Lord Dodds of Duncairn

The Horticulture Working Group is composed of officials from various departments including the Cabinet Office and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, as well as representatives of the National Farmers’ Union, the Ulster Farmers’ Union, various members of the Horticultural Trades Association, and other businesses engaged in horticultural activities in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Officials in the Cabinet Office, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate act as the secretariat, supporting the organisation of the Working Group and preparing papers for the Group’s consideration.

The Veterinary Medicines Working Group advises the Government on an ongoing basis, recognising the urgency of the issue, and is therefore not expected to deliver a report or conclusion by a particular date. Their expert advice plays a vital role in shaping the Government’s work on this matter. The next meeting is scheduled for early March.

Officials in the Cabinet Office and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs act as the secretariat, supporting the organisation of the Working Group and preparing papers for the Group’s consideration. The group has met twice in 2024 under the current government, with further meetings scheduled in 2025. The next scheduled meeting of the Group is due to take place in February. The group will identify and resolve issues related to the movement of plants and seeds between Great Britain and Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework on an ongoing basis.

The Veterinary Medicines Working Group consists of veterinary experts, including members of the House of Lords and Commons with a veterinary background and representatives of veterinary associations; other political representatives with an interest in the matter; and trade associations representing industry such as pharmaceutical manufacturers, wholesalers and farmers. The updated Terms of Reference, which includes the full list of members, will be deposited in the House of Commons and House of Lords libraries shortly.

The list of active infringement proceedings against the United Kingdom are set out below:

1. INFR(2020)2202 - Incorrect transposition of the Free Movement Directive by the United Kingdom.

2. INFR(2011)2054 - Comprehensive sickness insurance requirement and treatment of extended family members with prior residence in the UK.

3. INFR(2016)2150 - Termination of the Intra-EU Bilateral Investment Treaties.

4. INFR(2022)2059 - Non-provision by the United Kingdom of external trade statistics in respect of Northern Ireland, as required by the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland.

5. INFR(2021)2039 - Non-compliance with EU law requirements concerning the movement of agri-food, parcels and pet travel.

6. INFR(2022)2060 - Incorrect implementation by the UK of EU's sanitary and phytosanitary rules, as required by the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland to the Withdrawal Agreement.

7. INFR(2022)2064 - Failure of the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland to implement the Import One Stop Shop for distance sales of imported goods.

8. INFR(2022)2062 - Incorrect implementation of the EU customs legislation by the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland.

Infractions 4-8 above relate to the Northern Ireland Protocol and were opened before the UK and EU subsequently agreed the Windsor Framework.

The Department for Business and Trade does not hold comprehensive data on these matters. The UK Government is committed to implementing the Windsor Framework in good faith and protecting the UK internal market. Windsor Framework implementing arrangements have been designed to ease the flow of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and reduce administrative and other business burdens.

Cyber Local is a UK government scheme to deliver tailored support for the cyber security sector. It is part of the government’s work to make the UK more resilient against cyber threats, support economic growth and develop digital skills. £1.9 million of funding will be shared by 31 projects, details of which can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cyber-local-projects-2025. The downloadable spreadsheet indicates the project location and whether the project focuses on skills, resilience or innovation.

The Irish Language Broadcast Fund was set up in 2004/5 with funding provided to Northern Ireland Screen from the UK Government via the Northern Ireland Executive’s Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure. Since 2011/12, Northern Ireland Screen has received UK Government funding via the British Film Institute.

The Ulster Scots Broadcast Fund was set up in 2011/12 and also receives UK Government funding via the British Film Institute.

The table below sets out the amount of money allocated to both funds since they were established.

Figures for 2004/05 to 2010/11 have been provided by Northern Ireland Screen. Figures for 2011/12 onwards are set out in the British Film Institute’s annual reports and accounts.

As part of the allocations set out above, in May 2021 the Northern Ireland Office announced an extra £2 million in funding to mark the fulfillment of a UK Government commitment in the New Decade, New Approach agreement that was agreed in January 2020 and saw the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive. The extra funding was provided through DCMS and the British Film Institute and was split equally between both funds.

The 2023/24 and 2024/25 figures for Northern Ireland Screen’s funding for the Irish Language Broadcast Fund and Ulster Scots Broadcast Fund will be published via the British Film Institute’s annual report and accounts. The British Film Institute’s 2023/24 annual report and accounts will be published in due course.

