Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what is the value of environmental/carbon border charges that have applied to the movement of electricity from Great Britain to Northern Ireland as a result of moving from Great Britain, located in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme, into Northern Ireland, located in the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme for the purpose of electricity, as mandated by Article 9 and Annex 4 of the Windsor Framework, for each of the last four financial years.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism does not apply in Northern Ireland and there are therefore no carbon border charges Great Britain-Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what determinations govern jurisdiction in Lough Foyle; and what measures are in place to regulate aquaculture in the Lough.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government's position on Lough Foyle has not changed. The regulation of activities in Lough Foyle is the responsibility of the Loughs Agency, a cross-border body established under the Belfast Agreement of 1998. We remain fully committed to these arrangements, while open to ways to improve the management of the Lough.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what provision of what statute requires that cars sold in Northern Ireland from 1 February 2026 must have EU Vehicle Type Approval; and whether that law changes on 1 January 2026.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The EU type approval regulations for new cars are applied in Northern Ireland by Article 5(4) and Annex II of the Windsor Framework. This has applied since the original protocol entered into force on the 1st January 2021 and will continue to apply after the 1st February 2026.
There will be no changes relating to the application of the EU type approval requirements in Northern Ireland on 1st January 2026.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement UIN HCWS1118, of 2 December 2025, on Announcement of funds raised through the first year of the Statutory Gambling Levy, what proportion of the £120 million was raised as a result on the levy as it applies to (a) online and remote and (b) terrestrial gambling.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Approximately 83% of 25/26 levy funds were raised from remote licence holders. The remainder was raised from non-remote licence holders.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether there has been a Government response to the 'Common charger for electrical devices: call for evidence', launched on 9 October 2024; and what his policy is on chargers for electrical devices.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Call for Evidence sought views on whether standardised charger requirements, similar to those adopted by the EU under Directive (EU) 2022/2380 and applying in Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework, would benefit businesses, consumers, and the environment. Many manufacturers already use common chargers to meet the EU rules and have indicated they will extend this approach across the UK to avoid supply chain complexity.
The Government will publish its response in the new year, setting out policy direction. Meanwhile, businesses may continue using either UKCA or CE marking to sell common charger radio equipment in Great Britain.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with respect to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland regarding the Technology Prosperity Deal published on 18 September 2025, what assessment has the Government made of the role that Northern Ireland companies and universities can play in delivering the eight component parts of its Accelerating AI Innovation Strategy, and what steps has it taken to secure full Ireland engagement in this aspect of the Technology Prosperity Deal.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Technology Prosperity Deal supports businesses, universities and research organisations across the whole of the UK, including in Northern Ireland, to unlock growth for our most strategically important tech companies and harness R&D to tackle some of the most pressing problems we face. The Deal was informed by experts from across the United Kingdom.
Northern Ireland’s universities and companies are recognised as key partners in delivering the UK’s AI Opportunities Action Plan. Recent government investment of £2 billion from the AI Opportunities Action Plan aims to target and benefit all regions of the UK and highlights Northern Ireland’s growing strengths in artificial intelligence and next-generation networks. We are also working closely with the Northern Ireland Executive on the delivery of our flagship TechFirst programme.
Last week I had the pleasure of speaking to several NI tech firms and universities in Belfast, to make sure the business ecosystem is meeting the needs of NI AI and tech companies to international markets, including the United States. We continue to engage with the Northern Ireland Executive on matters relating to growth to ensure we are working collaboratively to achieve the best results for the people of Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has she made of the potential implications of the simplifications made by the EU to the EU Deforestation Regulation in terms of (a) its impact on the UK economy in Northern Ireland, (b) the timetable for the Northern Ireland Assembly to consider the legislation and (c) the timetable for the application of the legislation to Northern Ireland.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We are currently reviewing the latest EU proposals. We will take them into account as part of our ongoing considerations.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, where in Northern Ireland can machinery be taken to secure full Phytosanitary checks and the requisite paperwork so it can then be sold into the Republic of Ireland.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Where used agricultural and forestry machinery moves from Great Britain to Northern Ireland and is to be sold into the Republic of Ireland or other EU countries in the future, full Official Controls Regulations apply, and a phytosanitary certificate is required for the movement. It is not possible to retrospectively conduct phytosanitary checks in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that pet owners in Northern Ireland do not have (a) increased costs and (b) reduced access to medicines after 31 December 2025.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government appreciates that affordability and accessibility to obtain veterinary medicines for pet owners is of great importance. The Government also understand that online retailers may offer more affordable options. Through our extensive engagement across the supply chain, Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has heard positive news from several pharmaceutical companies on their commitments not to raise prices.
Also, through extensive engagement, VMD is aware of multiple companies who are either already established in Northern Ireland or are planning to set up as online retailers in Northern Ireland. This is expected to ensure medicines remain available through these online channels. VMD is also working to ensure that the Veterinary Medicine Internal Market Scheme operates in a way that reflects how consumers obtain medicines at present.
In addition, the Government remains confident in its assessment that the vast majority of veterinary medicines will continue to be supplied and that the schemes can address supply gaps if they emerge.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether businesses moving goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland will be required to meet additional requirements as a result of the introduction of the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism on 1 January 2026.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) does not apply in Northern Ireland.
Business in Northern Ireland, like all businesses in the UK, may need to provide information to their EU-based importers to help them meet their requirements under the EU CBAM.
To support business readiness for the EU CBAM, the Department for Business and Trade offers a comprehensive support package, including the Export Support Service, webinars, and an upcoming digital explainer on business.gov.uk, signposting to relevant European Commission resources.