Jim Allister Portrait

Jim Allister

Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim

450 (1.1%) majority - 2024 General Election

First elected: 4th July 2024


Jim Allister is not a member of any APPGs
Jim Allister has no previous appointments


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Jim Allister has voted in 51 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
View All Jim Allister Division Votes

Debates during the 2024 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Fleur Anderson (Labour)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Northern Ireland Office)
(15 debate interactions)
Hilary Benn (Labour)
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
(13 debate interactions)
Peter Dowd (Labour)
(11 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Northern Ireland Office
(79 debate contributions)
Cabinet Office
(6 debate contributions)
Department for Business and Trade
(5 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
View all Jim Allister's debates

North Antrim Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

Petitions with highest North Antrim signature proportion
Jim Allister has not participated in any petition debates

Latest EDMs signed by Jim Allister

9th December 2024
Jim Allister signed this EDM on Thursday 19th December 2024

Review into breast cancer screening

Tabled by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
That this House recognises the worrying rise in breast cancer cases in younger women; notes with concern that breast cancer accounts for 43% of all cancers diagnosed in women aged 25-49, yet women wait until they are 50 or older to begin routine screening; urges everyone to work together to …
45 signatures
(Most recent: 19 Dec 2024)
Signatures by party:
Liberal Democrat: 28
Labour: 11
Independent: 3
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
Green Party: 1
Social Democratic & Labour Party: 1
Traditional Unionist Voice: 1
10th December 2024
Jim Allister signed this EDM as a sponsor on Thursday 19th December 2024

Anniversary of the murder of Kenneth Smyth and Daniel McCormick

Tabled by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
That this House notes the anniversary of the murder of Kenneth Smyth and his colleague Daniel McCormick on 10 December 1971 as they travelled to work; notes that Kenneth was off duty and that Daniel had left the UDR and they were slaughtered as they headed to work together; further …
5 signatures
(Most recent: 19 Dec 2024)
Signatures by party:
Democratic Unionist Party: 2
Conservative: 1
Ulster Unionist Party: 1
Traditional Unionist Voice: 1
View All Jim Allister's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Jim Allister, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.


Jim Allister has not been granted any Urgent Questions

Jim Allister has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

1 Bill introduced by Jim Allister


A Bill to make provision to modify the effect on domestic law of arrangements relating to the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 2nd Reading
Friday 6th December 2024
(Read Debate)
Next Event - 2nd Reading
Friday 11th July 2025

Jim Allister has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
21st Oct 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether, in the context of the vote in the Northern Ireland Assembly on the applicability motion in relation to EU Regulation 2023/2411 on 19 March 2024, whether he has made a decision on the application of that regulation to Northern Ireland.

The Government continues to evaluate the implications of Regulation 2023/2411, reflecting the applicability motion vote in the Northern Ireland Assembly and the conditions set out in Schedule 6B of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
8th Oct 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee has had recent discussions on the application of EU Regulation 2023/1115 in Northern Ireland.

The UK and EU regularly engage on the Windsor Framework and shared priorities, including the issue of deforestation. As was confirmed in the response to question UIN4798 on 16th September, Ministers are currently considering our approach to those matters, noting also that the EU Commission has proposed to delay the implementation deadlines by 12 months to 30 December 2025. Whilst official level engagement between the UK and EU is confidential, both the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee and its Specialised Committees publish details of their meetings and decisions.

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
8th Oct 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee's Specialised Committees have had recent discussions on the application of EU Regulation 2023/1115 in Northern Ireland.

The UK and EU regularly engage on the Windsor Framework and shared priorities, including the issue of deforestation. As was confirmed in the response to question UIN4798 on 16th September, Ministers are currently considering our approach to those matters, noting also that the EU Commission has proposed to delay the implementation deadlines by 12 months to 30 December 2025. Whilst official level engagement between the UK and EU is confidential, both the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee and its Specialised Committees publish details of their meetings and decisions.

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
8th Oct 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether (a) the Joint Consultative Working Group has had discussions on the application of EU Regulation 2023/1115 in Northern Ireland and (b) the group's meeting minutes are published.

The UK and EU regularly engage on the Windsor Framework and shared priorities, including the issue of deforestation. As was confirmed in the response to question UIN4798 on 16th September, Ministers are currently considering our approach to those matters, noting also that the EU Commission has proposed to delay the implementation deadlines by 12 months to 30 December 2025. Whilst official level engagement between the UK and EU is confidential, both the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee and its Specialised Committees publish details of their meetings and decisions.

