Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland executive on gambling laws.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Gambling policy is devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive. It is for the Northern Ireland Department of Communities to consider any changes to gambling laws.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will have discussions with his counterparts in Northern Ireland on potential steps to facilitate the provision of records from mother and baby homes in Northern Ireland to affected individuals.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
I understand that the Truth Recovery Programme in the Executive Office, working closely with victims and survivors of historical institutions in Northern Ireland, has made progress on the right to information and access to records. The Northern Ireland’s Department of Health has also produced practice guidance and there is work ongoing to progress secondary legislation with the Department for Science, Information and Technology to support this important objective.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has had discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on increasing funding for local council sports grants (a) for young sports groups and athletes in Ards and North Down Council Borough and (b) generally.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
My officials have engaged with Treasury officials on this matter.
The Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme has over 17 projects in 2024-25 in Northern Ireland. This Government is determined that, through our investment in grassroots sport, the legacy of the Paris Olympics and Euro 2024 is measured not just in trophies, but in choices and chances for every child wherever they live and whatever their background.
Sport is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland, and I would encourage the hon Gentleman to liaise with the Department for Communities about local sports grants in his constituency.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing additional funding for the construction of the North South Interconnector.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Energy policy and funding for infrastructure in Northern Ireland are devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive. Additional funding for this joint infrastructure project is ultimately a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will have discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of providing financial support to (a) cancer patients under the age of 26 and (b) their families when travel is required from Northern Ireland to England for treatment.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Support for patients required to travel from Northern Ireland to Great Britain for medical treatment is a devolved matter for the Northern Ireland Department of Health. However, this Government wants to work with the Northern Ireland Executive, Assembly, and local leaders to support them in delivering better health outcomes.
Patients in Northern Ireland pay for their own travel to appointments unless they are eligible for the Department of Health’s Hospital Travel Costs Scheme which is for people on a low income, including travel to the rest of the UK for treatment.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he is taking steps to secure further funding for Harland and Wolf in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Following a comprehensive assessment of the company’s financial profile and the criteria set out in UK Government risk policies, the Secretary of State for Business and Trade confirmed in a Written Ministerial Statement on 22 July that the UK Government had decided not to proceed with the provision of an Export Development Guarantee to Harland and Wolff.
This was not an easy decision, but we concluded that the market is best placed to resolve these commercial matters. Government funding would not necessarily secure our objectives, and there is a risk that taxpayer money would be lost.
We want to see an outcome for Harland and Wolff that delivers shipbuilding and fabrication in Northern Ireland and protects jobs, and we encourage all parties to engage with trade unions before further decisions are made.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Communities Minister on the termination of the JobStart programme for 16-25 year olds in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
I have not had any discussions with the Northern Ireland Communities Minister regarding the JobStart scheme. The Northern Ireland Department for the Communities is responsible for the delivery of the scheme which has received £15 million New Deal for Northern Ireland funding from the UK Government to cover the period April 2023 to March 2025.
The JobStart application portal closed on 30 June 2024 as planned. All participants currently on the scheme will be able to complete their JobStart opportunity.
Investment in skills and employment is a devolved matter and any decision on future funding for the JobStart scheme is a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on water charges in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
I have discussed with the First and deputy First Minister the urgent need to transform how public services are funded and delivered in Northern Ireland.
It is for the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly to make decisions on how to sustainably fund public services in Northern Ireland within its Budget and to raise revenue to support this. This Government is committed to supporting the Northern Ireland Executive to ensure better outcomes for citizens.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will have discussions with Age NI on support for isolated pensioners in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Steve Baker
While policies on this matter are ultimately devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive, the Secretary of State is committed to continuing to engage with groups across all sectors of society in Northern Ireland to discuss how the UK Government can support them.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has had discussions with the Department of Health in Northern Ireland on increasing the number of student midwives in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
This is a devolved matter for the Northern Ireland Department of Health and the Department for the Economy who are responsible for higher education policy in Northern Ireland.
Now that the Northern Ireland Executive has been restored, I look forward to Northern Ireland Ministers taking action on Northern Ireland's public services, including health, in order to deliver better outcomes for the people of Northern Ireland.