Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of Policy Exchange's report entitled Closing the Back Door: Rediscovering Northern Ireland’s Role in British National Security, published on 5 February 2024.
Answered by James Heappey
Defence is aware of the Policy Exchange report. Defence continues to work with our partners across Government to identify vulnerabilities and test how we would better secure and defend the UK in times of war.
As our nearest neighbour, we work closely with Ireland to counter security challenges which affect both our nations’ security.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what his planned timetable is for the Northern Ireland Assembly to bring forward revenue raising proposals.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The UK Government remains determined to support the Executive to unlock the opportunities that the financial package presents.
To help stabilise the Executive’s financial position, the UK Government has agreed to pause its debt repayments from 2022-23 and 2023-24 of up to £559 million and will no longer require these funds to be repaid, subject to the Executive publishing a plan by May 2024 which outlines how it will deliver sustainable public finances and services and demonstrating implementation of that plan by May 2025.
This sustainability plan must include the delivery of a balanced budget for 2024-25 by raising a minimum of £113 million through locally generated income. It will be for the Executive to determine if it will consider a different course of action to deliver the public services that Northern Ireland needs as part of its sustainability plan.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of Motorcycle Industry Association's proposals to simplify the licensing regime for powered light vehicles.
Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government is open to discussing ideas for reform of the existing licensing regime for powered light vehicles known as L category vehicles where they do not compromise safety standards. It is also worth highlighting that driving licensing is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress his Department has made on delivering the Joint Action Plan on Realising the Full Potential of Zero Emission Powered Light Vehicles.
Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government continues to engage with industry to deliver the joint Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) and Zemo Partnership Action Plan where appropriate. To address actions 2 and 3 on growing and developing the supply chain, the Government made up to £350,000 of funding available for research and development projects to grow the zero emission motorcycle supply chain in the UK. The Department is also working with the recently established “Powered Light Vehicle Community” to address action 9 on creating a formal L-category community. In addition, the Department is engaged with the MCIA’s recent licensing review proposals to address action 6 to review minimum testing and licence entitlements for all battery electric L-Category vehicles.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Motorcycle Industry Association's publication entitled Realising the full potential of zero emission powered light vehicles – a joint action plan for Government and industry, published in February 2022 what steps his Department is taking to improve uptake of mopeds.
Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government’s Plug-in Motorcycle Grant encourages early market growth of zero emission powered light vehicles. It has supported the purchase of over 12,000 zero emission powered light vehicles, and according to our registration data, 40.6% of mopeds registered in 2022 were battery electric. All grants remain under continual review to ensure best value for money.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 23 January 2023 to Question 10468 on Armed Forces: Uniforms, if his Department will end the sourcing of bearskin from Canada.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
In the absence of an effective replacement, the Department will continue to purchase bearskin ceremonial caps made from pelts sourced from Canada, providing they are by-products of legal and licensed hunts and can continue to be imported into the UK.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she plans to introduce similar restrictions on nitrites in processed meat products to those set out in European Commission Regulation No 231/2012 on food additives nitrites (E 249-250) and nitrates (E 251-252), published on 1 June 2023.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) considers that existing levels of nitrites and nitrates in the United Kingdom are sufficiently protective for consumers, and they remain important preservatives in a range of foods that control a range of harmful micro-organisms. However, as with all additives, this remains under review.
Given the European Union (EU) changes to levels, the FSA wishes to ensure there are no unintended food safety consequences. The FSA is engaging with stakeholders across the UK to understand the implications of the EU changes on nitrates in processed meat, cheese and fish products and any impacts they may have on industry. It is necessary to understand the ability of industry to reformulate to meet the various transition periods, whilst ensuring foods remain safe. This will support formulation of a UK position on the use of nitrates/nitrites as a food additive in these commodities.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether her Department plans to produce a trade and investment factsheet for trade with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
In accordance with the rest of the international community, with the sole exception of Turkey, the UK does not recognise the self-declared "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" as an independent state. UK trade statistics from the Office for National Statistics, which provide most of the headline information shown in the trade and investment factsheets, do not include figures identifying UK trade with the north of Cyprus . It is therefore not possible to produce a separate trade and investment factsheet.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of lowering the legal limits on nitrites in processed meat products on public health.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Food Standards Agency (FSA), which holds policy responsibility for the safety of food additives, is considering the impact of lowering nitrate levels from a food safety perspective. Nitrates are important additives that perform a range of technological functions, including control of microorganisms such as the pathogen Clostridium botulinum which is responsible for botulism, an often fatal condition. The FSA would wish to ensure there are no unintended food safety consequences related to lowering nitrate and nitrite levels before considering next steps.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions she has had with Ofgem on the criteria for the third cap and floor window for electricity interconnectors.
Answered by Graham Stuart
Ofgem is responsible for administering the cap and floor windows for electricity interconnectors, including setting and applying the criteria for the process.
The Department meets regularly with Ofgem to discuss electricity interconnection.