Nick Thomas-Symonds
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
14th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent estimate his Department has made of the potential impact of trade deals negotiated since 2020 on economic growth in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland.

The Department of Business and Trade (DBT) does not hold an aggregated value for the impact of the signed trade deals on the UK’s nations and regions. Instead, the Department publishes individual Impact Assessments (IAs) for new free trade agreements (FTAs) which set out the potential economic impacts on the UKs nations and regions. These show that all English regions and UK nations are expected to benefit from the new FTAs signed with Japan, Australia, New Zealand and CPTPP.

Douglas Alexander
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
13th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with (a) eBay and (b) other online sellers on the potential impact of the General Product Safety Regulations 2023 on the ability of consumers in Northern Ireland to continue to buy goods from Great Britain.

My fellow ministers and I undertake regular engagement with businesses, including online marketplaces and those who sell products online, to listen to their concerns.

In addition, officials in my Department have regular discussions with business representatives, including online marketplaces and businesses that sell products online, on a range of issues, including the impact of the EU’s new General Product Safety Regulations. This engagement allows businesses to raise specific issues directly with the Government.

Justin Madders
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
12th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if his Department will make an estimate of the potential (a) direct cost to (i) producers, (ii) retailers and (iii) consumers in Northern Ireland and (b) economic impact to Great Britain of compliance with the General Product Safety Regulations 2023.

Our assessment of the impact of the updated GPSR remains that it largely formalises how businesses are operating in the UK and that where businesses need to make changes, in most cases, they will be adapting to continue trading with the EU. The measures are therefore likely to have limited impact in practice. We are providing guidance which we will keep under review as we continue to engage businesses – including online marketplaces – to ensure we are supporting them to trade freely across the whole of the UK.

Justin Madders
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
12th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of (a) eBay and (b) other sellers based in England, Wales and Scotland turning off their seller accounts to Northern Ireland because of the costs of having to comply with the General Product Safety Regulations 2023 on (i) the supply of goods and (ii) price levels in Northern Ireland.

Our assessment of the impact of the updated GPSR remains that it largely formalises how businesses are operating in the UK and that where businesses need to make changes, in most cases, they will be adapting to continue trading with the EU. The measures are therefore likely to have limited impact in practice. We are providing guidance which we will keep under review as we continue to engage businesses – including online marketplaces – to ensure we are supporting them to trade freely across the whole of the UK.

Justin Madders
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
12th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of (a) eBay and (b) other sellers based in England, Wales and Scotland turning off their seller accounts to Northern Ireland because of the costs for compliance with the General Product Safety Regulations 2023.

Our assessment of the impact of the updated GPSR remains that it largely formalises how businesses are operating in the UK and that where businesses need to make changes, in most cases, they will be adapting to continue trading with the EU. The measures are therefore likely to have limited impact in practice. We are providing guidance which we will keep under review as we continue to engage businesses – including online marketplaces – to ensure we are supporting them to trade freely across the whole of the UK.

Justin Madders
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what trade remedy measures to promote domestic manufacturing industries are in place in respect of electric bus manufacturing in the UK.

The UK does not have a trade remedy measure in place against imports of electric buses.

Douglas Alexander
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the tariff level applied to imported electric buses on local production; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of raising that tariff.

In setting tariffs, the Government takes into account the interests of UK consumers, producers, productivity, competitiveness, and external trade, as well as wider considerations such as strategic trade objectives.

As with all policy, the Government welcomes feedback and monitors these requests closely. Feedback can be submitted on specific tariff lines via the UKGT feedback form available at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tariffs-on-goods-imported-into-the-uk.

Douglas Alexander
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
23rd Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the introduction of the updated General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) on SMEs shipping from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

The updated GPSR largely formalises the reality of how businesses are already operating in the UK and the measures are therefore likely to have limited impact in practice. Where businesses need to make changes, we expect that they will be adapting anyway to be compliant with the new Regulation to continue trading with the EU. However, we are providing more guidance in this area, will keep this under review and continue to engage businesses directly to ensure we are supporting them to trade freely across the whole of the UK.

Justin Madders
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
17th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the (a) Northern Ireland Protocol and (b) Windsor Framework on trends in the level of the supply of (i) goods and (ii) other materials to Northern Ireland.

In 2023, the value of goods associated with full declarations cleared by HMRC on GB to NI movements was £17.8bn, increasing by £3.6bn (26%) from 2022. More detail can be found here.

