Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has been made of the levels of screw worm infection in the UK cattle herd.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
New World Screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax, a parasitic blowfly, is classified as a notifiable pathogen under the Specified Animal Pathogens Order (SAPO) in the United Kingdom. The fly is not established in the UK and there have been no recorded cases of screwworm infection in the UK cattle herd.
In the event of a suspected or confirmed case, the Secretary of State would either be notified via the Animal and Plant Health Agency or by the Health and Safety Executive who are the SAPO licensing authority.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to help support the use of carbon capture technology in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
DESNZ has provided innovation funding to support the development and demonstration of carbon capture technologies in Northern Ireland, such as CATAGEN’s biohydrogen reactor in Belfast. We welcome engagement from future CCUS projects, including through non-pipeline transportation of CO2, to support the decarbonisation of industry in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of a significant managed depreciation of the US dollar as part of international currency realignment on UK inflation, gilt markets and sterling.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government does not comment on market movements. The reserves are managed to ensure the policy objectives set out in the Exchange Equalisation Account Act 1979 can be met at all times.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of a material fall in the value of the US dollar on UK official foreign exchange reserves.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government does not comment on market movements. The reserves are managed to ensure the policy objectives set out in the Exchange Equalisation Account Act 1979 can be met at all times.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has had discussions with her US counterpart on proposals for new international (a) monetary and (b) currency realignment arrangements, including proposals described as Bretton Woods realignment.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
We have no such record.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has (a) taken recent steps towards and (b) had discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive on a legislative ban on the sale of aversive training tools for domestic animals in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Animal welfare is a devolved matter; responsibility for animal welfare policy in Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive.
Defra has regular discussions on animal welfare matters with the Northern Ireland Executive.
In England, Defra’s Code of Practice for the welfare of dogs supports positive reward training techniques for dogs. As set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy for England, we will consult on whether to ban the use of electric shock collars later in this Parliament.
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 - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
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.