Asked by: Ian Paisley (Democratic Unionist Party - North Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has had discussions with the (a) Department for Health and Social Care and (b) Department for Transport on providing financial support for young cancer patients (0-25) and their families travelling from Northern Ireland to receive treatment in England.
Answered by Steve Baker - Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
This matter is devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive. Arrangements for financial support for young cancer patients and their families travelling from Northern Ireland to receive treatment in England is a matter for the Northern Ireland Department of Health and local Health and Social Care Trusts.
Asked by: Ian Paisley (Democratic Unionist Party - North Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the movement of livestock between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.
Answered by Steve Baker - Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
The Windsor Framework respects that for decades the island of Ireland has been treated as a single epidemiological unit, meaning that there have been additional requirements for the movement of livestock. These include identification requirements, health certificates and the physical inspection of animals by vets.
In 2021, technical easements were agreed with the EU to simplify livestock moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Defra is working closely with the livestock sector to ensure movements can continue with as little friction as possible.
Asked by: Ian Paisley (Democratic Unionist Party - North Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the current status is of the outstanding (a) development proposals affecting integrated schools and (b) other Northern Ireland Department of Education development proposals.
Answered by Steve Baker - Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
Development proposals affecting schools in Northern Ireland is a devolved matter, under the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Department of Education (NIDoE).
A full list of development proposals and their live status is available on the NIDoE website at: https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/articles/current-development-proposals.
Asked by: Ian Paisley (Democratic Unionist Party - North Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether the Government has allocated funds to celebrate the formation of the Royal Ulster Constabulary in 2022 in the context of the series of celebratory events planned in the Republic of Ireland.
Answered by Conor Burns
No funding has been allocated by the Government to mark this year’s centenary of the formation of the RUC. Events in Northern Ireland have been arranged locally and by the RUCGC Foundation. Further information may be sought from the PSNI, the RUCGC Foundation or the Department of Justice.
Asked by: Ian Paisley (Democratic Unionist Party - North Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate he has made of the number of false positive test results from covid-19 testing in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and I are working closely with the First Minister, deputy First Minister and the rest of the Executive on the response to Covid-19.
As my honourable Friend will be aware, health is a devolved matter. In May, the Department of Health published the Covid-19 Test, Trace and Protect Strategy, which is led by the Public Health Agency.
Testing has always been a critical part of the UK’s response. The Testing Strategy in Northern Ireland is aligned with the UK strategic approach, and through working with a number of key stakeholders and delivery partners across the Health and Social Care Sector, local universities and industry, testing capacity has increased significantly.
As with any diagnostic test there is always the small possibility of a false negative or a false positive result. All tests have been assessed as performing to manufacturers’ specifications before being used.
Asked by: Ian Paisley (Democratic Unionist Party - North Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the finding in the report of the Renewable Heat Incentive public inquiry that RHI was a project too far for the Government of Northern Ireland.
Answered by Robin Walker
The RHI Inquiry was commissioned by a Northern Ireland Minister and fundamentally concerns devolved issues. The Government does, however, expect to see rapid progress in implementing all of Sir Patrick’s recommendations, alongside continued implementation of the reforms in New Decade, New Approach, and is working closely with the First and deputy First Minister to ensure this is done.
Asked by: Ian Paisley (Democratic Unionist Party - North Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to page 44 of the document entitled New Decade, New Approach, published in January 2020, which states that the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme will be closed down, whether the required £60 to £600 million compensation is included in the associated finance package.
Answered by Robin Walker
The New Decade, New Approach agreement included a commitment to close down the existing RHI scheme and replace it with a scheme that effectively cuts carbon emissions in Northern Ireland. This pledge was part of text about the programme for government for the new Executive and not a UK Government commitment.
To support the new Executive, UKG has guaranteed at least £1bn of Barnett-based funding to support investment, alongside £1bn of new resource and capital spending. This funding is not intended to absorb the costs to the Executive of the RHI voluntary buy-out scheme and/or addressing financial hardship experienced by scheme participants as a result of adjusted RHI tariffs.
Asked by: Ian Paisley (Democratic Unionist Party - North Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make an assessment of the implications for the Government's policy of the Northern Ireland Assembly opposing the extension of abortion regulations to Northern Ireland.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Northern Ireland Assembly has not opposed the Abortion (Northern Ireland) (No. 2) Regulations 2020.
The debate in the Assembly on 2 June 2020 was focused on one aspect of those regulations, severe fetal impairment, and does not have any binding effects on the Regulations we have made.
As abortion remains a devolved issue in Northern Ireland, the Assembly remains able to legislate on abortion, subject to the usual Assembly and other procedures, including compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights. The UK Government will continue to ensure we abide by our domestic and international legal obligations.
Asked by: Ian Paisley (Democratic Unionist Party - North Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment his Department has made of the potential benefits to Northern Ireland energy consumers of maintaining an all-island single electricity market and arrangements for gas.
Answered by James Brokenshire
I recognise the benefits of the all-island energy market to Northern Ireland. Security of supply both to domestic consumers of gas and electricity, as well as business and agriculture is vitally important.
The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Lord Dunlop, has met with industry representatives as part of the round of Business Advisory Group meetings, and I have spoken to senior industry representatives and Northern Ireland Executive ministers to hear first-hand the range of issues that generators face.
The Government remains supportive of the proposed new developments, as well as the move to the Integrated Single Electricity Market.
Asked by: Ian Paisley (Democratic Unionist Party - North Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps his Department is taking to maintain security of supply for consumers in Northern Ireland by retaining the ability to access and trade with European electricity and gas markets.
Answered by James Brokenshire
I recognise the benefits of the all-island energy market to Northern Ireland. Security of supply both to domestic consumers of gas and electricity, as well as business and agriculture is vitally important.
The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Lord Dunlop, has met with industry representatives as part of the round of Business Advisory Group meetings, and I have spoken to senior industry representatives and Northern Ireland Executive ministers to hear first-hand the range of issues that generators face.
The Government remains supportive of the proposed new developments, as well as the move to the Integrated Single Electricity Market.