Asked by: Colum Eastwood (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the evidential basis is for increasing the minimum income requirement (MIR) to £38,700 for certain family and work visas; if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of increasing the MIR on those affected in (a) Derry City and Strabane and (b) other regions where average gross annual earnings are below the national average; and if he will ensure that the Government's planned impact assessment of increasing the MIR includes an equality impact assessment.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
Analytical work has been undertaken across Government to support decision making in this process. A fact sheet and an initial assessment on the impact of the changes on immigration can be found on GOV.UK at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/fact-sheet-on-net-migration-measures-further-detail
and
A full Regulatory Impact Assessment on these changes has been developed and the Government will publish this alongside an Equality Impact Assessment on this change, both in due course.
Asked by: Colum Eastwood (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidance his Department issues on the requirements for customs declarations for business-to-business shipments exceeding the value of £135 between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has recently issued guidance on the long-term arrangements for business-to-business parcels which is available on gov.uk - www.gov.uk/government/publications/moving-parcels-from-great-britain-to-northern-ireland-under-the-windsor-framework-from-30-september-2024.
Asked by: Colum Eastwood (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will call a public inquiry into the murder of Sean Brown in 1997.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The murder of Sean Brown was an appalling act. I acknowledge the great suffering it has caused and continues to cause the Brown family, and the wider community.
I am currently taking appropriate advice and considering the Coroner’s report.
Asked by: Colum Eastwood (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will publish eligibility criteria for funding artists under the Music Export Growth Scheme; whether the political (a) beliefs and (b) activities of applicants are taken into consideration; and for what reason the band Kneecap has not been granted funding.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Applicants for the Music Export Growth Scheme (MEGS) must confirm they meet the minimum criteria. The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) acting as our delivery partner convenes an independent Selection Panel which then makes recommendations to the Department for Business and Trade on MEGS grant awards.
Subsequently, the BPI, the Department for Business and Trade, and the Department for Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS), as MEGS co-funder, all carry out due diligence on recommended grant recipients. Following this, the Secretary of State for Business and Trade makes the final grant decisions, in consultation with DCMS. "Kneecap" did not pass the due diligence process. A Pre-Action Protocol letter has been received and no further comment will be made at this time.
Asked by: Colum Eastwood (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, how many officials from his Department worked in the US by (a) embassy and consulate and (b) grade in each financial year since 2010.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
| a 1) FCDO/xFCO Headcount for UK based staff working in USA Embassy and Consulates only 2014-2023 | |||||||||||
| March 2014 | March 2015 | March 2016 | March 2017 | March 2018 | March 2019 | March 2020 | March 2021 | March 2022 | March 2023 | ||
| Atlanta | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | |
| Boston | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | |
| Chicago | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | |
| Houston | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | |
| Los Angeles | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | |
| Miami | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | |
| New York (CG) | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | |
| San Francisco | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | |
| Washington | 40-49 | 40-49 | 30-39 | 30-39 | 30-39 | 50-59 | 40-49 | 40-49 | 50-59 | 40-49 |
| a 2) FCDO/xFCO Headcount for CBS/Locally Engaged staff working in USA Embassy and Consulates only 2014-2023 | |||||||||||
| March 2014 | March 2015 | March 2016 | March 2017 | March 2018 | March 2019 | March 2020 | March 2021 | March 2022 | March 2023 | ||
| Atlanta | 10-19 | 10-19 | Fewer than 10 | 10-19 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | 10-19 | 10-19 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | |
| Boston | 20-29 | 10-19 | 10-19 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | |
| Chicago | 20-29 | 20-29 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | |
| Houston | 30-39 | 20-29 | 10-19 | 10-19 | Fewer than 10 | 10-19 | Fewer than 10 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | |
| Los Angeles | 20-29 | 20-29 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | |
| Miami | 20-29 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 20-29 | |
| New York (CG) | 60-69 | 60-69 | 30-39 | 20-29 | 20-29 | 20-29 | 20-29 | 20-29 | 10-19 | 10-19 | |
| San Francisco | 30-39 | 20-29 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 60-69 | 10-19 | 10-19 | |
| Washington | 160-179 | 140-159 | 140-159 | 160-179 | 140-159 | 160-179 | 160-179 | 160-179 | 160-179 | 160-179 |
