Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department plans to refurbish the Boer War Memorial at St Lucia Barracks in Omagh, County Tyrone.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Department has no plans to refurbish the War Memorial at St Lucia Barracks, as the site is currently in the process of disposal. Responsibility for any future refurbishment will fall to the new owner.

The memorial tablet to the fallen soldiers of the 2nd Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers is attached to a wall with listed status. It is itself considered to be part of that listed structure and therefore also protected.

Monthly site inspections are conducted by our personnel to assess the buildings safety and security.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the PSNI informs her Department of the immigration status of victims and witnesses of crime in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

PSNI may in the course of their duties refer individuals who are victims of crime to IE’s National Control and Command Unit for the purposes of establishing the individual’s immigration status and/or to support Home Office safeguarding processes.

The decision to refer any individual falls to the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Further guidance and policy in relation to PSNI referrals to IE will need to be addressed to PSNI directly.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to Council Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1186/2009 as regards the elimination of the threshold-based customs duty relief, whether the duty to be paid on the movement of parcels from Great Britain to Northern Ireland will be paid by the person (a) sending the parcel in Great Britain and (b) receiving the parcel in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is aware of the EU's plans to remove its relief for low value imports from 1 July 2026.

The facilitations under the Windsor Framework are unaffected by this change, meaning goods can continue to move from Great Britain to Northern Ireland under the UK Carrier Scheme and the UK Internal Market Scheme without the need to pay duty. We continue to engage closely with the EU to understand the future arrangements and ensure we can minimise any potential impact on consumers and businesses in Northern Ireland. We will issue appropriate guidance in due course.

As announced at Budget, the Government will remove its low value imports relief by March 2029 at the latest. The Government is consulting on the design of its new arrangements and there is a live consultation open which closes on 6 March.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidance her Department plans to issue on whether the planned elimination of the threshold-based customs duty relief applies to (a) business to business, (b) business to consumer and (c) private individual parcel movements.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is aware of the EU's plans to remove its relief for low value imports from 1 July 2026.

The facilitations under the Windsor Framework are unaffected by this change, meaning goods can continue to move from Great Britain to Northern Ireland under the UK Carrier Scheme and the UK Internal Market Scheme without the need to pay duty. We continue to engage closely with the EU to understand the future arrangements and ensure we can minimise any potential impact on consumers and businesses in Northern Ireland. We will issue appropriate guidance in due course.

As announced at Budget, the Government will remove its low value imports relief by March 2029 at the latest. The Government is consulting on the design of its new arrangements and there is a live consultation open which closes on 6 March.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many businesses were referred to HMRC because they had outstanding supplementary declarations and or post-movement Internal Market Movement Information (IMMI) or their account, during: i) June 2025, ii) July 2025, iii) August 2025, iv) September 2025, v) October 2025, vi) November 2025, vii) December 2025, viii) January 2026 and ix) February 2026.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC does not routinely share compliance data where its disclosure may undermine current or future enforcement action.

HMRC takes a risk and intelligence-based approach to enforcement of trade obligations relating to the movement of goods.

Since the introduction of the arrangements concerning goods movements into and out of Northern Ireland, HMRC has worked closely with the Trader Support Service (TSS) to ensure that traders understand their obligations, are offered support to meet them, and that proportionate steps are taken to enforce their compliance.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the British Council’s Study USA programme in Northern Ireland on career progression, global skills and economic mobility for university students, particularly those from lower-income backgrounds; and what steps he is taking to ensure support for students not otherwise able to access international study opportunities.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The British Council Study USA initiative is a great programme that has benefited the career development of many students in Northern Ireland over its 30 years. Skills and further/higher education is a devolved matter for the Northern Ireland Department for the Economy and we will continue to work closely with them to ensure the appropriate support for lower-income students wishing to study abroad is in place.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the British Council’s international education programmes, including the International School Award, Study USA and UK–Ukraine school partnerships, on the UK’s soft power and diplomatic objectives.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The British Council plays a crucial role supporting the UK's interests around the world, supported by its work on UK education, as well its work to promote UK arts and culture, and the English language. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is providing over £160 million Grant-in-Aid to the British Council this financial year, which underlines our continued support for their important work.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2025 to Question 82237 on Import Controls, whether the construction of the border control posts at (i) Belfast, (ii) Larne, (iii) Foyle and (iv) Warrenpoint had been completed by 2 March 2026 or whether any aspects of construction were ongoing or incomplete as of that date; how much and what proportion of the total costs of the construction of those posts had been paid by 2 March; and whether any further payments for construction have yet to be made.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

In line with the commitments the Government has made under the Windsor Framework, construction of SPS Inspection Facilities at Belfast, Larne, Foyle, and Warrenpoint are in place and these facilities are operational. Remaining works at the 2 March were limited to minor snagging and commissioning activities in line with normal construction practice and include additional works at Larne which will enhance the live animal inspections already in place.

The Government has committed a maximum funding envelope of £192.3 million. Of this envelope, Defra has spent £144.1 million up to the 02 March 2026 in relation to the construction of the SPS facilities. Further payments for construction have yet to be made in accordance with contractual terms, however the total expenditure is forecast to be within the maximum funding envelope.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the absence of pension rights on retired Full Time Reserve Royal Ulster Constabulary George Cross officers who served between 1972 and 1988; and what steps his Department is taking to support the finances and welfare of those affected.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The pension rights of retired police officers is a devolved matter for which the Department of Justice is responsible.

The National Council of Resistance of Iran's ten-point plan

Countryside Alliance and the Countryside Clean Up

50th anniversary of the IRA terrorist attack at West Ham station

75th anniversary of Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster

State visit of the president of Nigeria

Oil prices and the cost of living

European Remembrance Day for Victims of Terrorism (No. 2)

Recognition of armed forces personnel wounded in terrorist attacks outside of operational deployment

Excise

Proscription of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

90th anniversary of Killaloo Accordion Band

Trafficking of the victims of grooming gangs overseas