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Written Question
Brian Nelson
Monday 12th January 2026

Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she would publish the (a) dates and (b) names of the institutions in which Brian Nelson served his sentence after his conviction in 1974.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

This information is not held by the Home Office.


Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 07 Jan 2026
Oral Answers to Questions

"8. What recent engagement he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive. ..."
Claire Hanna - View Speech

View all Claire Hanna (SDLP - Belfast South and Mid Down) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions

Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 07 Jan 2026
Oral Answers to Questions

"The Minister will be aware that for a number of months, I have been raising concerns about the local growth fund and its impact in Northern Ireland. Just before Christmas, organisations got the devastating news of a large cut to the local growth fund, which will devastate a number of …..."
Claire Hanna - View Speech

View all Claire Hanna (SDLP - Belfast South and Mid Down) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions

Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 07 Jan 2026
Oral Answers to Questions

"Q7. Even its strongest advocates acknowledge that Northern Ireland is trapped in dysfunction—not because reform is not possible, but because the DUP and Sinn Féin have not allowed it. We have become a political “Hotel California”, where the past is always around but the future never arrives. There is growing …..."
Claire Hanna - View Speech

View all Claire Hanna (SDLP - Belfast South and Mid Down) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions

Written Question
TG4: Freeview Service
Wednesday 7th January 2026

Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on ensuring greater prominence of TG4 on Freeview.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Following representations made by TG4 and by Irish Ministers, we are considering whether to extend prominence for TG4 services broadcasting in Northern Ireland.

We are discussing the request with the Northern Ireland Office and other Cabinet colleagues and will make a statement on this early in the new year.


Written Question
Civil Service: Codes of Practice
Monday 5th January 2026

Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will outline the role of the Cabinet Secretary in relation to the civil service code.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

As set out in the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, the Minister for the Civil Service (the Prime Minister) is responsible for the Civil Service Code. As Head of the Civil Service, the Cabinet Secretary is the Prime Minister’s most senior policy adviser, including in relation to the Civil Service Code.


Written Question
Visas: Families
Wednesday 17th December 2025

Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether people living in the UK on family visas will be exempt from the sustained economic contribution requirement under proposed changes to earned settlement.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The new earned settlement model is currently subject to an ongoing public consultation, due to conclude on 12 February 2026. Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following that consultation.


Written Question
Visas: Sponsorship
Wednesday 17th December 2025

Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the time taken to process certificate of sponsorship applications.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

It is the responsibility of individual businesses to monitor the visa expiry dates of their overseas employees and to take appropriate action to ensure continuity of employment.

The published service standard for non-complex Undefined Certificate of Sponsorship (UCoS) allocations and renewals is 18 weeks, as outlined on GOV.UK. Businesses may also opt to use the priority service, which aims to process requests within 5 working days.

Responsibility for submitting timely applications or updates lies with the sponsoring business.

Where necessary, the Home Office conducts additional checks to maintain the integrity of the immigration system, which may delay the processing of applications to assure ourselves that requests are genuine and full-time work and employment will be given to a prospective employee, for their own protection.

UK visa sponsorship for employers: Your responsibilities - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab)

The Home Office is currently operating within the published service standards for all Sponsorship applications and keeps all service offerings under review.


Division Vote (Commons)
10 Dec 2025 - Seasonal Work - View Vote Context
Claire Hanna (SDLP) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 1 Social Democratic & Labour Party No votes vs 0 Social Democratic & Labour Party Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 98 Noes - 325
Division Vote (Commons)
9 Dec 2025 - UK-EU Customs Union (Duty to Negotiate) - View Vote Context
Claire Hanna (SDLP) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 2 Social Democratic & Labour Party Aye votes vs 0 Social Democratic & Labour Party No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 100 Noes - 100