The Department for Business and Trade continues to work closely with the Northern Ireland devolved government and all other stakeholders to ensure the Windsor Framework delivers positive outcomes for the people and businesses of Northern Ireland.

Douglas Alexander
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
3rd Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how much and what proportion of the Net Zero Hydrogen Fund was allocated to projects in Northern Ireland; and whether he plans to provide funding for green hydrogen generation in Northern Ireland.

The Net Zero Hydrogen Fund, launched in 2022, aims to support the commercial deployment of new low carbon hydrogen production projects during the 2020s. Through strands one and two of this scheme, two projects in Northern Ireland have been offered a total of £5.1m in funding following successful applications through a competitive process. Total expenditure for the fund is yet to be finalised.

Further support for hydrogen production is being delivered through Hydrogen Allocation Rounds.

Sarah Jones
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
22nd Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the planned remit for Great British Energy is in Northern Ireland; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Windsor Framework on the operation of Great British Energy.

We have set out significant detail on Great British Energy (GBE) after only three weeks in office, including that GBE will benefit all four corners of our United Kingdom whilst respecting the devolution settlements. We are resetting our approach to working with the devolved nations, because meaningful cooperation centred on respect will be key to delivering change across our United Kingdom. We are committed to close collaboration with Northern Ireland’s Ministers on GBE. We will work with the Northern Ireland Executive on the scope of GBE’s activities and the opportunities for Northern Ireland. We will set out further detail in due course.

Michael Shanks
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
9th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to prepare for the coming into force of the Windsor Framework (Retail Movement Scheme: Plant and Animal Health) (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2024.

These regulations came into force on 2 September. Ministers and officials regularly engage with businesses, trade bodies and others to provide support and to inform our implementation of the Windsor Framework, including on these regulations.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
8th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 16 September 2024 to Question 4798, whether his Department has had discussions with (a) the Ulster Farmers Union and (b) businesses on the (i) potential cost and (ii) other practical implications of compliance with Regulation EU 2023/1115.

Ministers are currently considering our approach to Regulation 2023/1115 in Northern Ireland. The Government will communicate relevant arrangements at the earliest possible opportunity, noting also that the EU Commission has proposed to delay the implementation deadlines by 12 months to 30 December 2025.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
7th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 16 September 2024 to Question 4798 on Forest Products: Northern Ireland, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs on preparing for EU Regulation 2023/1115.

Ministers are currently considering our approach to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) in Northern Ireland, and the Government will communicate relevant arrangements at the earliest possible opportunity.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
7th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 16 September 2024 to Question 4798, what estimate he has made of the number of full-time equivalent staff needed for the work of the competent authority in Northern Ireland in relation to EU Regulation 2023/1115.

Ministers are currently considering our approach to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) in Northern Ireland, and the Government will communicate relevant arrangements at the earliest possible opportunity.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
7th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 16 September 2024 to Question 4798 on Forest Products: Northern Ireland, what estimate his Department has made of the annual costs to businesses in Northern Ireland arising from achieving compliance with EU Regulation 2023/1115.

Ministers are currently considering our approach to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) in Northern Ireland, and the Government will communicate relevant arrangements at the earliest possible opportunity.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
7th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 16 September 2024 to Question 4798 on Forest Products: Northern Ireland, what estimate his Department has made of the annual costs of running the competent body with respect to its role in EU Regulation 2023/1115.

Ministers are currently considering our approach to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) in Northern Ireland, and the Government will communicate relevant arrangements at the earliest possible opportunity.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
9th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the process is for appointing the competent authority for Northern Ireland for EU Regulation 2023/1115.

Ministers are currently considering our approach to Regulation 2023/1115 in Northern Ireland, and the Government will communicate relevant arrangements at the earliest possible opportunity.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
9th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what budget he plans to allocate to the competent authority for Northern Ireland under EU Regulation 2023/1115.

Ministers are currently considering our approach to Regulation 2023/1115 in Northern Ireland, and the Government will communicate relevant arrangements at the earliest possible opportunity.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
2nd Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (a) how many and (b) what directions he has issued under Regulation 3 of the Windsor Framework (Implementation) Regulations 2024.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer given by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 22 July (UIN 322).

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
2nd Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which business organisations his Department had discussions with in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland on the Windsor Framework (Retail Movement Scheme: Plant and Animal Health (Amendment etc) Regulations 2024 (i) before the development of those regulations and (ii) before those regulations were laid before Parliament.

