Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average weekly Pension Credit payment was in April 2024.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Pension Credit data for April 2024 is not currently available.

The latest data is from February 2024, when the average weekly Pension Credit payment was £76.20.

The next iteration of Pension Credit statistics containing data to May 2024 will be available on Stat Xplore from 28^th November 2024.

This data is available on Stat-Xplore at https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk in the ‘Pension Credit - Data from May 2018’ dataset. More information on the data included in the ‘Pension Credit’ dataset can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dwp-statistical-summaries. Guidance on how to use Stat-Xplore can be found here: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/index.html.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of whether the UK meet the UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 target.

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

The Department has made no recent assessment of the UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 target of a 50% reduction of food waste by 2030.

Latest data from the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) showed that between 2007, the baseline used for reporting food waste progress, and 2021, UK per capita food waste fell by 26kg per person per year, representing an 18.3% reduction. To meet the Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 target of a 50% reduction by 2030, a further 45kg per person reduction or 32% of the baseline will be required.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many new applications for Pension Credit were made between 10 September 2024 and 10 October 2024.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Data on how many pension credit applications have been made between 1 April 2024 and 22 September 2024 was recently published on gov.uk, Weekly Pension Credit claims received from 1 April 2024 to 22 September 2024 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). This shows that between 9 September and 22 September 2024, 25,200 Pension Credit application were received by the Department.

On 28 October 2024, the department announced that updated Pension Credit applications and award statistics will be published on 28 November 2024. This publication will provide application volumes after 22 September 2024.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will hold discussions with his Irish counterpart on the recent treaties on extradition between the UAE and the Irish Republic to help ensure suspects are unable to use the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic to avoid extradition proceedings.

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

The UK remains committed to upholding the Common Travel Area and we work closely with Ireland to protect the integrity of it, including with Northern Irish and Irish law enforcement agencies on the question of those seeking to evade justice in either jurisdiction. Legislation is in place to enable extraditions between the UK and Ireland.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to help support small regional airports to develop new routes in addition to the use of public service obligations.

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

Public Service Obligation (PSO) Regulations enable protection of existing domestic routes that are in danger of being lost. DfT currently joint-funds three PSO routes into London from Newquay, Dundee and Derry/Londonderry.

Airports invest in their infrastructure to attract passengers and airlines, while airlines deliver services to their customers by responding to demand for routes. My officials are actively engaging with regional airports to understand their route networks and how Government can support their future ambitions.

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what the Government's planned timetable is for ending the gender pay gap.

Answered by Anneliese Dodds - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

This Government is committed to transforming the lives of working women, and that includes going further and faster to close the gender pay gap.

The landmark Employment Rights Bill includes measures to change our workplaces to better support women, including improving access to flexible working; strengthening protections for pregnant workers and those returning from maternity leave; and giving employees basic rights from their first day in a new job.

The Bill also includes a requirement for large employers to publish action plans outlining the steps they are taking to tackle the gender pay gap in their own organisations.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what her planned timetable is for launching the next BBC charter review.

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

The next Charter Review has to ensure the BBC doesn’t just survive but thrives for decades to come. The existing Charter is due to expire on 31 December 2027. DCMS is in the early stages of preparation for the upcoming Charter Review, which we expect to launch in 2025.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many HM Armed Forces Veteran Cards have been issued in Northern Ireland since January 2024.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

As of 24 October, 4,687 Veteran Cards have been issued to recipients in Northern Ireland since January 2024.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when his Department last reviewed the (a) structures, (b) weaponry and (c) capability of (i) loyalist and (ii) republican terror groups in Northern Ireland; and if he will publish that review.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The ‘Paramilitary Groups in Northern Ireland’ report was published in 2015 by the UK Government in order to provide a one-off factual assessment from the UK security agencies and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) on the structure, role and purpose of paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland. This public assessment, which was intended to inform the then ongoing cross-party talks, has not been repeated.

The PSNI and UK security agencies continually assess the threat, risk and harm posed by paramilitary, terrorist and organised crime groups to inform the most appropriate operational response. The threat from Northern Ireland Related Terrorism (NIRT) is assessed by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC), after MI5 passed over responsibility earlier this year. JTAC keeps the Threat Level in Northern Ireland from NIRT under constant review and formally reviews it twice a year. However, the threat is wholly driven by violent Dissident Republicans who reject the Good Friday Agreement (GFA), and not by Groups that support the GFA.

The Chief Constable’s statement of 30 October was clear that the PSNI, alongside security partners “continually assess the threat, risk and harm posed by paramilitary, terrorist and organised crime groups to inform the most appropriate operational response.”

Rightly, any criminality or threat - by individuals or groups, loyalist or republican - will be investigated by the PSNI and those responsible will be brought before the courts.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information his Department holds on how many UK Parliamentarians are subject to sanctions by (a) Russia and (b) China.

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

There are currently six (previously seven) UK Parliamentarians who are sanctioned by China. Russia does not always publicly or privately inform HMG of those sanctioned. However, HMG is aware of over 460 UK Parliamentarians having been sanctioned by Russia since 2022 - the vast majority have been named publicly, while a small number have been sanctioned and informed privately.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has for the (a) establishment and (b) work of the Castlereagh Foundation.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022 contains provisions for the Establishment of the Castlereagh Foundation. The Executive Office is responsible for taking forward the necessary arrangements to implement the commenced provisions under this Act. The Government expects the Executive Office will make an announcement in due course regarding next steps on implementation of the legislation. The Government wants to see devolved institutions in Northern Ireland consider the provisions set out under the legislation themselves before any consideration of using or commencing the powers provided for in section 8 of the Act.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate he has made of how many people will be paid the increased national living wage in April 2025.

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

We estimate that over 3 million workers will receive a pay rise due to the increase in the National Living Wage in April 2025. The number of workers paid at the National Living Wage in April 2025 is expected to be lower as some of these workers will receive a further indirect pay rise as employers decide to pay above the minimum.

We will publish an Impact Assessment alongside the legislation that implements the increase to the National Living Wage.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to expand the pilot No Interest Loan Scheme to Northern Ireland.

Answered by Tulip Siddiq - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The government recognises the importance of affordable credit in helping people across the UK manage their finances. A government-funded No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS) pilot is being conducted by Fair4All Finance and its partners in England, Scotland, and Wales. The pilot aims to assess how effectively NILS meets the needs of vulnerable consumers. PwC has been appointed to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the pilot to determine whether NILS is a viable and sustainable product that should be made permanently available.

Lending for the pilot concluded on 31 August 2024. Although Fair4All Finance intended to extend the pilot to Northern Ireland, the absence of a Northern Ireland Executive from October 2022 to February 2024 meant there was insufficient time to secure sign-off for the necessary capital to fund the pilot there before the lending period ended.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what meetings she has had on levels of regulation related to the supply of goods from businesses in Wales to customers in Northern Ireland since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Nia Griffith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Wales Office)

The Government is committed to implementing the Windsor Framework and to protecting the UK internal market, including trade between Wales and Northern Ireland.

We will continue to work constructively with all stakeholders: the EU, the devolved administrations and businesses in this aim.

Northern Ireland Assembly vote on Protocol issues

Reformation Day on 31 October

UK-US Special Relationship

World Diabetes Day 2024

Agricultural Property Relief (No. 2)

80th anniversary of the Northern Ireland Cadet Force

Scrutiny of Gulf Cooperation Council trade with Russia