Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of global fertiliser supply chain disruptions on farmers in Northern Ireland; and what steps he is taking to mitigate the impact.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

We monitor both domestic and international fertiliser markets and remain in regular contact with a wide range of industry stakeholders.

Government regularly runs a duty suspensions process allowing businesses to apply for duty suspensions (on imported raw inputs to production) to help them to remain competitive in the global marketplace. Enabling raw input prices to be more competitive can have a downward pressure on domestic prices.

Good nutrient management practices on farm also help make most efficient use of all sources of nutrients including bought in fertilisers. Government continues to monitor the functioning of the fertiliser supply chain and works closely with the sector in case of any disruptions.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what role Northern Ireland will play in the implementation of the Strategic Defence Review 2025.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The SDR sets a path for the next decade and beyond to transform Defence and make the UK stronger both at home and abroad. The implementation of the Review’s recommendations will be a whole of UK Defence effort. We will publish a new Defence Investment Plan in the autumn set out our approach in detail.

All nations and regions across the UK play an important role in SDR implementation, driving jobs and prosperity through a new partnership with industry and our commitment to back UK business and use defence spending to grow the UK economy. Faster and more flexible procurement will create more opportunities for innovative businesses of all sizes to invest, grow skills, and put the UK and our Armed Forces at the forefront of civil and military technology.

The Defence dividend will benefit every nation and region in the UK, with Northern Ireland benefitting from, and contributing to, this national effort. We will support localised ecosystems and defence-related industries aligned to our national security priorities. We will work with local and devolved governments in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the regulatory oversight of (a) private and (b) unlicensed airfields in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Airports and aerodromes in Northern Ireland are devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive. However, overarching aviation policy, most Civil Aviation issues, safety and security are reserved to the UK government. As the specialist UK aviation regulator, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) advises the UK Government on aviation policy and regulation and regularly reviews safety across the UK.

The CAA takes a proportionate and risk-based approach to regulation. Any aerodrome conducting scheduled public transport, or transporting fare-paying passengers must be licenced, as must aerodromes operating heavier aircraft. Aerodromes that do not meet these criteria can choose to be unlicenced. In addition, the storage of Aviation fuel is also regulated at all aerodromes, whether licenced or not.

The CAA provides guidance for safe operations at unlicenced aerodromes in the Civil Aviation Publication (CAP) 793, which outlines best practices for obstacle clearance, runway layout, and operational safety. Unlicenced aerodromes must also abide by general aviation safety standards and planning regulations.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential link between the use of gabapentin and cognitive impairment in patients.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is an executive agency of the Department and regulates medicine, medical devices, and blood components for transfusion in the United Kingdom, with responsibility for ensuring medicines meet appropriate standards of safety, quality, and efficacy. Medicines are authorised on the basis that the benefits exceed the risks, and all products are licensed by the MHRA before being placed on the market.

Product information for gabapentin currently carries warnings of potential side effects of confusion, mental impairment, amnesia, and anxiety, and therefore patients should be advised to exercise caution until they are familiar with the potential effects of the medicinal product. All new safety information continues to be carefully considered, and regulatory action will be taken if considered necessary.

All medicines have side effects, although not everyone will experience them. The MHRA encourages anyone who suspects or experiences a side effect of their medicine to report it to the MHRA through the Yellow Card scheme.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help sheep farmers from Northern Ireland to participate in UK-funded livestock (a) genomics and (b) breeding research programmes.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Farming Innovation Programme is Defra’s flagship programme for supporting research and innovation to help English farmers and growers increase productivity, sustainability and resilience. To harness expertise across our shared borders, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish companies and research organisations, and UK-wide organisations can collaborate in this programme. This includes innovation in sheep breeding to reduce methane emissions.

Defra has also funded scientific research exploring ways to reduce environmental impacts of livestock production, including research which found positive results relating to breeding sheep for reduced emissions and improved productivity (2023, 2024). Defra is also currently researching the best ways to incorporate environmental impact and productivity traits into sheep breeding across the UK.

Defra and the devolved administrations also work with the UK Genetics for Livestock and Equines Committee (UKGLE) who provide independent advice on livestock genetics including breeding.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on UK-wide civil contingency (a) planning and (b) response frameworks on cyberattacks on critical infrastructure.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Devolved Governments (DGs) have a vital role to play in our national resilience and were closely involved in the development of the Resilience Action Plan.