Departmental officials engaged with businesses operating in Great Britain and Northern Ireland to ensure that Northern Ireland consumers have access to the same products as consumers in Great Britain whilst formulating this policy. Trade bodies representing retailers in both Great Britain and Northern Ireland were also consulted.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
23rd Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Official Controls Regulation (EU) 2017/625, what charges are due to be placed on Northern Ireland businesses under the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland.

This Government is committed to implementing the Windsor Framework, and work is ongoing to consider the introduction of charges on goods entering the EU via Northern Ireland ports to recoup the costs of carrying out required sanitary and phytosanitary checks. There will be no fees or charges for businesses using the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
22nd Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Windsor Framework on (a) the availability of veterinary medicines and (b) the farming industry after 31 December 2024.

A grace period arrangement for veterinary medicines remains in place until the end of 2025 and provides for the continuity of supply to Northern Ireland.

Maintaining availability of veterinary medicines to Northern Ireland after the end of 2025 is a priority. This Government will progress work on this issue as quickly as possible and we will continue to engage with the agricultural and pharmaceutical industries to fully understand the potential impacts.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
22nd Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the EU Industrial Emission Directive on Northern Ireland; and what the associated costs are.

As set out in the Northern Ireland Protocol in the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement, the Industrial Emissions Directive will only apply to those installations in Northern Ireland that contribute to the Single Electricity Market. As of 2022 this was four installations.


Industrial emissions policy is devolved to Northern Ireland. Defra continues to engage with the Northern Ireland Executive on industrial emissions policy through the ‘Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control – The Developing and Setting of Best Available Techniques Common Framework. Where rules in Northern Ireland change in alignment with the EU, the Framework provides governance structures and consensus-based processes for considering and managing the impact of these changes.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
22nd Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Windsor Framework on (a) ware potato production in Northern Ireland and (b) the import of seed potatoes from Britain to Northern Ireland.

The Windsor Framework has lifted the ban on the movement of seed potatoes which can now move under the Northern Ireland Plant Health Label scheme, provided the movement is between a registered professional operator in Great Britain and a professional operator in Northern Ireland. Once planted in Northern Ireland, the new crop of seed potatoes can be sold with no restrictions. This reflects long standing arrangements for biosecurity.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
22nd Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to regulation 13 of the Windsor Framework (Retail Movement Scheme) Regulations 2023, how many checks have been conducted on retail goods moved from Great Britain to Northern Ireland in each month since 1 January 2024, broken down by the number of each type of check undertaken.

In line with the commitments we have made, as we move to our new UK internal market system we will ensure that the only checks when goods move within the UK internal market system are those conducted by UK authorities as part of a risk-based or intelligence-led approach to tackle criminality, abuse of the scheme, smuggling and disease risks. But in order not to undermine that approach, as is the case across the UK we do not disclose the specific number or nature of interventions made by UK authorities.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
22nd Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Plant Protection Product regulations on (a) supply issues, (b) the variety of products available and (c) the farming industry.

The Windsor Framework maintains the free flow of trade from GB to NI in the UK internal market. We are committed to implementing the Windsor Framework and protecting the UK internal market.

DAERA as the responsible administration, and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as the regulator, liaise with manufacturers and grower groups on issues around Plant Protection Products (PPPs) availability to ensure the impacts on the farming industry in both NI and GB are minimised where possible.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
17th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the competent authority is for the Official Controls Regulation (EU) 2017/625 in respect of Northern Ireland following the coming into force of the Windsor Framework (Implementation) Regulations 2024.

The relevant competent authority is the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
17th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has issued instructions to the Department for Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland relating to the operation of the Windsor Framework (Implementation) Regulations 2024.

The Windsor Framework (Implementation) Regulations 2024 were published along with accompanying Statutory Guidance for Northern Ireland departments. In line with this guidance, Defra is working with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland on the targeted subset of agri-food matters for which the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has responsibility.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
17th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to ease restrictions set out under the Northern Ireland Protocol on (a) poultry exhibitors and (b) livestock owners from Northern Ireland who travel to and from shows and sales in Great Britain.

The Movement Assistance Scheme is available to support with the costs of moving live animals. The Government engages regularly with Northern Ireland stakeholders and would welcome engagement with those transporting poultry and livestock between Northern Ireland and Great Britain to understand how we can best support the sector.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
17th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department (a) has deployed and (b) plans to deploy staff to specifically regulate the movement of plants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland; and what will inform that decision.

