Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of progress made towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK recommitted to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the 2023 UN General Assembly and the International Development White Paper places the SDGs at the forefront of UK development efforts. To get the SDGs back on track, we are working in partnership to deliver: more money, better spent. The UK is taking action to deliver the quantum leap in financing needed, but finance alone is not enough. In March 2024, the UK convened an SDG Wilton Park event with partners from around the world to discuss what actions will accelerate SDG progress, with a focus on delivering across multiple Goals at once.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, how many (a) clean water and (b) sanitation projects his Department has funded through official development assistance since 2021.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK is committed to improving access to clean water and sanitation. In 2021, UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding for Water Supply and Sanitation was £78 million. In 2022, UK ODA funding for Water Supply and Sanitation was £48 million. Official 2023 figures will be published in Autumn 2024. FCDO data shows 46 active ODA-funded development programmes with water or sanitation components.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department is taking steps to help (a) mitigate the risks associated with loot boxes in video games and (b) increase awareness of the potential dangers associated with gambling for younger users.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Following the Government response to the call for evidence on loot boxes in video games, the Government has welcomed new industry-led guidance to improve protections for players.
We are now working closely with the industry and academics to ensure robust evaluation of implementation and the efficacy of new measures in meeting the Government’s objectives that:
purchases of loot boxes should be unavailable to all children and young people unless and until they are enabled by a parent or guardian; and,
all players should have access to and be aware of spending controls and transparent information to support safe and responsible gaming.
We will provide an update following the 12-month implementation period and independent academic scrutiny of the guidance's implementation and efficacy.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the number of commercial long haul (a) routes and (b) flights operating from airports in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Through their work to negotiate, update and enforce the UK’s extensive portfolio of bilateral and multilateral “Air Services Agreements” my officials seek to: maximise business opportunities and ensure a level playing field for our airlines and airports; minimise administrative and cost burdens for industry; and remove barriers to operational and commercial flexibility.
This approach helps to deliver international connectivity, choice and value for money, benefitting businesses and consumers. The rights secured by my officials enable services to and from airports throughout the UK, but whether to exercise those rights is, of course, a commercial decision for airlines.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answers of 17 April 2024 to Question 21426 and 24 April 2024 to Question 22418 on Childcare: Taxation, if he will make a (a) comparative assessment of the average cost of childcare (i) when the tax-free childcare cap was set and (ii) at 24 April 2024 and (b) impact of that change on the effectiveness of tax-free childcare in supporting parents with costs.
Answered by Laura Trott - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
For Tax-Free Childcare, the £2 Government top-up for every £8 parents pay in, and the £2,000 cap on Government support which can be claimed per year and per child, were set at these levels because the Government believes they strike the right balance between helping parents with their childcare costs, and managing the public finances in a responsible way.
The Government keeps all aspects of childcare policy under review.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his planned timetable is for agreeing a new fiscal framework for Northern Ireland.
Answered by Laura Trott - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
As committed to in the financial package for the restored Northern Ireland Executive, the UK Government will agree a Fiscal Framework with the Northern Ireland Executive which will outline Northern Ireland’s long-term funding arrangements.
Since the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive, constructive engagement on the Executive’s Fiscal Framework has taken place between HM Treasury and the Northern Ireland Department of Finance officials, and between myself and the Northern Ireland Finance Minister. My officials and I will continue this regular engagement to progress these negotiations at pace.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when his Department commenced negotiations with the Northern Ireland Minister of Finance on a new fiscal framework for Northern Ireland.
Answered by Laura Trott - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
As committed to in the financial package for the restored Northern Ireland Executive, the UK Government will agree a Fiscal Framework with the Northern Ireland Executive which will outline Northern Ireland’s long-term funding arrangements.
Since the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive, constructive engagement on the Executive’s Fiscal Framework has taken place between HM Treasury and the Northern Ireland Department of Finance officials, and between myself and the Northern Ireland Finance Minister. My officials and I will continue this regular engagement to progress these negotiations at pace.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, with reference to paragraph 2.22 of the National Audit Office's report entitled Progress with the merger of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department for International Development (DFID), published on 25 March 2024, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the conclusion that development capability has reduced since the merger.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The NAO report notes FCDO has made progress in key areas, including on development.
The White Paper on international development published in November set out UK ambition and commitment on this agenda. These commitments have begun to be implemented including through the appointment of a second permanent undersecretary focused on development and wider action on strengthening FCDO and HMG development capacity.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 17 April 2024 to Question 21426 on Childcare: Taxation, if he will make it his policy to increase the childcare tax free cap in line with inflation.
Answered by Laura Trott - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The £2,000 Tax-Free Childcare top-up, which can be claimed per year and per child, was set at this level because the Government believes 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)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to review the (a) rate of and (b) threshold for Stamp Duty Land Tax in Northern Ireland in the context of trends in average house prices.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government keeps all tax policy under review and changes are announced at a fiscal event as part of the normal tax policy making process.