Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans the Government has to update (a) digital systems and (b) guidance to reflect Northern Ireland’s trading position under the Windsor Framework.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Government has announced £16.6 million to strengthen the UK internal market and help Northern Ireland boost trade with Great Britain.
A comprehensive ‘one stop shop’ regulatory support service will help businesses trade across the UK and EU markets and benefit from Northern Ireland’s unique dual market access. The service will provide tailored advice to businesses on the rules they need to follow and the facilitations available to them.
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans the Government has to update digital systems and guidance to reflect Northern Ireland’s trading position under the Windsor Framework.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Government has announced £16.6 million to strengthen the UK internal market and help Northern Ireland boost trade with Great Britain.
A comprehensive ‘one stop shop’ regulatory support service will help businesses trade across the UK and EU markets and benefit from Northern Ireland’s unique dual market access. The service will provide tailored advice to businesses on the rules they need to follow and the facilitations available to them.
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her earned settlement proposals would apply to the family members of Irish citizens.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The earned settlement model is currently subject to a public consultation. Full details on earned settlement will be finalised following the conclusion of that public consultation.
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for his policies of parcels from Northern Ireland being incorrectly flagged for EU customs checks due to UK-wide system defaults.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government introduced important new arrangements for the movement of parcels moving to and from Northern Ireland, ensuring that goods can continue to move smoothly between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
HMRC does not carry out routine customs checks on parcels moving into Northern Ireland from Great Britain, save those that are conducted on a risk and intelligence led basis to tackle fraud and criminality.
HMRC has published clear guidance to support parcel operators and continues to engage with the express sector regularly to ensure businesses and consumers in Northern Ireland benefit from these arrangements.
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to help improve awareness and acceptance of XI VAT numbers among businesses outside Northern Ireland.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
I refer the member to the answer given to UIN 95354 on 04 December 2025
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to improve awareness and acceptance of XI VAT numbers among businesses outside Northern Ireland.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMRC has published guidance on GOV.UK setting out the requirements for any business trading in goods between the EU and Northern Ireland and the need for an XI VAT number.
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if her department will conduct an assessment into the feasibility of exempting tips from income tax.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Employees pay tax on all payments that reward them for the work they do. This includes wages, tips, gratuities, or any share of a service charge that they receive. Whether National Insurance contributions are due on tips depends on how tips are managed in the workplace. More information on how tips are taxed can be found here: Tips at work: Tips and tax - GOV.UK'.
The Chancellor will announce any changes to the tax system at fiscal events in the usual way.
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has discussed with Royal Mail updating the international addressing systems so that Northern Ireland can be selected as a distinct region.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
International addressing systems are operational tools, owned and maintained by Royal Mail, with their primary purpose being to ensure the accurate sorting, routing and delivery of customers’ mail. Royal Mail keeps this under review for its purposes.
Royal Mail is an independent business and therefore the government does not have a role in Royal Mail’s commercial or technical decisions.
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has discussed with Royal Mail updating international addressing systems so that Northern Ireland can be selected as a distinct region.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
International addressing systems are operational tools, owned and maintained by Royal Mail, with their primary purpose being to ensure the accurate sorting, routing and delivery of customers’ mail. Royal Mail keeps this under review for its purposes.
Royal Mail is an independent business and therefore the government does not have a role in Royal Mail’s commercial or technical decisions.
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether individuals from Hong Kong who have been granted asylum or refugee status will be required to meet a 20-year settlement requirement.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK. We fully recognise the significant contribution that Hong Kongers have already made to the UK, and the role they will continue to play in the years ahead.
Those on the BN(O) visa route will receive a 5-year reduction under the new earned settlement model.
For those recognised as refugees, we will introduce a starting point of a 20-year qualifying period of settlement. Those who move from core protection onto the new core protection-work and study routes will be able to earn reductions.
Resettled refugees who have been granted protection and moved to the UK through official resettlement programmes are intended to start at 10 years, bringing them in line with other arrivals on planned migration routes.
Beyond this, full details of the new earned settlement model will be finalised following the currently ongoing public consultation.