Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing additional ring-fenced funding to the Northern Ireland Executive to support Northern Ireland Water in improving its infrastructure to protect Lough Neagh.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Infrastructure is devolved in Northern Ireland and any decision regarding the allocation of funding to support Northern Ireland Water is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact in Northern Ireland of the abolition of VAT exemption for private school fees on the parents of children with special educational needs; and what estimate she has made of additional VAT receipts arising in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government conducted thorough and detailed analysis of the impacts of this policy, including in Northern Ireland, and published a Tax Impact and Information Note (TIIN) which sets out this analysis. This is a comprehensive assessment of the impacts on individuals and families, businesses and the wider economy, as well as equalities impacts. It was published online and can be found here:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/vat-on-private-school-fees/ac8c20ce-4824-462d-b206-26a567724643
In Northern Ireland, the Education Authority (EA) is responsible for funding placements of pupils with a statement of special educational needs (SEN) within a private school. The EA can recover the VAT that it is charged on these pupils’ fees, which means that those pupils are unaffected by the removal of the VAT exemption.
Due to how VAT is collected it is not possible to estimate the VAT receipts arising in Northern Ireland. However, overall this policy is expected to raise £1.7 billion per year by 2029/30.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of bank closures on access to banking services by vulnerable and elderly people; how many Banking Hubs currently operate in Northern Ireland; and what her target is for the number of additional Banking Hubs to be opened in Northern Ireland before the end of this parliamentary term.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
Banking is changing, with many customers benefitting from the convenience and flexibility of managing their finances remotely. However, Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and is committed to supporting sufficient access for customers.
The Government is working closely with industry on the commitment to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK by the end of this Parliament, which will provide individuals and businesses across the country with cash and banking services. Over 240 hubs have been announced so far, and 200 are already open. Of these, there are currently seven banking hubs operating in Northern Ireland.
The treatment of customers by UK banks is governed by the the Financial Conduct Authority, which requires firms to provide a prompt, efficient, and fair service to all of their customers. This includes special considerations for vulnerable customers. In addition, like all service providers, banks and building societies are bound under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments, where necessary, in the way they deliver their services.
While branch closures are commercial decisions for banks, Financial Conduct Authority guidance requires firms to conduct a robust impact analysis. Banks must show they have considered customer needs and identified potential reasonable alternatives. The FCA also expects engagement with stakeholders at least 12 weeks before closure and ensures that any replacement services, such as banking hubs, are in place before a branch closes. These measures aim to ensure closures are implemented fairly and transparently.
The Government does not have specific regional targets for banking hub opening as the locations of banking hubs are determined independently by LINK.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the National Wealth Fund has plans to fund projects in Northern Ireland.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The National Wealth Fund (NWF) is committed to ensuring the benefits of its investments are felt in all four nations of the UK, and opened a Belfast office in December 2024.Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps HM Treasury is taking to increase enforcement of financial sanctions and prevent terrorist financing in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMT undertakes an evidence-based approach to ensure that counter-terrorism sanctions are used in a timely and effective manner in support of national security and to prevent terrorism, including addressing terrorist financing risks.
HMT assesses every instance of reported non-compliance with financial sanctions, working in collaboration with law enforcement partners where necessary, and takes action in all cases where we conclude a breach has occurred.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the National Wealth Fund Taskforce since its establishment; and what recommendations the Taskforce has made in relation to investment projects in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Darren Jones - Minister for Intergovernmental Relations
At the International Investment Summit in 2024, the Government created the National Wealth Fund, to address the barriers to investment identified by the National Wealth Fund Taskforce. For more details on the Taskforce’s recommendations and the Government’s actions to implement them, please see:
The Taskforce recommended that “where possible, any transactions should deliver against a wider set of public policy objectives, including jobs, supply chains and regional growth.”
The National Wealth Fund has an enhanced regional mandate, with a dedicated Northern Ireland director to actively seek investment opportunities. It also works closely with the Northern Ireland Executive and other local partners to provide financing and expertise.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of the Trader Support Service’s costs are spent on (a) administrative and (b) operational overheads.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
It is not possible to disaggregate the costs of administrative and operational overheads for the Trader Support Service.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the value for money of the Trader Support Service for business support outcomes in Northern Ireland.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Government considers the Trader Support Service a vital element of support to help traders moving goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland access the benefits of the Windsor Framework.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has allocated funding to continue the Trader Support Service beyond 2025-26.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Government is committed to ongoing support to businesses moving goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and published details of the procurement opportunity for the next phase of the Trader Support Service from January 2026 onwards on 17 February 2025.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the total cost to the public purse is for the Trader Support Service since 11 June 2020, broken down by financial year.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The costs of the Trader Support Service by financial year are set out below.
Financial Year | Costs |
2020/21 | £100.62m |
2021/22 | £148.80m |
2022/23 | £114.68m |
2023/24 | £105.19m |
2024/25 | £88.15m |