Robin Swann MP: written questions
217 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Trade Agreements: IsraelDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 20 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 83660More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had discussions with the Minister for the Economy in Northern Ireland on the inclusion of businesses in Northern Ireland in UK Government trade talks with Israel.
Answer: The UK Government is responsible for negotiating international trade agreements on behalf of all the nations and regions in the UK. DBT understands that the devolved governments have a significant interest in international trade policy and works closely w...
Answered 24 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordTrade Agreements: IsraelNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 20 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 83659More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department’s policies of the Northern Ireland Minister for the Economy ‘s decision not to engage with the Government’s trade talks with I
Answer: Trade policy is a reserved matter and the UK Government is responsible for negotiating international trade agreements on behalf of all the nations and regions in the UK. This Government suspended trade negotiations with Israel on 20 May, owing to the acti...
Answered 23 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordHornets: Northern IrelandDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 20 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 83658More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help her counterpart in Northern Ireland tackle Asian hornets.
Answer: Defra and staff from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) have worked closely with officials from Northern Ireland to help them prepare and publish a contingency plan for action against Asian hornets. A sighting of Asian hornet was reported on 10th O...
Answered 24 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordEU Trade: South AmericaDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 15 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82597More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement on food (a) production, (b) supply and (c) security.
Answer: The EU-Mercosur trade agreement has not been signed yet and is a matter for the EU. We do not expect that it will impact UK food production, supply or security.
Answered 23 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordUK Shared Prosperity FundMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 13 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 81694More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he will announce the future funding allocation to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Answer: As announced at the Spending Review, from 2026-27 the UK Government will provide targeted, long-term local growth funding to support growth across the UK, once the UK Shared Prosperity Fund ends in March 2026. In Northern Ireland, we are working closely w...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordGeneral Practitioners: InsuranceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 81693More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of adding (a) 1,000, (b) 1,500 and (c) 2,000 additional GPs to the professional indemnity insurance cover provided by Government.
Answer: The state indemnity scheme, Clinical Negligence Scheme for General Practice, which is administered by NHS Resolution, already covers all clinical negligence liabilities arising in general practice under National Health Service contracts. More information ...
Answered 23 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordCrime Prevention: Rural AreasHome OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80774More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken to help tackle rural (a) rural crime and (b) thefts in the last two years.
Answer: Rural crime can have devastating consequences for countryside communities and the agricultural sector. Under our Safer Streets Mission reforms, rural communities will be safeguarded, with tougher measures to clamp down on equipment theft, anti-social beha...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDog FightingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80773More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she has taken to tackle illegal dog fighting in the last two years.
Answer: Dog fighting is illegal under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Defra advises members of the public who have evidence of cruelty to animals to report it to the relevant local authority. They have powers under the 2006 Act to investigate allegations of cruelty,...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordTerrorism: Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80772More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the his Department's press release entitled UK and Irish Governments announce legacy framework to enable truth for families of the Troubles, published on 19 September 2025, whether the
Answer: On 14 October, the Government introduced the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill as part of our commitment to repeal and replace the previous government’s Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy & Reconciliation) Act 2023. The legislation includes strong safegua...
Answered 16 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: IndustryMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80771More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to announce the location of the Northern Ireland Defence Growth Deal.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence is continuing to consult with a range of stakeholders, including the devolved government, to finalise the details of the Northern Ireland Defence Growth Deal. Once finalised, the focus and scope of the Defence Growth Deal will be a...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordPrisons: Assistance AnimalsMinistry of JusticeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80770More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what his policy is on the use of companion dogs in prisons.
Answer: We understand this Question to refer to “pets as therapy” (PAT) dogs.Prisoners are not permitted to have dogs in possession, but admittance of PAT dogs into prisons is covered in paragraphs 7.32 – 7.37 of HM Prison & Probation Service’s Prison Dogs Po...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordPrisons: Assistance AnimalsMinistry of JusticeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80769More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisons use companion dogs.
Answer: We understand this question to refer to “pets as therapy” (PAT) dogs. This information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.Application for the use of PAT dogs is open to all prisons, with admittance requiring the authority of the Governor.
Answered 16 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordApprenticeship Levy: Northern IrelandTreasuryTabled 15 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77395More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much revenue the Exchequer has collected from the Apprenticeship Levy (a) in total and (b) from companies registered in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years.
Answer: Receipts data for the Apprenticeship Levy is published by HM Revenue and Customs in their Tax and NIC Receipts publication which can be found online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hmrc-tax-and-nics-receipts-for-the-uk Receipts data based on ...
