Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of Northern Ireland being the only part of the UK without routine access to abiraterone for men with non-metastatic prostate cancer on patient outcomes across the UK.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

There are no current plans to hold discussions with the Northern Irish Department of Health or the Health and Social Care Board on abiraterone access in Northern Ireland. Decisions on the availability of medicines in Northern Ireland are a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of Northern Ireland being the only part of the UK unable to offer abiraterone routinely to eligible prostate cancer patients.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

There are no current plans to hold discussions with the Northern Irish Department of Health or the Health and Social Care Board on abiraterone access in Northern Ireland. Decisions on the availability of medicines in Northern Ireland are a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has had discussions with the Northern Ireland (a) Department of Health and (b) Health and Social Care Board on levels of accessibility to abiraterone for non-metastatic prostate cancer across the UK.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

There are no current plans to hold discussions with the Northern Irish Department of Health or the Health and Social Care Board on abiraterone access in Northern Ireland. Decisions on the availability of medicines in Northern Ireland are a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the removal of the 10 per cent wear-and-tear tax deduction for childminders as part of the move to Making Tax Digital for Income Tax on (a) childminders in Northern Ireland, (b) the sustainability of the childminding sector and (c) the (i) affordability and (b) availability of childcare for local families.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Chancellor discusses a range of policy matters with Ministerial colleagues.

Childminders can continue to claim tax relief for wear and tear by deducting the actual cost of buying, repairing or replacing items. They can also deduct the cost of business expenses such as utilities, cleaning and equipment. This ensures childminders receive tax relief for all of the costs that they incur in relation to their childminding business.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what engagement her Department had with the (a) Department of Education, (b) Department of Health and (c) Department of Finance in Northern Ireland in advance of the announcement of the phased removal of the 10% wear and tear allowance for childminders.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Chancellor discusses a range of policy matters with Ministerial colleagues.

Childminders can continue to claim tax relief for wear and tear by deducting the actual cost of buying, repairing or replacing items. They can also deduct the cost of business expenses such as utilities, cleaning and equipment. This ensures childminders receive tax relief for all of the costs that they incur in relation to their childminding business.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the Warm Homes Plan will generate Barnett consequentials for Northern Ireland.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The funding allocations for the Warm Homes Plan do include Barnett consequentials, however the Treasury has not yet confirmed the specific appointments for the Devolved Governments.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have unique devolution settlements. The age, tenure, type and size of building stock varies across different parts of the UK. Therefore, some aspects of the Warm Homes Plan will apply equally in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland while other parts will not be relevant in all nations of the UK.

The UK Government will continue to work closely with the Devolved Governments in delivering the Warm Homes Plan.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much funding the Northern Ireland will receive through Barnett consequentials from the support package for pubs further to her Department's press release entitled Government announces support package that backs British pubs, published on 27 January 2026.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Any Barnett consequentials for the Northern Ireland Executive resulting from policy changes will be confirmed at the relevant fiscal event.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans her Department has to reform the High Income Child Benefit Charge.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The High Income Child Benefit Charge is currently the best way to manage Child Benefit expenditure. By withdrawing Child Benefit from high-income families, it helps to ensure the sustainability of the public finances and protect our vital public services. As with all tax policy, the government will keep this under review.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of postal deliveries across Northern Ireland.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Ministers and officials have discussions with Royal Mail on a regular basis in its capacity as the universal service provider. Earlier this month, I met the CEO of Royal Mail, Alistair Cochrane, to press him on Royal Mail’s progress in improving quality of service. I will continue to raise concerns with Royal Mail if quality of service does not improve.

Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, has powers to set and enforce Royal Mail’s quality of service targets. Royal Mail is required by Ofcom to publish its quality of service results on a quarterly basis.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will have discussions with Royal Mail to encourage timely deliveries in Lagan Valley.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Ministers and officials have discussions with Royal Mail on a regular basis in its capacity as the universal service provider. Earlier this month, I met the CEO of Royal Mail, Alistair Cochrane, to press him on Royal Mail’s progress in improving quality of service. I will continue to raise concerns with Royal Mail if quality of service does not improve.

Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, has powers to set and enforce Royal Mail’s quality of service targets. Royal Mail is required by Ofcom to publish its quality of service results on a quarterly basis.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she is taking to secure an exemption for UK professional HGV and coach drivers from the Schengen 90 days in any 180 rule.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Since 2021, UK nationals (including hauliers and coach drivers) have been bound to a limit of 90 days in any 180-day period (90/180 limit) for work and leisure journeys in the Schengen area. This limit is consistent with the approach taken by the EU to nationals of other third countries.

The 90/180 limit is a fundamental part of the EU’s conditions of entry for third country nationals to its territory, including for visa-free travel for short-term visits. As such, it is not UK Government policy. Any amendments and exemptions to these rules are the responsibility of the EU and Member States. There have been no recent discussions with the EU on the potential impact of the 90/180 limit on UK professional drivers.

The Department for Transport is undertaking research to improve understanding of the effects of the 90/180 limit on the international operations of GB-based HGV and coach businesses that hold standard international operator licences. The data is currently being processed, and the study’s findings will be published in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Schengen 90 days in any 180 rule on UK professional drivers and the businesses that depend on them.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Since 2021, UK nationals (including hauliers and coach drivers) have been bound to a limit of 90 days in any 180-day period (90/180 limit) for work and leisure journeys in the Schengen area. This limit is consistent with the approach taken by the EU to nationals of other third countries.

The 90/180 limit is a fundamental part of the EU’s conditions of entry for third country nationals to its territory, including for visa-free travel for short-term visits. As such, it is not UK Government policy. Any amendments and exemptions to these rules are the responsibility of the EU and Member States. There have been no recent discussions with the EU on the potential impact of the 90/180 limit on UK professional drivers.

The Department for Transport is undertaking research to improve understanding of the effects of the 90/180 limit on the international operations of GB-based HGV and coach businesses that hold standard international operator licences. The data is currently being processed, and the study’s findings will be published in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with her EU counterparts on the potential impact of the Schengen 90 days in any 180 rule on UK professional drivers.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Since 2021, UK nationals (including hauliers and coach drivers) have been bound to a limit of 90 days in any 180-day period (90/180 limit) for work and leisure journeys in the Schengen area. This limit is consistent with the approach taken by the EU to nationals of other third countries.

The 90/180 limit is a fundamental part of the EU’s conditions of entry for third country nationals to its territory, including for visa-free travel for short-term visits. As such, it is not UK Government policy. Any amendments and exemptions to these rules are the responsibility of the EU and Member States. There have been no recent discussions with the EU on the potential impact of the 90/180 limit on UK professional drivers.

The Department for Transport is undertaking research to improve understanding of the effects of the 90/180 limit on the international operations of GB-based HGV and coach businesses that hold standard international operator licences. The data is currently being processed, and the study’s findings will be published in due course.

100th anniversary of the Royal British Legion in Dromore

Public inquiry into Epstein links

Marking the 60th anniversary of the University of the Air White Paper

UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons

Right To Food UK Commission

Food insecurity amongst workers in food processing, manufacturing and retail sectors