Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
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.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what bids have been submitted by the Northern Ireland Executive Department of Finance for 2024-25 based on the operation of the (a) Windsor Framework and (b) Windsor Framework (Implementation) Regulations 2024; and what available funding has been confirmed for implementation of the Windsor Framework arrangements for 2024-25.
Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
As set out in the Statement of Funding Policy, the UK Government has committed to fund the direct costs associated with reaching the required level of compliance to implement its obligations under the Windsor Framework.
The provision under this commitment is set out in the Northern Ireland Office’s Main Estimates 2024-25 Memoranda.
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 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.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
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.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to The Windsor Framework (Implementation) Regulations 2024, what functions he exercises direction and control over; and if he will publish the directions issued under those regulations.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Windsor Framework (Implementation) Regulations are intended to assist with the delivery of the arrangements adopted between the UK and EU as set out in the Windsor Framework and, more specifically, the operation of arrangements under the Windsor Framework concerning the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The Government does not routinely publish details of discussions with officials working under its direction, whether under the terms of these regulations or otherwise.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the policy paper entitled Safeguarding the Union, published on 31 January 2024, whether he plans to implement the policies set out in that paper.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government is committed to implementing the Windsor Framework in good faith and to taking all necessary steps to protect the UK internal market.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the (a) volume and (b) value was of (i) goods and (ii) other materials sent from Great Britain to Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Data on goods moved into Northern Ireland from Great Britain can be obtained from the official statistics produced on the GOV.UK website.
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has published a Summary of movements of goods into Northern Ireland from Great Britain covering 2023. Details for 2022 and 2021 are also available.
HMRC do not have details prior to 2021 as this information was not collected before EU-Exit .
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason goods imported to Northern Ireland from (a) China and (b) other non-EU countries are charged a higher third country duty tariff than goods imported from those countries to Great Britain.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Under the terms of the Windsor Framework, goods being brought into Northern Ireland from non-EU countries attract customs duty at the relevant EU rate if they are deemed ‘at risk’ of entering the EU. In some circumstances those duties can be waived or the difference between the EU and UK rate reimbursed. If the goods are not regarded as ‘at risk’ of entering the EU they will attract customs duty at UK rates.
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, 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.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
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).
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, 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.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
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.
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, 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.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
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.