Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what (a) fuel duty and (b) other tax treatment is applicable to hydrotreated vegetable oil used in (i) road fuel and (ii) home heating fuel.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) is taxed in line with other fuels according to its use.
For fuel duty purposes, HVO is treated as a diesel-equivalent “heavy oil” in the Hydrocarbon Oils Duty Act 1979. When used as a road fuel, it is therefore liable to the standard rate of fuel duty applicable to diesel which is 52.95p per litre. When used for domestic heating, HVO benefits from the rebated duty rate of 10.18p per litre.
For VAT, HVO is subject to the standard rate when used as a road fuel. When supplied for domestic heating, it is eligible for the reduced rate of VAT, subject to the same conditions that apply to other heating fuels, including applicable quantity thresholds.
The Government currently encourages the use of HVO through the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), which incentivises the use of low carbon fuels and reduces emissions from fuel supplied for use in transport and non-road mobile machinery. The RTFO has been very successful in supporting a market for renewable fuel since its introduction in 2008. Renewable fuels supplied under the RTFO currently contribute a third of the savings required for the UK’s transport carbon budget.
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, what role the Grocery Code Adjudicator has in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) ensures the UK’s largest grocery retailers comply with the Groceries Supply Code of Practice (Groceries Code). The Groceries Code is a competition measure owned by the independent Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Competition policy is a UK reserved matter. The GCA operates across the whole of the United Kingdom and regularly engages with Northern Irish suppliers and stakeholders.
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, how much funding has been allocated through the Places of Worship Renewal Fund to places of worship in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Places of Worship Renewal Fund is England only as Heritage is a devolved policy area. The Northern Ireland Government received Barnett consequentials at the Spending Review, taking into account any changes to DCMS’ overall settlement. It is for the Northern Ireland government to consider whether to set up new arrangements should they so wish.
We are working closely with other funders in the sector to ensure that opportunities for funding places of worship throughout the UK are maximised. The NLHF already offers grants for places of worship across all the UK and is currently investing £100m over 3 years through National Lottery Heritage Grants and a strategic initiative designed to provide targeted support to build capacity.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when she plans to publish the results of the open book assessment of Northern Ireland devolved departments.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The open-book exercise is intended to support the Northern Ireland Executive, so any decision to publish the report would be a question for the Northern Ireland Executive.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, will he publish the full details of MoU he has agreed with the Irish Government.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Memorandum of Understanding referenced is an instrument of cooperation between the UK Government and the Government of Ireland. Any decision to publish the document must be taken jointly by both Governments.
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 volume of the Republic of Ireland's national strategic oil reserve is held in UK-based storage.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Ireland's National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) is a commercial entity that holds some oil stocks in Northern Ireland. Details of these stockholdings are commercially sensitive. It would be for NORA to provide any further details about them.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if will list the Barnett consequentials received by the Northern Ireland Executive as a result of UK Government policy decisions on (a) energy, (b) fuel poverty, and (c) household energy support by (i) policy decision, (ii) funding stream, (iii) amount, (iv) date received and (iv) conditions in each of the last five years.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Block Grant Transparency publication breaks down all changes in the Northern Ireland Executives block grant funding from the 2015 Spending Review up to and including Spending Review 2025.
The most recent report was published in October 2025:
Block Grant Transparency: October 2025 - GOV.UK
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, when she plans to bring forward reforms to the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The consultation on reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 opened on 28 January and is due to close on 25 March.
The Government is committed to responding within 12 weeks of a consultation closing.
Defra are looking at bringing in new legislation, when Parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what value of goods have been identified as a threat to the European Union's economy and held at a check point between Great Britain and Northern Ireland since the introduction of the Windsor Framework by year.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMRC does not hold data on the value of goods identified as a threat to the EU economy.
The UK Internal Market Scheme enables businesses to move goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland without being subject to customs duties and unnecessary checks and paperwork. Over 15,000 businesses have been authorised for UKIMS.
The Independent Monitoring Panel's recent assessment of the UK Internal Market System showed that 96% of the value of goods moving via freight from Great Britain to Northern Ireland did so under the UK internal market system for the period 1 January 2025 – 30 June 2025.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much funding his Department has provided to (a) the Invictus Games and (b) UK participants in the Invictus Games (i) in each of the last three games and (ii) how much funding she plans to provide to UK participants at the next games.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
It is taking time to collate the required information to answer the hon. Member's Question. I will write to him when the information is available, and a copy of this letter will be placed in the library of The House.