Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will publish the UK-US pharmaceutical deal.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
In December 2025 we agreed a landmark deal with the US that results in 0% tariffs on pharmaceutical exports to the US for 3 years – the lowest rate offered to any country. As you’d expect, there will now be further work to finalise underpinning details.
Costs will start smaller but will increase over time as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approves more life improving and lifesaving medicines. Total costs over the spending review period are expected to be around £1bn. The final costs will depend on which medicines NICE decides to approve and the actual uptake of these.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the Written Statement of 12 January 2026 on Social Media: Non-consensual Sexual Deepfakes, whether the changes announced will apply to Northern Ireland.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Technology Secretary announced on 12 January that the offence criminalising the creation of non-consensual intimate images would be commenced as a matter of urgency. This offence will apply in England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own, separate offences for dealing with image-based abuse.
It was also announced that the offence would be made a priority offence under the Online Safety Act (OSA), meaning that services will need to take steps to prevent this content appearing online and swiftly remove it if it does. The OSA applies to any relevant service that is ‘linked to the UK’.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of setting a minimum age of 16 for access to social media.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
On 20 January, the government announced a short, swift consultation on further measures to keep children safe online, building on the Online Safety Act. While there is consensus that more action is needed, there is not yet consensus on what form that action should take.
The consultation will be accompanied by a national conversation, putting children and parents at the heart of this issue. It will seek views on a range of measures, including what the right minimum age for children to access social media is, as well as explore a ban for children under a certain age. We will also look closely at Australia and their ban on social media for under 16s.
The government is clear that it will act quickly and robustly to deal with concerns that are being raised.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what actions his Department have taken to enhance public education on the extent of protections EU Law continues to provide in Northern Ireland, under the Windsor framework.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government is firmly committed to Article 2 of the Windsor Framework, which ensures no diminution of rights, safeguards and equality of opportunity protections set out in the relevant chapter of the Good Friday Agreement.
The Dedicated Mechanism monitors, advises and reports on this commitment, receiving funding from the UK Government for this purpose. It also has a duty to promote understanding and awareness of the importance of Article 2 of the Windsor Framework. The UK Government acknowledges the vital role of the Dedicated Mechanism in upholding equalities and human rights protections in Northern Ireland and continues to work with it to ensure these protections are enforced.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with relevant stakeholders on Northern Ireland's place in the EU Custom’s Union in relation to charges incurred when sending parcels from NI, to Europe, via GB postal services.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is an integral part of the United Kingdom’s internal market and customs territory. Ministers and officials speak regularly with stakeholders regarding the implementation of the Windsor Framework, including arrangements for parcels. Dual market access ensures that goods can move between Northern Ireland and the EU without the need for customs declarations or duty, including goods moving through Great Britain.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of a) the findings and b) recommendations of the Windsor Framework Article 2: Enforcement and Remedies paper produced by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, on 16 December 2025.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
I commend the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission for their continued, important work in upholding human rights protections in Northern Ireland. This includes in their role as part of the Dedicated Mechanism, along with the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, in monitoring the implementation of Article 2 of the Windsor Framework, for which they receive dedicated funding. The Government welcomes this report and is considering its findings.
The interpretation and application of Article 2 of the Windsor Framework is currently being considered by the Supreme Court in Dillon and others. The Government awaits the court’s judgment.
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.
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.
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.
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.