Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussion he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the roll and remit of the Better Regulation Executive.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)
The Government is establishing a new Better Regulation Executive (BRE), to set direction and drive implementation of the government’s vision for a streamlined and proportionate regulatory system. A Chair will be appointed shortly.
The BRE will work in close partnership with the Department for Business, Science, Innovation and Trade and engage closely with the Northern Ireland Executive on relevant matters as appropriate.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, of the regulation and tariffs he is removing that will be worth £800m to business, what is the estimated value for Northern Ireland based businesses.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)
The new regulatory administrative savings and tariff suspensions extensions announced at Budget 2026 will reduce costs for business by up to an estimated £800m in administrative and tariff costs a year across the UK, including Northern Ireland. The estimated value for Northern Ireland based businesses will become known as these measures are implemented. We will provide an update on our overall progress toward achieving the 25% administrative burden reduction target, that considers further savings and burdens, in due course.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the remit of the Better Regulation Executive include Northern Ireland.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)
The government is establishing a new Better Regulation Executive (BRE), which will set direction and drive implementation of the government's vision for a streamlined and proportionate regulatory system that better enables growth across the UK, including Northern Ireland.
The BRE will be a joint unit between HM Treasury and the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and will be overseen by a Ministerial Oversight Group including the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the First Secretary of State and the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade. A Chair will be appointed shortly. The BRE will work in close partnership with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what commercial transactions will be relevant for a family farm, for a family passing their business down to the next generation.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
Families can pass businesses on to the next generation in a number of ways, including through the sale or gift of shares and inheritance. It is for individuals to decide which route is most appropriate for their circumstances.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has had discussions with the Northern Ireland hospitality sector on the development of a pilot for the reduction of VAT on hospitality.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
The Chancellor spoke with the First Minister and deputy First Minister on his second day in office as part of the Government's ongoing engagement with Northern Ireland, and ministers and officials regularly engage with hospitality businesses and representative bodies on issues affecting the sector, including taxation.
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, how many i) cattle and ii) sheep have been euthanased by shooting, by their department in each of the last 3 years for welfare concerns.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) officers would only dispatch animals by shooting in rare and complex animal welfare cases and during depopulation.
There are no central records of cattle or sheep killed by shooting by APHA for animal welfare reasons in the last 3 years.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when the last meeting of the East-West Council established under the Safeguarding the Union Command Paper was; and who attended.
Answered by Hilary Benn
The Government is continuing to implement the Safeguarding the Union command paper and to support Northern Ireland's place in the Union.
Part of that commitment is regular meetings of the East-West Council. The Council last met in January 2026, with representatives from the UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive in attendance.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when the next meeting of the East-West Council established under the Safeguarding the Union Command Paper is due to take place.
Answered by Hilary Benn
The Government is continuing to implement the Safeguarding the Union command paper and to support Northern Ireland's place in the Union.
Part of that commitment is regular meetings of the East-West Council. We intend that the Council will next meet in autumn 2026.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on making the wearing of a sgian dubh illegal.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The wearing of the sgian dubh is permitted where it is being worn as part of a national costume. There are no plans to change this.
However, we are clear that if any bladed or pointed article is used to threaten or harm others, this will be met with the full force of the law.
This strikes the balance between protecting public safety and protecting freedoms.
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 hon. Members received direct payment from his Department in each of the last 10 years by year and service provided.
Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)
With the exception of salary paid to the Secretary of State for Defence, and Defence Ministers, it is not possible to identify whether any other direct payments have been made to current or former Members of Parliament as a cohort. Whether the recipient of any type of payment for any reason is a Member of Parliament, is not centrally recorded and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.