Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what his policy is on the use of companion dogs in prisons.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

We understand this Question to refer to “pets as therapy” (PAT) dogs.

Prisoners are not permitted to have dogs in possession, but admittance of PAT dogs into prisons is covered in paragraphs 7.32 – 7.37 of HM Prison & Probation Service’s Prison Dogs Policy Framework: prison-dogs-pf.pdf; and section 13 of the Supplementary Guidance: prison-dogs-supplementary-guidance.pdf.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he will announce the future funding allocation to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

As announced at the Spending Review, from 2026-27 the UK Government will provide targeted, long-term local growth funding to support growth across the UK, once the UK Shared Prosperity Fund ends in March 2026.

In Northern Ireland, we are working closely with the Northern Ireland Office to implement and develop the new Local Growth Fund, in collaboration with the Northern Ireland Executive. The Government is committed to engagement with key stakeholders in Northern Ireland to help implement a package of funding that meets local needs and delivers impact. More information on the development of the Local Growth Fund in Northern Ireland and engagement plans will be set out soon.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken to help tackle rural (a) rural crime and (b) thefts in the last two years.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Rural crime can have devastating consequences for countryside communities and the agricultural sector.

Under our Safer Streets Mission reforms, rural communities will be safeguarded, with tougher measures to clamp down on equipment theft, anti-social behaviour, strengthened neighbourhood policing and stronger measures to prevent farm theft and fly-tipping.

This financial year the Home Office will be providing the first Government funding since 2023 for the National Rural Crime Unit (£365,000) as well as continuing funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit (£450,000). This funding will enable them to tackle the crimes that mostly affect rural communities.

Additionally, we are committed to the implementation of the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act and fully support its intentions to tackle the theft and re-sale of All-Terrain Vehicles.

The Government’s response to the Call for Evidence on the scope of the legislation will be published soon. We hope to introduce the necessary legislation to Parliament this year.

The Crime and Policing Bill will introduce a new power for the police to enter and search premises to which items have been electronically tracked by GPS or other means, where the items are reasonably believed to have been stolen and are on those premises, and where it has not been reasonably practicable to obtain a warrant from a court.

This will provide a valuable tool for police in tackling stolen equipment and machinery.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she has taken to tackle illegal dog fighting in the last two years.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Dog fighting is illegal under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Defra advises members of the public who have evidence of cruelty to animals to report it to the relevant local authority. They have powers under the 2006 Act to investigate allegations of cruelty, poor welfare, or neglect of animals.

Since The Online Safety Act 2023 came into force in March 2025, social media firms must remove online content facilitating animal torture, including the promotion of, or footage depicting, illegal dog fighting.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to announce the location of the Northern Ireland Defence Growth Deal.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence is continuing to consult with a range of stakeholders, including the devolved government, to finalise the details of the Northern Ireland Defence Growth Deal. Once finalised, the focus and scope of the Defence Growth Deal will be announced.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had discussions with the Minister for the Economy in Northern Ireland on the inclusion of businesses in Northern Ireland in UK Government trade talks with Israel.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The UK Government is responsible for negotiating international trade agreements on behalf of all the nations and regions in the UK. DBT understands that the devolved governments have a significant interest in international trade policy and works closely with them to deliver policy that reflects the interests of all parts of the UK.

The UK Government, however, suspended trade negotiations with Israel on 20^th May, owing to the actions of this Israeli Government in Gaza and the West Bank. It will take a sustained shift in the positions of this Israeli government for the UK to consider restarting the FTA negotiations.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 80771 on Defence: Industry, whether he has had decisions with (a) the Northern Ireland Economy Minister and (b) Invest Northern Ireland on the Northern Ireland Defence Growth Deal.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Ministry of Defence officials have engaged several stakeholders in Northern Ireland regarding the proposed Defence Growth Deal that was announced in the Defence Industrial Strategy. This has included officials in the Northern Ireland Executive as well as industry and academia. Engagement on the development of the growth deal will continue over the coming months.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of adding (a) 1,000, (b) 1,500 and (c) 2,000 additional GPs to the professional indemnity insurance cover provided by Government.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The state indemnity scheme, Clinical Negligence Scheme for General Practice, which is administered by NHS Resolution, already covers all clinical negligence liabilities arising in general practice under National Health Service contracts. More information on the scheme is available at the following link:

https://resolution.nhs.uk/services/claims-management/clinical-schemes/general-practice-indemnity/clinical-negligence-scheme-for-general-practice/

We do not hold an estimate of the potential impact of these additional general practitioners on claims volume and provision.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department’s policies of the Northern Ireland Minister for the Economy ‘s decision not to engage with the Government’s trade talks with Israel.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Trade policy is a reserved matter and the UK Government is responsible for negotiating international trade agreements on behalf of all the nations and regions in the UK.

This Government suspended trade negotiations with Israel on 20 May, owing to the actions of the Israeli Government in Gaza and the West Bank.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement on food (a) production, (b) supply and (c) security.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The EU-Mercosur trade agreement has not been signed yet and is a matter for the EU. We do not expect that it will impact UK food production, supply or security.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help her counterpart in Northern Ireland tackle Asian hornets.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra and staff from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) have worked closely with officials from Northern Ireland to help them prepare and publish a contingency plan for action against Asian hornets. A sighting of Asian hornet was reported on 10^th October close to Dundonald in Northern Ireland. Inspectors from the APHA National Bee Unit and the APHA Non-Native Species Inspectorate have drawn on their extensive experience and provided support to officials in Northern Ireland about deployment of the contingency plan to find and destroy a nest.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the Transformation Fund.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Office, and Ministers, regularly engage with the Northern Ireland Executive on the Transformation Fund. In particular, through its membership of the Public Sector Transformation Board whose role is to advise and make recommendations on how to use the £235m ring-fenced transformation funding.

Work is on going to identify and allocate remaining funds to further transformative projects in the months ahead.

Poppy Appeal in Northern Ireland

Commemoration of the sinking of the Suez Maru and Allied prisoners of war lost

Impact of extreme weather on farming

Verdict in the Soldier F trial

Non-indexed pre-1997 pensions

World Sight Day 2025