Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 13 November 2024 to Question 13304 on Northern Ireland Office: Domestic Visits, what steps he is taking to ensure the process is followed.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Members of Parliament are notified in advance of Ministerial visits to their constituency. On a recent occasion, a typographical error in an email meant that the Honourable Member’s constituency office was not notified correctly. The Northern Ireland Office has since contacted the Honourable Member’s constituency office to convey apologies for this.
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 his policy is on notifying an hon. Member before visiting their constituency.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The policy is to notify Members of Parliament in advance of visiting their constituency.
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 steps the Government are taking to ensure the continued supply of medicines to Northern Ireland, in the context of the implementation of the Windsor Framework.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Windsor Framework secures the long-term stability of medicines supply to Northern Ireland, ensuring that medicines will be available in the same packaging and with a single licence across the UK, reflecting the long standing preference of industry.
The Government continues to work closely with industry to support readiness for the implementation of these arrangements from 1 January 2025 and ensure there is no disruption. Transitional measures are also available to support companies, such as the temporary use of stickers and the arrangement that all medicines that are on the market before 1 January 2025 can continue to be supplied in existing packaging.
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 (a) contact details, (b) office address, (c) staffing complement and (d) operating budget of the Windsor Framework Independent Monitoring Panel is; and whether minutes of that Panel's meetings are published.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
This Government is committed to implementing the Windsor Framework and taking all steps necessary to protect the UK internal market. In support of that, I confirmed the appointment of Anna Jerzewska, Aidan Reilly and Alastair Hamilton as the Windsor Framework Independent Monitoring Panel on 19 September.
The Panel will report to Government on the basis set out in the Safeguarding the Union command paper. The arrangements for the Panel are in the process of being put in place and, consistent with their status, Panellists will not be employees of the UK Government. They will be supported by a secretariat function.
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 (a) contact details, (b) office address, (c) staffing complement and (d) operating budget of Intertrade UK is; and whether minutes of that body's meetings are published.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
This Government is committed to implementing the Windsor Framework and taking all steps necessary to protect the UK internal market. To that end, I confirmed the appointment of Baroness Foster as Chair of Intertrade UK on 19 September. The body is in the process of being established and more details of how it will operate to facilitate and boost trade across the UK will be announced in due course.
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 is responsible for discharging the (a) responsibilities and (b) functions of the Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner while that post is vacant.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government is committed to continuing to support veterans in Northern Ireland, including through the Veterans Welfare Service Northern Ireland and the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust.
The Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner’s Office will continue to support veterans across Northern Ireland by acting as a crucial link between veterans and the various support services available to them, including while a new Veterans Commissioner is appointed. We will set out steps for the appointment of a new Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner in due course.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make the Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner a full time post.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
We will set out next steps for the appointment of a new Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner in due course.
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 recent discussions he has had with the Minister for Communities in Northern Ireland on the potential impact of changes to the eligibility criteria for the Winter Fuel Payment on people in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Winter Fuel Payment is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland and its delivery and the eligibility criteria are the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Department for Communities.
The Northern Ireland Executive is responsible for balancing its own budget. The Executive has made a decision to maintain parity with the UK Government by requiring receipt of the Winter Fuel Payment to be means tested.