| b 1)FCDO/xFCO/xDFID Headcount for UK based staff working in all USA Locations 2014-2023 | |||||||||||
| March 2014 | March 2015 | March 2016 | March 2017 | March 2018 | March 2019 | March 2020 | March 2021 | March 2022 | March 2023 | ||
| AA / AO/ EO | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | |
| HEO | 20-29 | 20-29 | 20-29 | 20-29 | 20-29 | 30-39 | 30-39 | 30-39 | 30-39 | 30-39 | |
| SEO | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | 10-19 | |
| G7 | 20-29 | 20-29 | 20-29 | 20-29 | 20-29 | 30-39 | 30-39 | 30-39 | 30-39 | 30-39 | |
| G6 | 10-19 | 20-29 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 20-29 | 10-19 | 20-29 | 20-29 | 10-19 | 10-19 | |
| SCS | 20-29 | 20-29 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 |
| b 2) FCDO/xFCO/xDFID Headcount for CBS/LE/SAIC working in all USA Locations 2014-2023 | |||||||||||
| March 2014 | March 2015 | March 2016 | March 2017 | March 2018 | March 2019 | March 2020 | March 2021 | March 2022 | March 2023 | ||
| S1/S2/S3 | 440-459 | 50-59 | 50-59 | 50-59 | 40-49 | 50-59 | 50-59 | 50-59 | 50-59 | 50-59 | |
| AA/AO | 70-79 | 60-69 | 60-69 | 80-89 | 80-89 | 90-99 | 90-99 | 80-89 | 90-99 | 90-99 | |
| EO | 140-159 | 70-79 | 70-79 | 70-79 | 80-89 | 70-79 | 80-89 | 80-89 | 70-79 | 70-79 | |
| HEO | 80-89 | 50-59 | 60-69 | 70-79 | 70-79 | 70-79 | 70-79 | 80-89 | 80-89 | 80-89 | |
| SEO | 20-29 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | |
| G7 | 20-29 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | 10-19 | |
| G6/SCS | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 | Fewer than 10 |
In line with FCDO data retention rules data is not held prior to 2014.
Asked by: Colum Eastwood (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) meetings and (b) correspondence his Department had with (i) the Northern Ireland Office, (ii) the Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure and (iii) Translink on the Union Connectivity Review Report between publication of that Report and the Government response.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
As you will appreciate, most transport matters are devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive. The UK Government’s Transport Ministers engaged with their counterparts when the Northern Ireland Executive was in place. In the absence of an Executive, officials have continued to liaise regularly with counterparts in the Northern Ireland Civil Service and Translink on the recommendations made by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill’s independent Union Connectivity Review. This resulted in the UK Government providing funding support for three rail connectivity studies in Northern Ireland. The Department for Transport also engaged regularly with the Northern Ireland Office at official and ministerial level to discuss UK connectivity matters.
Asked by: Colum Eastwood (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his timetable is for resolving technical faults relating to the issuing of Biometric Residence Permit cards.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The incidences of technical issues preventing Biometric Resident Permit (BRP) card production are very low. Where issues are encountered, operational case working teams and IT Support endeavour to resolve the issue swiftly without any adverse impacts for the applicant.
For the very small proportion of cases that could not be resolved immediately, the Employer Checking Service (ECS) and Landlord Checking Service (LCS) are available to provide support to applicants to verify their immigration status and permission to work and rent properties in the UK.
Longer term, the Home Office is developing a border and immigration system which will be digital by default. The ambition is to phase out physical documents, such as BRP’s, before the end of 2024 as we move towards a system of online evidence of immigration status (eVisas).
Asked by: Colum Eastwood (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, for what reason Northern Ireland is not included in the Green Deal loan scheme.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Energy policy in Northern Ireland is devolved so the decision on whether to operate a Green Deal scheme is a matter for the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Asked by: Colum Eastwood (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions she has had with her Irish counterpart on promoting resilient supply chains across the island of Ireland.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
Ministers and officials regularly engage with counterparts in Ireland to discuss a range of issues.
The Department for Business and Trade works to strengthen the long-term resilience of the UK’s international critical supply chains, including through international discussions to collaborate on economic resilience, bringing partners and allies together and share expertise.
Asked by: Colum Eastwood (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to deploy funding for public research and development in Northern Ireland.
Answered by George Freeman
The Government is committed to working closely with the Devolved Administrations to realise the ambitions of the Science and Technology Framework and to ensure it works for the whole of the UK.
Businesses and universities across the UK are eligible to apply for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding. As of June 2023, over 190 UKRI funded projects with a combined value of over £143 million were led by award holders in Northern Ireland.
Additionally, core funding for university research, is a devolved matter and Northern Ireland universities receive core research funding from the Northern Ireland Department for the Economy.