The Irish Language Broadcast Fund offers several training opportunities for Irish speakers working or aspiring to work in the independent production sector in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland Screen is responsible for the allocation of funding to such schemes, and how they are operated.

The Irish Language Broadcast Fund was set up in 2004/5 with funding provided to Northern Ireland Screen from the UK Government via the Northern Ireland Executive’s Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure. Since 2011/12, Northern Ireland Screen has received UK Government funding via the British Film Institute.

The Ulster Scots Broadcast Fund was set up in 2011/12 and also receives UK Government funding via the British Film Institute.

The table below sets out the amount of money allocated to both funds since they were established.

Figures for 2004/05 to 2010/11 have been provided by Northern Ireland Screen. Figures for 2011/12 onwards are set out in the British Film Institute’s annual reports and accounts.

As part of the allocations set out above, in May 2021 the Northern Ireland Office announced an extra £2 million in funding to mark the fulfillment of a UK Government commitment in the New Decade, New Approach agreement that was agreed in January 2020 and saw the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive. The extra funding was provided through DCMS and the British Film Institute and was split equally between both funds.

The 2023/24 and 2024/25 figures for Northern Ireland Screen’s funding for the Irish Language Broadcast Fund and Ulster Scots Broadcast Fund will be published via the British Film Institute’s annual report and accounts. The British Film Institute’s 2023/24 annual report and accounts will be published in due course.

The Irish Language Broadcast Fund offers several training opportunities for Irish speakers working or aspiring to work in the independent production sector in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland Screen is responsible for the allocation of funding to such schemes, and how they are operated.

The Government does not provide direct funding to any of the UK’s Commonwealth Games associations. We provide the majority of support for grassroots sport through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England. In this financial year, Sport England awarded £1.5 million to Commonwealth Games England.

The Government will work closely with Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in operating the Pet Travel scheme, including on issues of compliance and ensuring that those with pet travel documents are able to move without interruption.

For travel from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Pet Travel Scheme, which will be in place from June 2025, will significantly reduce the burdens associated with the original Northern Ireland Protocol for Great Britain based pet owners. Northern Ireland pet owners will not face any checks and will not be required to hold a pet travel document.

Pet owners who live in Great Britain will be able to apply online for a free pet travel document online from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).

To do so, pets will need to have been microchipped. Microchipping is already a legal requirement in the United Kingdom for dogs, for cats in England since June 2024. Pet owners will also need to confirm they will not use the scheme to travel to the EU.

Northern Ireland pet owners will not be required to hold a pet travel document and will face no checks.

The Secretary of State for Defra, with the Scottish and Welsh Ministers, and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs are the competent authorities for the scheme.

The Northern Ireland Pet Travel Scheme requires pet owners from Great Britain to have a microchipped pet and hold a valid pet travel document, this is free to obtain.

Defra staff will provide support to the public when needed on departure from Great Britain to ensure compliance upon arrival in Northern Ireland.

We expect that the vast majority of people will comply and the Government will be providing comprehensive support to those travelling with their pets to ensure they can do so.

However, in rare instances where a pet owner is not compliant upon arrival in Northern Ireland officials from the Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs will provide further support.

On 31 January 2024, the previous government published a command paper on ‘safeguarding the union’. The Government is making progress on the commitments in taking forward the policies set out in the Safeguarding the Union Command Paper.

Levels of fraud and error in relation to benefit payments, as well as levels of overpayments, are outlined here Fraud and error in the benefit system, Financial Year Ending (FYE) 2024 - GOV.UK for 2023/24, and here for the previous year 2022/23: Fraud and error in the benefit system Financial Year Ending (FYE) 2023 - GOV.UK

Please see the requested information in the attached document.

Levels of fraud and error in relation to benefit payments, as well as levels of overpayments, are outlined here Fraud and error in the benefit system, Financial Year Ending (FYE) 2024 - GOV.UK for 2023/24, and here for the previous year 2022/23: Fraud and error in the benefit system Financial Year Ending (FYE) 2023 - GOV.UK

Please see the requested information in the attached document.

Terrorist groups like Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa have sought to undermine the right to Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) by attacking those who do not subscribe to their extremist views, including both Christians and Muslims. These incidents are distinct from the ongoing intercommunal violence across Nigeria. The root causes of this intercommunal violence are complex, and whilst religious identity can play a role, so can loss of economic opportunity, competition over land and natural resources. The UK is providing £38 million in programming to Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria supporting locally led solutions in Northern Nigeria to tackle the root causes of this violence.