The UK Government is working hard to improve the cyber resilience of the UK’s Critical National Infrastructure (CNI), including by ensuring that CNI Owners and Operators are prepared to respond to, and recover from, cyber incidents through better planning and regular exercising. We work closely with the DGs to ensure appropriate resilience measures are in place and proportionate to the risks across all four Nations. Responding to a cyber incident is a cross-government responsibility with roles and responsibilities identified in the National Cyber Incident Management Framework.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many official visits were made by foreign diplomats to Northern Ireland in the last 12 months.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office does not routinely monitor the travel of foreign diplomats based in the UK within the country.  They are able to meet a wide range of stakeholders across the UK, without the need for permission from the Government. This principle - that diplomats be allowed to undertake engagement without approval of the host State government - is consistent with how we expect our own diplomats working overseas to be able to operate.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether rare livestock breeders based in Northern Ireland are eligible to (a) contribute to and (b) benefit from UK-wide genetic preservation schemes for (i) heritage and (ii) exotic breeds.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The UK Genetics for Livestock and Equines Committee (UKGLE) provides independent advice to Defra and the Devolved Governments on native breed issues, particularly their conservation and sustainable use.

Beneficial activities to protect and conserve UK livestock genetic resources include encouraging sustainable breeding programmes through Zootechnical legislation, monitoring populations of pedigree livestock including native breeds which are published in an annual UK National Breed inventory, maintaining at risk lists (and their equivalents), and protecting eligible native breeds at risk from culling during notifiable disease outbreaks.

Regarding zootechnical regulation, NI breed societies would be regulated by DAERA (as the competent authority) under the UK-wide assimilated 2016/1012. Breeding programmes in Northern Ireland, including those aimed at the preservation of breeds, are approved by DAERA although these programmes may link with breeding programmes approved by competent authorities for other parts of the UK.

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 - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

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:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-wealth-fund-mobilising-private-investment/national-wealth-fund-mobilising-private-investment-accessible

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.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help establish a UK-wide genetic resource bank for the cryopreservation of (a) embryos and (b) semen for rare livestock breeds.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra and the devolved administrations are engaging with the UK Genetics for Livestock and Equines Committee (UKGLE) who provide independent advice on livestock genetics including breeding conservation.

Defra has recently commissioned a livestock biobank scoping study. This study will gather evidence to explore ways to conserve livestock genetics including from

embryos and semen of native breeds.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent progress his Department has made on the implementation of the UK National Quantum Strategy.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Over the past year, we’ve taken major steps to support the quantum sector and deliver on the UK’s National Quantum Missions. This includes launching new research hubs, opening the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC), and funding research projects through Innovate UK.

We are strengthening international collaboration through initiatives like NMI-Q (announced at the G7) to advance global standards in quantum technologies.

Last month, we announced £670 million in quantum computing investment as part of the Industrial Strategy—including over £500 million for the Quantum Computing Mission and 10-year funding for the NQCC.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to encourage local authorities to (a) join AccessAble and (b) provide publicly available information on disability access to (i) public buildings and (ii) services.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Local authorities are independent employers responsible for the management and organisation of their own workforces. It is the duty of local authorities to comply with all relevant employment and equalities legislation and there is no role for central government intervening in this, except where specific provision has been made in legislation.

Like all service providers and those exercising public functions, local authorities are under a duty to make reasonable adjustments for their customers, under the Equality Act 2010. This includes providing information about disabled access and facilities as well as the actual facilities. Local authorities are also within the scope of the Public Sector Equality Duty, which requires public bodies to consider how their policies and actions might affect people with particular protected characteristics, such as disability.

50th anniversary of the Blair Memorial Flute Band

160th anniversary of the Salvation Army

Impact of terrorism glorification on reconciliation and victims

Road Traffic (No. 2)

EU Import Control System 2

Samaritans Awareness Day 2025

Road Traffic

Ballykeel Conservative Flute Band

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Celtic FC supporters and banner

Irish Republic and Israel

Twelfth July Celebrations 2025

Portstewart Strand award

80 years of Christian Aid

Dedication of LOL1363 Arch

Christian persecution in Taraba State, Nigeria

Northern Ireland's golfing legacy and the Open Championship

95th Anniversary of Young Farmers' Clubs of Ulster