APHA oversees biosecurity measures and conducts in-season inspections, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) establishes plant health policy. Inspections specifically related to plant movements in Northern Ireland are carried out by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) where they are required.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
17th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether implementation of the (a) Windsor Framework (Implementation) Regulations 2024 and (b) Safeguarding the Union Command Paper will affect documentary checks on goods travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

We are committed to working closely with the Northern Ireland Executive in taking forward all of our commitments under the Windsor Framework in this regard and will set out further detail on future operational arrangements in due course.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
17th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to operate regulations on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the context of the responsibilities of his Department (a) for the operation of those regulations and (b) under the terms of the Windsor Framework (Implementation) Regulations 2024.

Defra, in line with the regulations taken forward last year to implement the Windsor Framework, has introduced and implemented arrangements for the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme and Northern Ireland Plant Health Label.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
17th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to whom staff in the Department for Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland are accountable following the implementation of the Windsor Framework (Implementation) Regulation; and whether steps have been taken to ensure effective operation of lines of accountability to the (a) local Northern Ireland Executive minister and (b) Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

In line with the Statutory Guidance that accompanied the Windsor Framework (Implementation) Regulations 2024, officials in the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs are currently accountable to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for a targeted subset of agri-food matters focused on the movement of goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
17th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in which locations checks are carried out on goods transported between Great Britain and Northern Ireland; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure that such checks are commensurate with (a) relevant legislation and (b) the policy paper entitled Safeguarding the Union, published on 31 January 2024.

In line with UK rules for sanitary and phytosanitary matters, checks on goods are carried out throughout the entire supply chain. This government is committed to making this process as smooth as possible for UK businesses.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
17th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many staff in his Department are responsible for managing the flow of trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland; and what the cost to the public purse was of these measures in the last 12 months.

Defra does not hold this specific information but further details of the department's overall expenditure can be found in the Defra Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23 (publishing.service.gov.uk).

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
4th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has had discussions with Ministers in the Department for Communities in the Northern Ireland Executive on (a) eligibility for the winter fuel allowance and (b) that Department's access to administrative data used for the payment of winter fuel payments.

Ministers in the two Departments have discussed eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments in England and Wales, as part of continuing engagement between the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Executive.

Winter Fuel Payments are a transferred matter in Northern Ireland, but the delivery infrastructure is provided by the Department for Work and Pensions. This includes the use of administrative data necessary to make the payments on behalf of the Department for Communities.

Emma Reynolds
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will take steps to (a) extend the duration of Bereavement Support Payments and (b) update those payments in line with inflation.

Bereavement Support Payment (BSP) helps people through the immediate period following a bereavement by way of an initial lump sum followed by up to 18 monthly instalments. Where longer-term financial support is needed, benefits such as Universal Credit have been specifically designed to provide assistance with ongoing living costs. We have no current plans to change the duration of Bereavement Support Payment.

The rate of Bereavement Support Payment is reviewed on a discretionary basis as part of the annual uprating process, but there is no legal requirement to uprate it. BSP is not a cost-of-living benefit like Universal Credit, which has been increased in line with inflation. We will review the rate of Bereavement Support Payment later this year as part of the annual uprating process.

Andrew Western
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
17th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has a planned timetable for making the ban on administering puberty blockers to children permanent.

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has made clear his intention to consult on putting in place a permanent ban subject to the outcome of legal proceedings.

As this is matter is subject to legal proceedings, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
11th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the money the Government has promised to allocate to the public sector in Northern Ireland to enable it to pay for the increase in employer contributions to National Insurance from April 2025 will be allocated on the basis of Barnett consequentials.

At Autumn Budget, the Chancellor of the Exchequer agreed to provide funding to the public sector to support them with the additional cost associated with changes to Employer National Insurance Contributions policy.

The devolved governments will receive funding through the Barnett Formula in 2025-26 for any changes to UK Government department budgets, including support for Employer National Insurance Contributions. This is the normal operation of the funding arrangements as set out in the Statement of Funding Policy.

This funding will be in addition to the devolved governments’ record Spending Review settlements for 2025-26, which are the largest in real terms of any settlements since devolution.

Darren Jones
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
5th Nov 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential economic impact of the export procedures mandated by Section 45B (1) of the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020.

The Windsor Framework guarantees our commitment to unfettered access, removing the requirement for export procedures, except in extremely limited exceptions (such as the movement of endangered species). Traders moving this limited range of goods can access support from the free-to-use Trader Support Service.

