Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has considered introducing Graduated Driver Licenses for new drivers, in the context of levels of car insurance.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Driver licensing is devolved in Northern Ireland and is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive and the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Whilst we are not considering Graduated Driver Licensing in Great Britain with further restrictions on newly qualified drivers, such as carrying passengers or driving at night, we are consulting on a Minimum Learning Period before learner drivers can take their practical driving test. This would allow learners more time to gain essential experience, for example in different weather conditions, before driving independently and reduce the risk to themselves and other drivers.
If the number of collisions involving young drivers and novice drivers fall overall, then this could lead to a reduction in insurance premiums for younger drivers.
It is also important to note that motor insurers are responsible for setting the terms and conditions of the policies that they offer and it is for them to decide the level of risk that they take in issuing any policy to a given applicant. Motor insurers use a wide range of criteria to assess the potential risk a driver poses and this includes the age of the applicant, the type of vehicle being insured, the postal area where the applicant lives and the driving experience of the applicant. The setting of premiums is a commercial decision for individual insurers based on their underwriting experience and the Government does not intervene or seek to control the market.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many Northern Ireland resident veterans have accessed the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital in Gobowen in each of the last three years.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District Hospital NHS Trust has confirmed it has no record of veterans who are resident in Northern Ireland being referred to their orthopaedic hospital in the last three years.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people are in receipt of the war widowers recognition payment by (a) constituency and (b) regiment.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Following its launch on 16 October 2023, 249 applications were approved with more than £21 million awarded under the War Widow(er)s Recognition Payment Scheme. Over 70 per cent of applications were submitted in the first three months, while only 14 claims were submitted in 2025.
Given the continued reduction in application numbers, the Government proceeded with the planned closure of the Scheme on 15 October 2025 as outlined at its inception.
Information relating to the constituency of the widow(er) and the regiment of the individual whose widow(er) has received payments under the War Widow(er)s Recognition Payment Scheme is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of war widowers eligible for the war widowers recognition payment received the payment in each of the last five years.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
While the exact number of individuals eligible for the War Widow(er)s Recognition Payment Scheme is not known, the number of payments made under the Scheme between its launch on 16 October 2023 and closure on 15 October 2025 is shown below.
2023 | 0 |
2024 | 237 |
2025 | 12 |
Given the continued reduction in application numbers, the Government proceeded with the planned closure of the Scheme, as outlined at its inception.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the closure of the War Widow(er)s Recognition Payment Scheme on 15 October 2025, what the final number of (a) applications received and (b) successful payments made was; and what his Department’s assessment is of the final uptake rate against the initial projected eligible cohort.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to my previous answer recently provided to Questions 105112 and 105113.
The Scheme received 381 applications, of which 249 were approved. Since its launch, the Scheme has successfully fulfilled its intended purpose, having awarded more than £21 million and providing meaningful recognition to those who were eligible. Following an internal review and a decline in application numbers, the Scheme closed on the 15 October 2025, as originally outlined at its inception.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will provide a breakdown of the recipients of the War Widow(er)s Recognition Payment Scheme by (a) nation of the UK and (b) the branch of the Armed Forces in which their late spouse or partner served; and if he will provide a list of the regiments or corps of the recipients.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to my previous answer recently provided to Questions 105112 and 105113.
The Scheme received 381 applications, of which 249 were approved. Since its launch, the Scheme has successfully fulfilled its intended purpose, having awarded more than £21 million and providing meaningful recognition to those who were eligible. Following an internal review and a decline in application numbers, the Scheme closed on the 15 October 2025, as originally outlined at its inception.
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 8th January 2026 to Question 103096, who is responsible for requesting the national security vetting for the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Responsibility for recruitment (including requesting national security vetting) for the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland lies with The Executive Office.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what mechanisms are in place for the Drug Tariff Committee and suppliers to provide input into revisions of the the Wave 1 Part IX categorisation published by the NHS Business Services Authority.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The final draft, version 1.2, of the Part IX Drug Tariff (Med Tech in the community) Wave 1 categorisation was developed in collaboration with an Expert Reference Group and updated in line with stakeholder feedback over four iterations. The final version was published in October 2025 and can be found on the NHS Business Services Authority Website at the following link:
https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/manufacturers-and-suppliers/drug-tariff-part-ix-information
The Department is currently recruiting Independent Assessment Panels (IAPs) for Wave 1 and has agreed to ask them to review late feedback received from a company on the eye drops category. This is due to take place in February 2026 and will not require further input from industry as it has already been circulated for comment by them.
The Department recognises that the categorisation is not stagnant and may need further amendments as medical devices continue to evolve and the IAPs are stood up. Companies can suggest further amendments when they apply to Part IX of the Drug Tariff or through the Drug Tariff Committee.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will review the limit on the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, previously funded until March 2025, has been extended for one year with a £23 million budget. To ensure the budget remains affordable for this year, claims are now capped at £25,000 per place of worship. These changes were necessary given the inherited fiscal challenges and pressures on other parts of the heritage and cultural sectors. Departmental analysis indicates that 94% of applications will be unaffected by this change, with most claims typically being under £5,000. In order to ensure the scheme is available to as many listed places of worship as possible, within this context, we do not feel it is appropriate to reassess the cap for this financial year.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 7th January to Question 102317, on Shared Island Media Fund, if he will set out in detail the shared priorities between the UK and Ireland which are advanced by this initiative.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Shared Island Media Fund will support efforts to improve media literacy (including working with Northern Irish organisations) and build capacity for high-quality, sustainable journalism, working to bolster media resilience in the digital age. Such priorities reflect challenges faced by both countries.