Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the duty to inform the police of a relevant offence contained in the provisions of NCC1, support for a child conceived without consent, on the safety of women and children in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Chloe Smith
The Government does not consider that this policy will impact on the safety of women and children in Northern Ireland. Guidance states that women applying for the exception for non-consensual conception do not have to tell a third party the name of the other biological parent nor is there a requirement on the third party to seek any further evidence beyond confirming that the exception should apply.Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what (a) facilities and (b) other support his Department provides for (i) visitors and (ii) staff for (A) lactating mothers and (B) the expressing of breast milk.
Answered by James Brokenshire
Private areas are available in both the London and Belfast offices for use by nursing mothers. The Department’s maternity leave guidance states that managers must ensure that suitable rest facilities are available for mothers to breastfeed or express milk and to be flexible about giving breaks to enable them to do so. In addition, the Ministry of Justice has a new and expectant parent network to which staff have access. This provides support to staff and advice and assistance on parental issues.
Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what arrangements he plans to put in place for milk bank sharing between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland when the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Kris Hopkins
The issue of milk bank sharing is a devolved matter and as such falls to the Department of Health in Northern Ireland. However, the UK Government’s focus remains on making a success of exiting the European Union and getting the right deal both for Northern Ireland and the UK as a whole.