Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the final report by the Complaints Commissioner entitled The FCA’s handling of Safe Hands Plans Limited, published on 11 March 2025, if she will make recommendations to the Financial Conduct Authority based on that report.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
I am sympathetic to all the Safe Hands customers who have lost money, following the collapse of the firm in 2022.
Once concerns were raised about the funeral plan market, the Government legislated to bring all pre-paid funeral plan providers and intermediaries within the regulatory remit of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This made it illegal to sell pre-paid funeral plans without authorisation from the Financial Conduct Authority, protecting 1.6 million customers and their families.
The FCA has published its response to the Financial Regulator Complaints Commissioner. The FCA has been clear that it is not possible to immediately act on every piece of anonymous intelligence they receive.
We support the FCA's handling of Safe Hands, and it is clear that they acted reasonably in this case, as they had a clear plan to properly scrutinise Safe Hands’ business during the authorisations process. As the Commissioner acknowledges, there is also no evidence that alternative action from the FCA would have led to different outcomes for Safe Hands customers.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of extending the orchestra tax relief to include choirs.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Government supports the creative industries, including orchestras, through funding and through the tax system. Orchestra Tax Relief (OTR) provides tax relief on productions costs and provided £33 million of support in 2022-23.
To qualify for OTR, a concert must be performed by a group of at least 12 instrumentalists. The voice is not considered to be an instrument. However, orchestra concerts with a vocal element are eligible for the relief providing that the orchestra also contains at least 12 instrumentalists, not including the voice, and the instrumentalists are the primary focus. These rules help ensure OTR fulfils its objective of supporting and incentivising orchestra concerts specifically.
Whilst the Government has no plans to extend OTR to choirs, all taxes are kept under review. The Chancellor makes announcements on tax at fiscal events in the context of the overall public finances.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make it her policy to increase the childcare tax free cap in line with inflation.
Answered by Darren Jones - Minister for Intergovernmental Relations
The £2,000 Tax-Free Childcare top-up, which can be claimed per year and per child up to age 11 (and £4,000 per disabled child, up to age 16), was set at this level because it strikes the right balance between helping parents with their childcare costs, and managing the public finances in a responsible way.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the National Wealth Fund investment in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Darren Jones - Minister for Intergovernmental Relations
HM Treasury ministers and officials engage regularly with the Northern Ireland Executive. The Chancellor met the First Minister and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland on 12 September 2024 and discussed how to deliver economic growth in Northern Ireland.
The Northern Ireland Executive were consulted at official level on the Statement of Strategic Priorities to the National Wealth Fund, issued on 19 March 2025, which commits to work collaboratively with the Northern Ireland Executive to ensure that the benefits of investment are felt in all four nations of the UK.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans the Government has to locate GRS Research Government Scheme Jobs in Northern Ireland.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Government Social Research Profession (GSR) is made up of over 2,500 members living and working across the four nations of the UK in devolved administrations, departments, and arm’s lengths bodies. There are members of GSR located in Northern Ireland.
Each year, on behalf of its member organisations, the central profession team based in His Majesty’s Treasury run a mass campaign to recruit research officers into the profession. The locations available in any given campaign are provided by the participating devolved administrations, departments and arm’s length bodies and change based on recruitment need.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Crown Estate plans to extend Net Zero housing pilots to Northern Ireland.
Answered by Darren Jones - Minister for Intergovernmental Relations
The Crown Estate is currently trialling net zero carbon homes through three demonstration projects aimed at improving home quality and energy security. These projects involve developing 200 homes across three sites in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, and Cheshire.
The aim is to explore how new homes can be delivered using less than 300kg/m2 of embodied carbon and operational energy use intensity of 35kWh/m²/year. The developments aim for a minimum 15% biodiversity net gain, on-site renewable energy generation, and alignment with the Passivhaus standard, promoting healthy and energy-efficient living.
The focus is on exploring innovative approaches to net zero carbon homes before considering how to scale these solutions across the UK. The Crown Estate will share insights and lessons learned, enabling policymakers, developers, and the wider market in Northern Ireland to benefit from the methods used in the demonstration projects to improve home quality and energy security.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what outcomes relating to building inclusive communities and economic growth The Crown Estate has delivered in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Darren Jones - Minister for Intergovernmental Relations
As custodians of the seabed, The Crown Estate plays a crucial role in supporting Northern Ireland’s energy strategy, which aims to deliver 1GW of electricity from offshore wind from 2030, enough to power about a million homes. This initiative, outlined in the Energy Strategy Action Plan and the Offshore Renewable Energy Action Plan, offers significant opportunities for both decarbonisation and economic benefits for communities and businesses in Northern Ireland.
The Crown Estate are also acutely aware and are strong advocates for the opportunity Northern Ireland businesses holds in the wider offshore wind industry of the UK and further afield, and the importance of the work of InvestNI and others such as Northern Ireland Maritime Offshore do to promote this.
Through partnerships with local councils and environmental groups, The Crown Estate has supported various coastal infrastructure projects. For example, the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s extension of harbour protection at Portrush, providing larger and safer mooring areas, and the provision of extended and improved berthing facilities at Rathlin Harbour.
The Crown Estate also manages a significant portion of Northern Ireland's foreshore and tidal riverbed, supporting activities such as oyster, mussel, and seaweed cultivation, which contribute to local economies and promote sustainable practices. For instance, The Crown Estate is aiding oyster restoration work in Belfast Lough by assisting the Ulster Wildlife Trust in establishing clarity around seabed ownership, thereby swiftly securing the necessary permissions for their trials. The recovery of native oyster reefs will not only boost local biodiversity but also improve water quality and create habitats for other species.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much revenue the Crown Estate has generated from rents paid by (a) public authorities and (b) councils in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.
Answered by Darren Jones - Minister for Intergovernmental Relations
The revenue The Crown Estate has generated from rents paid by public authorities in Northern Ireland is as follows: in 2020 the figure was £64,231.19, in 2021 the figure was £ 55,251.06, in 2022 the figure was £56,915.66, in 2023 the figure was £56,689.16 and in 2024 the figure was £46,748.87.
The revenue The Crown Estate has generated from rents paid by councils in Northern Ireland is as follows: in 2020 the figure was £212,545.13, in 2021 the figure was £241,800.99, in 2022 the figure was £267,414.88, in 2023 the figure was £256,387.66 and in 2024 the figure was £330,249.08.
The Crown Estate pays its entire net profits into the UK Consolidated Fund each year, contributing to the funding of vital public services across the UK, including in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much is the total value of (a) retail and (b) commercial assets owned by the Crown Estate in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Darren Jones - Minister for Intergovernmental Relations
The Crown Estate’s assets in Northern Ireland predominantly fall under the coastal, marine or cable asset classes. The total value of these asset classes is currently £25,970,540 across telecommunication cables, coastal, interconnectors, pipelines, power cables, storage, and mines royal.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2025 to Question 27961 on Cycle to Work Scheme and the Answer of 21 November 2024 to Question 14753 on the Cycle to Work Scheme: Low Incomes, whether her Department plans to consult with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland during its evaluation of the cycle to work scheme.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
HMRC has commissioned an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Cycle to Work scheme and will publish its findings in due course.
The government keeps all taxes under review.