on a net basis, it does not need to be repaid to the UK Government and the Executive can recycle any repayments indefinitely.

100th anniversary of Garvagh Pipe Band

NI Equality Commission and Supreme Court ruling

Sarcoma Awareness Month 2025

Anniversary of the Battle of the Somme

Checks on movement of used agricultural and forestry machinery from GB to NI

50th anniversary of Bethany Free Presbyterian Church, Portadown

Armed Forces Day in Newtownards 2025

9th anniversary of the EU referendum

Gurkha pensions

Democracy in Hong Kong

Northern Ireland success in World Cup of Darts final

Three Dads Walking

Disconnection of stolen phones

Maintaining institutional neutrality of publicly funded buildings and spaces

Christian persecution in Niger State, Nigeria

Found: Sir Edward Leigh Sir John Hayes Sir Desmond Swayne James McMurdock Andrew Rosindell Mr Gregory Campbell

Found: Sir Edward Leigh Sir John Hayes Sir Desmond Swayne James McMurdock Andrew Rosindell Mr Gregory Campbell

Found: Sir Edward Leigh Sir John Hayes Sir Desmond Swayne James McMurdock Andrew Rosindell Mr Gregory Campbell

Found: Sir Edward Leigh Sir John Hayes Sir Desmond Swayne James McMurdock Andrew Rosindell Mr Gregory Campbell

Found: Sir Edward Leigh Sir John Hayes Sir Desmond Swayne James McMurdock Andrew Rosindell Mr Gregory Campbell