Answered 14 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordTraffic Lights: InvertebratesDepartment for TransportTabled 9 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 76188More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department is taking steps to help prevent slugs entering traffic light controller boxes.
Answer: Responsibility for the design, installation and maintenance of traffic signal equipment, including controller cabinets, lies with the relevant local traffic authority. It is for them to ensure they procure equipment suitable for the conditions in which it...
Answered 16 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordMotor Ombudsman: StandardsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75480More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment he has made of the (a) effectiveness (b) adequacy and (c) efficiency of the performance of the Motor Ombudsman in carrying out its functions.
Answer: The Motor Ombudsman is a non-statutory ombudsman, set up as a voluntary scheme by the industry and independent of government.The Motor Ombudsman's activities are documented in their annual reports, complying with the Alternative Dispute Resolution for Con...
Answered 11 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordRural Areas: Young PeopleDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75395More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, he will list the programmes his Department (a) provides and (b) supports to tackle (i) isolation, (ii) social exclusion and (iii) mental health well-being for rural young people.
Answer: In 2025-26, Defra is providing £1.712 million to support local actions that address the needs of rural communities, some of which is used to support actions to tackle rural isolation, social exclusion and the mental health and well-being needs of young pe...
Answered 14 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Federation of Young Farmers Clubs: FinanceDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75394More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding his Department has provided to the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs in each of the last five years.
Answer: In each of the last five financial years, Defra has provided the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC) with the following amounts of funding:Financial YearFunding Amount2020/21£30,00021/22£30,00022/23£31,00023/24£27,545.9324/25£29,982.93
Answered 19 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Federation of Young Farmers Clubs: FinanceDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75393More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the value for money of funding the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs.
Answer: Encouraging more young people into farming and land-based careers is vital to ensure a skilled workforce is in place and the longer-term viability of the sector. Defra works closely with the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC). Defra provi...
Answered 11 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordUK Trade with EU: Import ControlsTreasuryTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 73431More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who directed the ICS2 system to go live in August 2025.
Answer: The Import Control System 2 (ICS2) is the new safety and security system for certain goods moving by air, maritime, road or rail into Northern Ireland. It is already in use for air and bulk maritime movements into Northern Ireland, replacing the existing ...
Answered 4 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordMotorcyclesDepartment for TransportTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72408More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will include motorcycling in all its forms as a specific element within the forthcoming integrated national transport strategy; and what her timetable is for publishing the strategy.
Answer: Later this year, the department will publish the Integrated National Transport Strategy (INTS) and set the long-term vision for transport across England, placing people at the heart of how we plan, build, and operate transport. The Strategy will aim to ad...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordCompanies: Northern IrelandDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71704More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 22 July to Question 68868 on Companies: Economic Crime, of the businesses dissolved, how many had five or more registered at one address.
Answer: Between April 2024 and March 2025, there were 70 addresses where 5 or more companies were dissolved in Northern Ireland. This impacted a total of 852 companies.A further 3,000 companies were located at the Companies House default address at the time of th...
Answered 4 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordInterTrade UK: Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 22 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 70241More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will publish a summary of the work completed by Intertrade UK since its appointment.
Answer: The Terms of Reference and Work Programme for Intertrade UK were published online on 26 August 2025. The body is now focused on implementing its work programme, which is based on three priorities: overcoming barriers to trade, promoting UK internal market...
Answered 2 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordWindsor FrameworkNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 22 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 70240More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will publish a summary of the work completed by the Windsor Framework Independent Monitoring Panel which he appointed last year.
Answer: It is for the Independent Monitoring Panel to determine how they conduct their work and then to report to Government. The Panel’s first monitoring period ended on 30 June and the Government expects to receive their first report in due course. The Governme...
Answered 2 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordIndependent Commission for Reconciliation and Information RecoveryNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 21 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69705More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the (a) Chief Commissioner and (b) Commissioner of Investigations of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Recovery.
Answer: A growing number of families are taking cases to the independent Commission and the Government has confidence in its team of dedicated staff to effectively deliver for them. The Court of Appeal has recognised the Commission’s structural independence and w...
Answered 3 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordParental Leave: Terminal IllnessesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 21 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69704More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when his Department will launch the consultation on Hughs Law.
Answer: A public consultation on further support for parents of seriously ill children, including Hugh's Law, will take place during 2026.
Answered 3 Sept 2025
Original Parliament record
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