Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he plans to provide support to former Northern Ireland (a) prison officers and (b) police to maintain security at their homes.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Office Home Protection Scheme is in place to provide protective security measures to those in certain occupations who are assessed to be under significant threat from Northern Ireland-related terrorism. Serving and former prison and police officers fall within that range of occupations.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many allergy 'near miss' incidents took place in schools in England in each year since 2016.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

The information requested is not held centrally.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the extent to which the ICJ's Preliminary Measures to prevent genocide in Gaza have been implemented.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is currently considering a case brought under the genocide convention in relation to Gaza. Pending its final decision on the merits of the case, the ICJ has issued provisional measures. The UK has been clear that Israel has an obligation to implement these measures as a matter of international law. It is the UK Government's long-standing position that any formal determination as to whether genocide has occurred is a matter for a competent court, not for Governments or non-judicial bodies. The UK fully respects the independence of the ICJ and supports its work in this regard, including in assessing whether its Orders have been complied with.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many requests his Department has made of the Mass Atrocity Prevention Hub to make an assessment of the risk of genocide being committed in Gaza.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

It is the UK Government's long-standing position that any formal determination as to whether genocide has occurred is a matter for a competent court, and not for governments or non-judicial bodies. The International Court of Justice case on genocide is ongoing, and we support the independence of the court. Our approach to genocide determination does not prevent us from taking action to call out and seek to address risks of atrocities. We have been clear that we strongly oppose the expansion of Israel's operations in Gaza, that Israel must do much more to protect civilians, that Palestinian territory must not be reduced nor subjected to any demographic change and that Israel must immediately lift its block on aid. Ministers have raised these issues with Israeli government counterparts, and we have made our position clear through joint statements with partners. On 13 May the UK, along with European partners, called an urgent session of the UN Security Council.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with the Northern Ireland Department of Health on working together on (a) research and (b) treatment for people with long covid.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department has not had any specific discussions in relation to working together on research and treatment for long COVID with Northern Ireland’s Department of Health.

The Department of Health and Social Care funds research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR, through the Department, has had an arrangement with the devolved administrations, including in Northern Ireland, since 2008, based on investments from each nation that has allowed research hosts, including universities and research active National Health Service organisations, to apply for NIHR funding through the majority of our research programmes. This enables devolved nation-based researchers to lead studies across the range of health and social care priorities, and, importantly, allows more people to participate in an expanded range of research initiatives.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent discussions he has had with the Chief Medical Officer on the potential merits of raising the digital age of consent.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

Ministers and officials engage regularly with a range of experts and stakeholders on issues relating to children’s online safety and wellbeing. While there have been no recent formal discussions with the Chief Medical Officer specifically on the digital age of consent, we will continue to draw on expert advice as we review the evidence in this area.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will introduce legislation to improve online safety laws.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The government is committed to working with Ofcom to ensure the Online Safety Act is implemented quickly and effectively.

This year we expect users, in particular children, to see notable change in their online experience as the duties come into force. Ofcom is now enforcing the illegal safety duties, and protections for children will follow next month.

The government has high expectations for platforms, and nothing is off the table when it comes to keeping children and the public safe. The government has already built on the Act and will continue to do so where required.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what his planned timetable is for his Department's examination of the digital age of consent.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

We have added measures to the Data (Use and Access) Bill to strengthen data protection standards for children. Any changes to the age of digital consent would require public consultation.

We continue to consider further options for protecting children online and commissioned a feasibility study to further explore the impact of smartphones and social media use on children’s wellbeing to help inform our next steps. We do not have a timetable for completing this work.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Written Statement of 4 June 2025, HCWS682, on School Food, what estimate she has made of the potential Barnett consequentials for Northern Ireland following the expansion of free school meals to all children in households in receipt of Universal Credit.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The Barnett formula is applied when departmental budgets change – not when departments announce how they are spending their budgets.

When changes to the Department for Education’s budget were confirmed at Spending Review 2025 on 11 June, the Barnett formula was applied in the usual way.

The published Block Grant Transparency document provides a detailed breakdown of how the block grants are calculated and the next version will be published in due course.

Myeloma Awareness Week 2025

Government policy on the Hillsborough Law

Import of goods from Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

Securing habitat for endangered swifts and other cavity nesting birds

Harmful chemicals in period products

UK Government recognition of the state of Palestine

Israel’s interception of the British-flagged Madleen boat

Found: Labour; Gower) (Chair) Dan Aldridge (Labour; Weston-super-Mare) Chris Bloore (Labour; Redditch) Sorcha Eastwood

Found: Julian Lewis Simon Hoare David Chadwick Tim Farron Charlie Maynard Daisy Cooper Tom Gordon Sorcha Eastwood

Found: Freddie van Mierlo Edward Morello Tom Tugendhat Jim Allister Simon Hoare Charlie Maynard Sorcha Eastwood

Found: Julian Lewis Simon Hoare David Chadwick Tim Farron Charlie Maynard Daisy Cooper Tom Gordon Sorcha Eastwood

Found: Freddie van Mierlo Edward Morello Tom Tugendhat Jim Allister Simon Hoare Charlie Maynard Sorcha Eastwood

Found: Maynard Sarah Smith Fred Thomas Kevin McKenna Rachel Taylor Claire Young Peter Swallow Sorcha Eastwood

Found: Stone Michelle Welsh Juliet Campbell Rachel Gilmour Siân Berry Karl Turner Fabian Hamilton Sorcha Eastwood

Found: Stone Michelle Welsh Juliet Campbell Rachel Gilmour Siân Berry Karl Turner Fabian Hamilton Sorcha Eastwood

Found: Sandher Shaun Davies Amanda Martin Steve Yemm Lloyd Hatton Liz Saville Roberts Carla Denyer Sorcha Eastwood

Found: Hanna Euan Stainbank Neil Duncan-Jordan Connor Naismith Liz Saville Roberts Carla Denyer Sorcha Eastwood

Found: Hanna Euan Stainbank Neil Duncan-Jordan Connor Naismith Liz Saville Roberts Carla Denyer Sorcha Eastwood

Found: Hanna Euan Stainbank Neil Duncan-Jordan Connor Naismith Liz Saville Roberts Carla Denyer Sorcha Eastwood

Found: Hanna Euan Stainbank Neil Duncan-Jordan Connor Naismith Liz Saville Roberts Carla Denyer Sorcha Eastwood

Found: Hanna Euan Stainbank Neil Duncan-Jordan Connor Naismith Liz Saville Roberts Carla Denyer Sorcha Eastwood

Found: Hanna Euan Stainbank Neil Duncan-Jordan Connor Naismith Liz Saville Roberts Carla Denyer Sorcha Eastwood

Ireland and the Irish in Britain APPG
Tuesday 10th June 2025

Found: Mary Kelly Foy MP Michael Payne MP Nia Griffiths MP Samantha Niblett MP Sarah Coombes MP Sorcha Eastwood

Global Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to help tackle women's health inequalities – Sorcha Eastwood

Submit Evidence (by 19 Sep 2025)

Kickstarting economic growth is the number one mission for this Government’s term in office. In this inquiry, the committee will examine plans to deliver economic growth in Northern Ireland, including the recent UK Industrial Strategy, with a particular reference to emerging sectors or ‘industries of the future’. Read our call for evidence here  for more detail about the inquiry and how to contribute your views.