Under the unfettered access protections, which the Government is committed to on a permanent basis, qualifying Northern Ireland goods can move to Great Britain – either directly or via Ireland – without undergoing customs or SPS processes or controls.

The vast majority of goods move from Northern Ireland to Great Britain without any records being asked for or collected by any Government departments or agencies. Given the limited and specific requirements in place for export procedures, the proportion of goods moving which are subject to them is minimal.

Traders moving this limited range of goods may need to follow certain procedures prior to departure in Northern Ireland and further information can be found at Movement of goods from NI to GB - Northern Ireland Customs and Trade Academy (nicustomstradeacademy.co.uk)

Detailed guidance on the movement of qualifying Northern Ireland goods to Great Britain is available on GOV.UK at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-qualifying-goods-from-northern-ireland-to-the-rest-of-the-uk.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
5th Nov 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate her Department has made of the proportion of goods moving from Northern Ireland to Great Britain subject to the export procedures mandated by Section 45B (1) of the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020.

The Windsor Framework guarantees our commitment to unfettered access, removing the requirement for export procedures, except in extremely limited exceptions (such as the movement of endangered species). Traders moving this limited range of goods can access support from the free-to-use Trader Support Service.

Under the unfettered access protections, which the Government is committed to on a permanent basis, qualifying Northern Ireland goods can move to Great Britain – either directly or via Ireland – without undergoing customs or SPS processes or controls.

The vast majority of goods move from Northern Ireland to Great Britain without any records being asked for or collected by any Government departments or agencies. Given the limited and specific requirements in place for export procedures, the proportion of goods moving which are subject to them is minimal.

Traders moving this limited range of goods may need to follow certain procedures prior to departure in Northern Ireland and further information can be found at Movement of goods from NI to GB - Northern Ireland Customs and Trade Academy (nicustomstradeacademy.co.uk)

Detailed guidance on the movement of qualifying Northern Ireland goods to Great Britain is available on GOV.UK at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-qualifying-goods-from-northern-ireland-to-the-rest-of-the-uk.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
5th Nov 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, (a) where and (b) how the checks on goods moving from Northern Ireland to Great Britain under the export procedures mandated by Section 45B (1) of the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 will take place.

The Windsor Framework guarantees our commitment to unfettered access, removing the requirement for export procedures, except in extremely limited exceptions (such as the movement of endangered species). Traders moving this limited range of goods can access support from the free-to-use Trader Support Service.

Under the unfettered access protections, which the Government is committed to on a permanent basis, qualifying Northern Ireland goods can move to Great Britain – either directly or via Ireland – without undergoing customs or SPS processes or controls.

The vast majority of goods move from Northern Ireland to Great Britain without any records being asked for or collected by any Government departments or agencies. Given the limited and specific requirements in place for export procedures, the proportion of goods moving which are subject to them is minimal.

Traders moving this limited range of goods may need to follow certain procedures prior to departure in Northern Ireland and further information can be found at Movement of goods from NI to GB - Northern Ireland Customs and Trade Academy (nicustomstradeacademy.co.uk)

Detailed guidance on the movement of qualifying Northern Ireland goods to Great Britain is available on GOV.UK at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-qualifying-goods-from-northern-ireland-to-the-rest-of-the-uk.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
5th Nov 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what export procedures will apply to goods moving from Northern Ireland to Great Britain in relation to each of the areas where export procedures are mandated by Section 45B (1) of the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020.

The Windsor Framework guarantees our commitment to unfettered access, removing the requirement for export procedures, except in extremely limited exceptions (such as the movement of endangered species). Traders moving this limited range of goods can access support from the free-to-use Trader Support Service.

Under the unfettered access protections, which the Government is committed to on a permanent basis, qualifying Northern Ireland goods can move to Great Britain – either directly or via Ireland – without undergoing customs or SPS processes or controls.

The vast majority of goods move from Northern Ireland to Great Britain without any records being asked for or collected by any Government departments or agencies. Given the limited and specific requirements in place for export procedures, the proportion of goods moving which are subject to them is minimal.

Traders moving this limited range of goods may need to follow certain procedures prior to departure in Northern Ireland and further information can be found at Movement of goods from NI to GB - Northern Ireland Customs and Trade Academy (nicustomstradeacademy.co.uk)

Detailed guidance on the movement of qualifying Northern Ireland goods to Great Britain is available on GOV.UK at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-qualifying-goods-from-northern-ireland-to-the-rest-of-the-uk.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)