Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate she has made of the number of farms that will be affected by proposed changes to inheritance tax in Northern Ireland; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of these changes on food supply chains.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, fixing the public finances, and funding public services. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992. Where inheritance tax is due, those liable for a charge can pay any liability on the relevant assets over 10 annual instalments, interest-free.
Information from claims is not recorded to enable regional or national breakdowns of the number of estates expected to be affected. However, the Government has set out that the reforms are expected to result in up to 520 estates across the UK claiming agricultural property relief, including those also claiming business property relief, paying more inheritance tax in 2026-27. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim for business property relief, will not pay any more tax as a result of the changes in 2026-27, based on the latest available data.
The Government published a tax information and impact note on 21 July 2025. The note explains that the measure is not expected to have a material impact on food security and it is available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/reforms-to-agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief/agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief-reforms.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps her Department is taking to help tackle Christian persecution.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to championing Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all, and we recognise the issue of persecution of Christians globally on account of their faith, alongside other groups. We continue to seek opportunities to highlight these issues through the UN, G7 and as a member of the Article 18 Alliance, ensuring joint international action on FoRB, including in sub-Saharan Africa.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to (a) protect persecuted Christians and (b) promote religious freedom.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to championing Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all, and we recognise the issue of persecution of Christians globally on account of their faith, alongside other groups. We continue to seek opportunities to highlight these issues through the UN, G7 and as a member of the Article 18 Alliance, ensuring joint international action on FoRB, including in sub-Saharan Africa.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle (a) Fulani militants, (b) Boko Haram and (c) other Islamist extremists in Nigeria.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Nigeria is witnessing rising conflict and insecurity, including violent extremism and intercommunal violence. Violence in Nigeria's North-East is driven by terrorist groups including Boko Haram, who target all those who do not subscribe to their extremist views. These attacks are distinct from the intercommunal violence across Nigeria's Middle Belt. The UK Government is committed to supporting Nigeria to address these challenges by working with Nigeria's security forces, and through peacebuilding efforts to tackle the root causes of violence. Through our UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership, we are supporting Nigeria to tackle insecurity and promote human rights. This includes facilitating civil-military cooperation within North-East communities and utilising UK experience to strengthen the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC). Additionally, the UK's Strengthening Peace and Resilience programme ('SPRING') works to address the root causes of intercommunal violence across Nigeria's Middle Belt, through collaboration with local communities to support productive livelihoods for both farmers and pastoralists.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department is taking steps to help support Christians in sub-Saharan Africa affected by (a) religious violence and (b) conflict.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to championing Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all, and we recognise the issue of persecution of Christians globally on account of their faith, alongside other groups. We continue to seek opportunities to highlight these issues through the UN, G7 and as a member of the Article 18 Alliance, ensuring joint international action on FoRB, including in sub-Saharan Africa.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether his Department held a pre-publication briefing of the Independent Review of the Windsor Framework with representatives of the Alliance Party.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
As stated previously, the Northern Ireland Office speaks to parties regularly and does not give a running commentary on those discussions.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the decision of the European Parliament on the naming of vegetable products of 8 October 2025 on the sale of vegan sausages made in Great Britain to Northern Ireland.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Under the Windsor Framework, the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme (NIRMS) allows products to move to Northern Ireland whilst meeting UK consumer protection and marketing standards. Therefore, vegan sausages which are made in Great Britain and moved to NI in this way should not be affected by the newly proposed EU rules governing the labelling of plant-based products.
The Government continues to monitor changes to EU regulations and is committed to safeguarding the smooth flow of goods to Northern Ireland. Furthermore, any new EU rules are subject to the democratic scrutiny arrangements under the Windsor Framework.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether manure that is (a) subject to (i) annual returns to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and (ii) veterinary approval and (b) has been granted a licence by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine of the Government of Ireland can lawfully be transported from livestock farms in Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This is a devolved matter and the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
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 10 July 2025 to Question 65431 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 13 October 2025; how much and what proportion of the total costs of the construction of those posts had been paid by 13 October 2025; and what estimate she has made of the total cost to the public purse for the construction of those posts.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
In line with the commitments we have made under the Windsor Framework, SPS inspection facilities have been constructed and are operational in Northern Ireland at the ports of Foyle, Warrenpoint, Belfast and Larne with some remedial works at Larne carrying on into 2026.
The Government has committed to a maximum funding envelope of £192.3 million for all the facilities at each of the 4 ports. Of this envelope, Defra has spent £127.4 million up to the 13 October 2025.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many inbound anti-smuggling checks have been conducted by the Border Force at (a) Belfast, (b) Larne and (c) Warrenpoint ports since 2021.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
This information is not held in an easily accessible format.