Points of Order

Carla Lockhart Excerpts

Tuesday 21st April 2026 Commons Chamber

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

I thank the hon. Member for his point of order, and for giving me some notice of it. He will have heard my earlier response. The Chair is not responsible for ministerial answers, but Ministers should take their responsibilities seriously to make sure that answers are correct. I note that representatives of the Treasury Bench are still sat there. I am sure the message will be passed back to the Chancellor, but he will have heard her response to the hon. Member for Lagan Valley (Sorcha Eastwood). I do not intend to continue this debate via the Chair.

[Carla Lockhart (Upper Bann) (DUP)]

Further to that point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. I believe it is important to set the record straight. In response to my question, the Chancellor suggested that households in Northern Ireland got £150 off their energy bills in April. That is factually wrong and somewhat misleading, and I believe it is important that the record is set straight, because households in Northern Ireland will not see £150 off their bills like those in GB. The money received as a result of the Barnett consequentials is still sitting in the Sinn Féin Economy Minister’s departmental purse, and there has been a refusal to engage with the Treasury to get the money spent. Not only do we need the record to be set straight, but we need a plan to get the money to our constituents, who are hard pressed. Will you advise me on how I can progress this matter?

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

The hon. Lady will have heard my earlier responses. She has most certainly put the matter firmly on the record. As I have said, the Chair is not responsible for ministerial answers, but I am sure that those on the Treasury Bench have heard her and other points of order loud and clear this afternoon.