Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the impact of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (Extension to Maritime Activities) Order 2026 on freight and passenger costs on routes between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Compliance costs from the UK Emission Trading Scheme fall on ship operators, not passengers, and any fuel or ticket price changes are commercial decisions. Internal analysis, including route specific case studies, indicates final cost impacts on Great Britain–Northern Ireland voyages are minimal for passengers on key ferry routes and well under 1% for freight goods. These findings are consistent with international evidence showing only low single digit ticket price changes, not the larger increases suggested.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consultation was undertaken with the Northern Ireland Executive and Northern Ireland-based maritime operators about the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (Extension to Maritime Activities) Order 2026 before its implementation.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
This policy has been developed jointly by the UK ETS Authority, which includes the Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). As with all Authority decisions, DAERA have an equal say on policy positions.
The Authority has conducted extensive consultation with stakeholders over the period between the first consultation in March 2022 and the response to the second consultation in November 2025.
Detailed consideration has been given to Northern Ireland’s specific circumstances, including the convening of several in-person and online engagement sessions with Northern Irish stakeholders, including Stena Line, Warrenpoint Port and B9 Energy Storage Ltd.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the economic impact of extending the UK Emissions Trading Scheme to maritime activities on ferry routes between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, including on trade flows.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government has assessed the economic impact of bringing maritime activities into the UK Emissions Trading Scheme through the published Impact Assessment, which found a positive net present social value for the UK as a whole.
Independent analysis by Frontier Economics identified no material risk of carbon leakage, diversion of trade, or competitive distortion on Great Britain–Northern Ireland routes. Internal route specific case studies also show very small effects on final prices, with increases of under 1% for typical freight goods. Overall, the policy delivers emissions reductions and wider economic benefits in the most cost-effective way possible.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Northern Ireland Executive regarding the withdrawal of the proposed investment by the US financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald; and what discussions they have had with the Northern Ireland Executive and Invest Northern Ireland to support alternative inward investment and employment opportunities.
Answered by Lord Stockwood - Minister of State (HM Treasury)
In April 2025 Invest NI informed DBT that a potential investment by Cantor Fitzgerald would not be proceeding.
DBT continues to work collaboratively with Northern Ireland Executive departments, Invest NI, and other key stakeholders to support inward investment into Northern Ireland. DBT’s extensive international network promotes Northern Ireland as an excellent investment destination within the UK.
In September 2025 Bank of America committed to opening a new office in Belfast creating up to 1,000 roles and recruitment for the first wave of roles is underway. This announcement highlights the continued growth in US investment into Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Mali about the detention of former Prime Minister Moussa Mara.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK regularly calls on Mali to respect international law and to uphold their international human rights obligations. For example, during the recent Human Rights High Level Week in Geneva, the Minister for Multilateral and Human Rights met Mali's Minister of Justice and reiterated the importance of respect for human rights, whilst pressing for continued engagement with the UN Human Rights Council and its mechanisms. Justice and respect for human rights are fundamental to achieving long-term security and stability.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the global level of antisemitism; and how the protection of Jewish communities is reflected in the UK’s foreign policy.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
Antisemitism is completely abhorrent and has no place in our or any society. The global rise in antisemitism is deeply concerning and the UK is taking a strong lead in tackling it in all its forms at home and overseas.
In a speech marking Holocaust Memorial Day on 26 January, the Foreign Secretary underlined her commitment to working with partners around the world to tackle antisemitism, including close collaboration with Canada and Australia in the wake of recent attacks. She also announced that Jon Pearce MP would be appointed as the UK Special Envoy for Post-Holocaust Issues.
This appointment represents the UK's unwavering commitment to the protection of the Jewish community in the UK and abroad. The Envoy will ensure that the UK continues to play a prominent role in international discussions on all Holocaust related matters, including working with international partners, and representing the UK in relevant international fora, including as Head of the UK Delegation to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).
In 2024, the UK supported the development of new Global Guidelines for Countering Antisemitism, which are largely based on the UK's best practice in tackling antisemitism. We continue to urge countries to adopt these guidelines, as well as the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 28 January (HLWS1282), what procedure they used to commence the provisions in Sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
On Wednesday 28 January 2026, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland made the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022 (Commencement No. 3) Regulations 2026, in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 10(2) and 10(3) of the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022. The commenced provisions came into force on 29 January 2026.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to mitigate the effects in Northern Ireland of a potential EU ban on the sale of antimicrobial drugs without prescription.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The EU has not yet formally approved or published a final legal text, I am however aware of the potential impacts of restrictions on the sale of antimicrobial medicines without prescription on Northern Ireland's health services, particularly demand for GP appointments. The Government has raised this issue and we will, as ever, always advocate for the interests of Northern Ireland.
The Government will publish an explanatory memorandum in due course in accordance with the usual processes.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the 12-month period insurance firms require for terminal illness benefits to be paid, and in particular whether that requirement meets the needs of terminally ill people.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
In England, the term ‘end-of-life care’ refers to the care given to those identified as likely to be in the last 12 months of their life.
Under the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) consumer duty, insurers must ensure that their products and claims processes deliver good outcomes for consumers. This includes those relating to terminal illness benefits. In October 2023, the FCA published a review of insurance companies’ approaches to terminal illness benefits, which is available on the FCA's website.
The findings from the review did not suggest that insurance firms are routinely delivering poor customer outcomes for terminal illness benefits. The review considered the requirement for a 12-month prognosis of death. The FCA concluded that it’s not clear that overall outcomes would be better for customers if insurers implemented a different time frame for the prognosis, for instance if policies required a diagnosis that the insured was likely to die within six months or 24 months, rather than 12 months. If the 12-month period was extended, it’s possible insurers would increase premiums to reflect increased risk. The FCA believes that insurance firms should be able to set their own policy terms by taking into account policy costs and the level of cover offered. The FCA suggested best practice was not to assume the 12-month requirement is appropriate without evidence that it meets customer needs.
The Government continues to monitor the FCA’s work in this area and supports its efforts to ensure that insurance products and claims processes meet the needs of terminally ill people.
The Department for Work and Pensions supports people nearing the end of life through the Special Rules for End of Life (SREL). This enables people who are likely to have less than 12 months to live to get faster, easier access to certain benefits, without needing to attend a medical assessment or serve waiting periods. In most cases, they receive the highest rate of benefit. SREL applies to five key benefits that support people with health conditions or disabilities: Personal Independence Payment; Disability Living Allowance; Attendance Allowance; Universal Credit; and Employment and Support Allowance.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many of the European Union acts which have been added to the relevant Annexes of the Windsor Framework since the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement came into force have been (1) acts which were capable of having the Stormont Brake applied, and (2) acts to which the Stormont Brake was actually applied.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
New EU legislation can only be added to the Windsor Framework by means of Joint Decisions by the UK and EU at the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee, and in line with the UK Government’s commitments in Schedule 6B to the Northern Ireland Act 1998. A record of those decisions can be found online on the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee page of the Government’s website. Since the Windsor Framework was agreed in 2023, 9 new EU acts have been added to its annexes - with 4 added in 2023, 1 in 2024, and 4 in 2025.
The scope of the Stormont Brake is also clearly set out in Schedule 6B to the Northern Ireland Act 1998. The Stormont Brake mechanism is provided for in relation to relevant EU replacement legislation, and any notification under it would be required to satisfy the requirements set down in law.