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.
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 assessment she has made of the potential merits of amending the closed season for periwinkle gathering in inter-tidal areas in England.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
No national assessment has been made of the merits of amending closed seasons for periwinkle gathering.
The management of inshore fisheries in England, including the gathering of periwinkles in inter‑tidal areas, is the responsibility of the ten Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCAs). IFCAs are committees of local Government. IFCAs have powers to introduce local byelaws, including seasonal restrictions, to ensure the sustainable management of species within their districts.
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.