The UK's position on Taiwan has not changed. There is a longstanding and historic pattern of ministerial engagement between the UK and Taiwan, which underpins our cooperation in a range of areas, and support our strong and growing relations with a likeminded democratic partner.

Goods manufactured outside the UK or EU that are in free circulation in Great Britain are only subject to duty when moved to Northern Ireland if they are considered to be ‘at risk’ of entering the EU. Goods that are subject to trade defence measures are treated as ‘at risk’.

In these scenarios, the Windsor Framework provides a means to offset these costs. If goods do not subsequently enter the EU, the Duty Reimbursement Scheme can be used to claim back the full amount. The Customs Duty Waiver Scheme is also available for traders to waive the duties up to certain thresholds, regardless of the ultimate destination of the goods.

The estates of all individuals benefit from a £325,000 nil-rate band for inheritance tax. This has been fixed at £325,000 since April 2009.

The residence nil-rate band is a further £175,000 for those passing on a qualifying residence on death to their direct descendants, such as children or grandchildren. The residence nil-rate band was introduced in April 2017.

This means qualifying estates can pass on up to £500,000 and the qualifying estate of a surviving spouse or civil partner can pass on up to £1 million without an inheritance tax liability. This is because any unused nil-rate band or residence nil-rate band is transferable to a surviving spouse or civil partner.

Where personal tax thresholds are not fixed, up until April 2012, they were indexed in line with the Retail Price Index (RPI) measure of inflation. As set out in the 2012 Finance Act, from April 2012, any personal tax thresholds that were not fixed were indexed in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) measure of inflation.

Had the nil-rate band not been fixed, HMRC estimate it would have been £508,000 in 2024-25.

As set out in the Safeguarding the Union Command Paper, more than 80% of all freight movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland will be treated as not at risk and will move within the UK internal market system. That commitment will be monitored by the Independent Monitoring Panel and will take effect once the internal market system comes into force fully next year.

At Autumm Budget the government confirmed the continuation of the Investment Zones programme across the UK, which will promote investment opportunities, create additional jobs, and drive economic growth. This includes £150m, available over 10 years, for the delivery of the Enhanced Investment Zone in Northern Ireland.

In consultation with relevant government Departments, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is currently working in partnership with the Northern Ireland Executive to co-develop proposals for the design and delivery of the Enhanced Investment Zone. The Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland is acting as the lead Department for the Executive on Enhanced Investment Zone development, working with a range of partners across Northern Ireland.

The government annually publishes data on the collection of council tax. Data on uncollected council tax up to 2023-24 is below:

The Government has no plans to conduct a council tax revaluation in England. The Government is committed to keeping taxes on working people as low as possible.

This information is not collected centrally by the Government.

I can confirm that the Government has refreshed training programmes and materials for both the Home Civil Service and the Diplomatic Service on the Good Friday Agreement and successor agreements, as set out in the Safeguarding the Union command paper. The new training materials are currently being rolled out across the UK Government.

This Government is committed to implementing the Windsor Framework in good faith and to protecting Northern Ireland’s place in the UK internal market. We are currently considering the best way to take forward the approach referred to in Annex B of the Safeguarding the Union command paper.

The Secretary of State for Education reaffirmed the Government's commitment to the development of a twinning programme, as set out in the command paper, at the last UK Education Ministers' Council hosted in Lisburn, Northern Ireland on 20 November 2024. Work is ongoing to develop and deliver the programme.

This Government is committed to resetting relationships with the devolved Governments.

While public services are the responsibility of the Executive, we want to be a supportive partner. In the Northern Ireland Office, we are working to promote greater collaborative working between the UK Government and the Executive so that we can deliver improvements for the people of Northern Ireland.

The Irish Language Investment Fund, An Ciste Infheistíochta Gaeilge, was established by a grant-in-aid of £8 million from the Government in 2010 in connection to the Hillsborough Castle Agreement.

In 2020, the Government announced the provision of an additional £4 million in capital funding to An Ciste as part of the commitments in relation to Northern Ireland’s unique circumstances that were agreed in the New Decade, New Approach agreement.

The Block Grant Transparency publication, which sets out changes to devolved government funding from the 2015 Spending Review onwards in detail, will shortly be updated with changes made at Autumn Budget 2024.