Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what support is available to Northern Ireland through Great British Energy.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Great British Energy (GBE) will operate in Northern Ireland (NI) as part of its commitment to deliver in all four nations of the UK. In line with its Strategic Plan, GBE will be taking forward the appropriate opportunities in Northern Ireland across all its activities. This includes onshore, offshore, local and supply chain.
GBE committed £1.62 million for community and public sector renewable projects in Northern Ireland. On 10 December, we announced that this funding will help Further Education Colleges to benefit from clean energy, through installation of Solar PV at a number of sites.
GBE are continuing to work with partners in Northern Ireland to inform the development of products and services, with further details to be processed later in the year as part of their LPP product portfolio.
On 11 December, GBE launched a £300m supply chain fund for offshore wind and networks. All areas of the UK will be eligible for funding, meaning projects may be located anywhere in the UK, including in Northern Ireland, subject to Windsor Framework considerations.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will publish a breakdown of support for renewable energy in Northern Ireland from the UK Government.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Responsibility for policy and financial support for renewable energy in Northern Ireland is largely devolved. The principal UK‑wide mechanism supporting renewable electricity in Northern Ireland has been the Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation (NIRO), administered by Ofgem as part of the wider Renewables Obligation framework. NIRO support is funded through electricity suppliers rather than direct Exchequer spending, and therefore does not constitute a single, ring‑fenced UK Government funding allocation.
Information on accredited installations, certificates issued and scheme costs is published annually by Ofgem. Decisions on new support schemes for renewable energy in Northern Ireland rest with the Northern Ireland Executive.
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, with reference to page four of the document entitled The Legacy of the Troubles: A Joint Framework between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Ireland, published on 19 September 2025, what plans his Department has to consult with the public before delivering any statements of acknowledgement.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Joint Framework acknowledges the important role that statements of acknowledgement can play in addressing past harms and facilitating societal reconciliation, and states that the UK and Irish governments will take the lead in considering such statements. The Framework also highlights the importance of statements of acknowledgement being forthcoming from others.
The Government will engage widely with victims, survivors and others affected by the Troubles as we take forward this and our other commitments under the Framework.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with Capita on ensuring that no redundancies result from the awarding of the Synergy contract to that company.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Synergy is replacing out of date technology systems and processes that cost us time to use and maintain – time that could be better spent serving people who rely on our services. It will free up employee time for higher value work delivering outcomes for the taxpayer. The work Capita will carry out under the Synergy Business Process Services (BPS) contract is activity not currently delivered by Civil Servants, because BPS is already outsourced to another supplier.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he conducted an assessment of the decision to award Capita the Synergy contract prior to that contract being awarded.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Synergy programme awarded its Business Processing Services contract after a robust process, conducted in line with Government procurement regulations. Its priority is to ensure continuity of service and value for public money.
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 recent steps she has taken on assigning funding and renewing the national contract for the UK Youth Parliament for the 2026-2028 mandate.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
DCMS has confirmed funding the UK Youth Parliament for the next financial year 2026-2027 and will be working with the National Youth Agency to deliver the programme with partners and young people. Over the coming months, DCMS will be working with young people to deliver against the ambitions of the National Youth Strategy and create more opportunities for youth empowerment and democracy.
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 Northern Ireland Executive has the ability to create an energy support scheme for users of home heating oil with funding from the UK government, announced in the Autumn budget.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Spending classed as Annually Managed Expenditure will be provided to Northern Ireland to develop a comparable scheme to that developed in GB.
It is for the Northern Ireland Executive to decide how they would like to deliver a comparable offer. The UK Government is ready to review the business case once it has been submitted by the Northern Ireland Executive.
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 steps he has taken with Cabinet colleagues in response to reports of suppliers in Great Britain ceasing trade with businesses based in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government continues to take practical action to protect and facilitate trade across the UK internal market. At Budget 2025, the Government announced £16.6 million to strengthen the UK internal market, including funding for an enhanced ‘one stop shop’ regulatory support service and a dedicated budget for Intertrade UK, the non-statutory advisory body established under Safeguarding the Union to help boost trade across the UK. On a wide range of regulatory areas, the Government has been taking action to account for the views of industry and smooth flows of trade within the UK market, including in pharmaceuticals, toy safety, and the labelling of chemicals.
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 guidance he has provided to businesses in Great Britain on the Windsor Framework and Northern Ireland's access to the UK internal market.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Extensive guidance is available on GOV.UK for businesses moving goods under the Windsor Framework, alongside support from the Trader Support Service.
At Autumn Budget 2025, the Government announced £16.6 million to strengthen the UK internal market and help boost trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This will include a comprehensive ‘one stop shop’ regulatory support service that will provide additional guidance beyond what is currently available on GOV.UK, supporting businesses in Great Britain to trade with Northern Ireland and take advantage of the facilitations made available under the Windsor Framework.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the UK becoming a signatory to the Fossil Fuels Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Answered by Katie White - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK has not endorsed the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, but we will keep the potential for such initiatives under review. We are committed to working with all alliances where our interests align in delivering the outcomes of the Paris Agreement.