Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, what steps she has taken to promote pro bono work within the legal community.
Answered by Andy Slaughter - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
Pro bono work makes a valuable contribution to access to justice and public confidence in the legal system.
2026 marks the 25th anniversary of Pro Bono Week, celebrating the thousands of lawyers and law students who help people access justice through pro bono legal support.
As Chair of the Attorney General's Pro Bono Committee, I am proud to champion and recognise those efforts across the legal profession - through the Pro Bono Recognition List, the Student Recognition List and the important work of the Pro Bono Committee.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will consider supporting the adjusting and increasing of financial assistance available to the agriculture sector in the context of of extreme heat and prolonged dry weather on Northern Ireland's farmers.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Farming is devolved so this is a matter for the Northern Ireland Government.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of a pilot reduction in VAT for the hospitality sector In Northern Ireland on local businesses and growth in tourism.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption that operates on a UK-wide basis, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services including hospitality services. The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events, and does not routinely comment on proposals.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to help reduce fuel costs for working families, including consideration of a targeted reduction on fuel duty in Northern Ireland.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
The Government has taken action to support households and businesses with their fuel costs in response to the conflict in the Middle East. In May, the Government announced there will be no rise in fuel duty this year; the temporary 5p per litre cut, which was introduced in 2022, will be extended until the end of the year. In total, the decisions taken since the 2024 general election to freeze fuel duty will save motorists 11p per litre or £120 per year for the average car, compared to plans inherited from the previous parliament.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to P.Q. v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (2026), what assessment he has made of whether the current system for determining reasonable expenses in surrogacy arrangements provides sufficient safeguards against surrogacy becoming commercialised, in the context of the absence of a statutory limit on payments to surrogates.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
No such assessments have been made, but on the wider issues raised, the Government continues to support surrogacy as a part of assisted conception options, to help people who have difficulty starting their own family. The Department has published guidance on the care of surrogates and intended parents in surrogate births, available at the following link:
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of increased financial payments in surrogacy arrangements on the rights and welfare of children born through those arrangements.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
No such assessments have been made, but on the wider issues raised, the Government continues to support surrogacy as a part of assisted conception options, to help people who have difficulty starting their own family. The Department has published guidance on the care of surrogates and intended parents in surrogate births, available at the following link:
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she plans to take to ensure that women are not coerced and unduly pressured into becoming surrogates.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
No such assessments have been made, but on the wider issues raised, the Government continues to support surrogacy as a part of assisted conception options, to help people who have difficulty starting their own family. The Department has published guidance on the care of surrogates and intended parents in surrogate births, available at the following link:
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the proposed surrogacy reforms on the commercialisation of surrogacy.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
No such assessments have been made, but on the wider issues raised, the Government continues to support surrogacy as a part of assisted conception options, to help people who have difficulty starting their own family. The Department has published guidance on the care of surrogates and intended parents in surrogate births, available at the following link:
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential risk that women experiencing financial hardship could be disproportionately represented among women acting as surrogates under the proposed reforms.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
No such assessments have been made, but on the wider issues raised, the Government continues to support surrogacy as a part of assisted conception options, to help people who have difficulty starting their own family. The Department has published guidance on the care of surrogates and intended parents in surrogate births, available at the following link:
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the proposed changes to legal parenthood in surrogacy arrangements on the level of disputes between surrogates and intended parents.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
No such assessments have been made, but on the wider issues raised, the Government continues to support surrogacy as a part of assisted conception options, to help people who have difficulty starting their own family. The Department has published guidance on the care of surrogates and intended parents in surrogate births, available at the following link: