Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, who the Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service is responsible to in terms of performance.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Responsibility for the Northern Ireland Civil Service is a transferred matter and civil service reporting lines are, consequently, a matter for the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to WPQ 124367, answered 13th April at 11:04, to detail the date when the open book exercise was completed for each Northern Ireland Department.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The open-book review was a condition of the £400m reserve claim the Northern Ireland Executive received at Supplementary Estimates 2025-26. The review’s Terms of Reference were agreed between HM Treasury and the Northern Ireland Executive.
The exercise has now concluded, and HM Treasury has shared the report with the Northern Ireland Department of Finance.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to WPQ 126941, answered on the 20th April 2026 at 14:14; to detail any direct intervention on behalf of consumers they have had with suppliers or stakeholders from Northern Ireland.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
In enforcing compliance with the Groceries Supply Code of Practice (“the Code”), the GCA aims to ensure that large supermarkets do not impose excessive risks and unexpected costs on their direct suppliers which would adversely affect competition and, ultimately, consumers. It is not the role of the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) to intervene directly on consumer matters. The GCA publishes an Annual Report and Accounts which sets out its priorities and performance.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the legal status is of the remedial order brought against the Northern Ireland Legacy Bill.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Remedial Order was laid on 14 October 2025 as part of the Government’s commitment to repeal and replace the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023. The Remedial Order does not yet have legal effect, whilst it awaits the consideration of the House of Lords.
The Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) concluded in their report that there are compelling reasons for proceeding by way of Remedial Order for the purposes of Section 10(2) of the Human Rights Act 1998.
The Remedial Order passed with a large majority in the House of Commons and I am committed to seeing it debated and passed in the House of Lords, at which point it will become law.