Written questions by Campbell.

Media and Sport, if she will he have discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive on the potential merits of hosting future major golfing events in Northern Ireland.

The Government remains committed to delivering major international sporting events with pride - building upon the UK’s global reputation for excellence in event delivery - and seeking new opportunities to do so. We prioritise support for events based on a range of criteria, which includes how far they help create social and economic benefits for the UK and contribute towards the Government's Plan for Change. We recognise that major events deliver significant benefits to all parts of the UK including Northern Ireland. Having attended The Open at Royal Portrush this July, I am aware that Northern Ireland is well equipped to successfully deliver major golfing events. We continue to work closely with our expert arm’s-length body UK Sport to explore future hosting opportunities that will strengthen the UK’s major events pipeline. The UK has already secured a strong pipeline of events over the coming years, including the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, 2026 European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, the Grand Départ for the Tour De France and the Tour de France Femmes in 2027 and the UEFA 2028 European Championships.

What steps her Department is taking to help tackle the illegal use of the vehicle registration numbers of legitimate car owners.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and other government departments to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime, including the use of cloned number plates. The law requires that anyone who supplies number plates for road use in the UK must be registered with the DVLA. It is a legal requirement for number plate suppliers to carry out checks to ensure that number plates are only sold to those who can prove they are entitled to the registration number. Number plate suppliers must also keep records of the plates they have supplied. Selling a number plate without carrying out these required checks carries a maximum penalty of a fine of £1,000 and the potential removal from the Register of Number Plate Suppliers (RNPS). Officials are also considering options to ensure a more robust, auditable RNPS process which would enable tighter checks on number plate suppliers. On-road enforcement for offences relating to the display of number plates is a matter for the police. The DVLA assists the police and Trading Standards in their enforcement against number plate suppliers, including those who trade illegally. When notified, the DVLA will investigate and pass on intelligence to the police who are responsible for investigating this criminal matter. Anyone who thinks their number plate may have been cloned should contact the police immediately. Any fines received should be returned to the issuing authorities. The DVLA can provide customers with letters that can be used as supporting evidence and can also provide a replacement registration number where appropriate.

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that patients in emergency departments of hospitals are treated in appropriate spaces.

This Government is determined to get the National Health Service back on its feet, so patients can be treated with dignity.Our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan, published in June 2025, set out steps that we are taking to ensure that patients will receive better, faster and more appropriate emergency care this winter, backed by a total of nearly £450 million of funding.We will also publish new clinical operational standards for the first 72 hours of care which will support better hospital flow, aimed at reducing overcrowding and long waits.We have been taking key steps to ensure the health service is prepared for the colder months. This includes taking actions to try and reduce demand pressure on accident and emergency departments, increasing vaccination rates and offering health checks to the most vulnerable, as well as stress-testing integrated care board and trust winter plans to confirm they are able to meet demand and support patient flow.

How many applications were received for the first round of the Connect Fund.

The Connect Fund has received a very positive reaction from the civic and voluntary sector and in its inaugural month received a total of 24 applications.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to assist in the roll out of the T-cell-based approach vaccine to tackle Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus.

APHA scientists have assisted the consortium, which includes the University of Surrey, and Chester Zoo, to get to this phase 1 study of a novel vaccine to tackle Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus. They will continue to provide expert advice and assistance. Chester Zoo have agreed to take this work forward, which is likely to include a phase II study prior to any wider roll out.

If she will have urgent discussions with the Financial Conduct Authority on proposals to allow unlimited contactless card payments.

Decisions on contactless limits are a matter for the FCA, which is independent of the Government. On September 10, the FCA launched a consultation on its proposals to introduce a new risk-based approach to contactless payments, allowing payment service providers greater flexibility to determine their approach to contactless payments where they identify there is a low risk of fraud. The FCA’s consultation remains open until 15 October. Further details on the FCA’s proposals can be found on their website: https://www.fca.org.uk/publication/consultation/cp25-24.pdf

What estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the State Pension by July 2029.

The Department’s latest forecasts estimate around £169 billion (in nominal terms) will be spent on the State Pension in 2029/30. Forecasts are presented on a financial year basis, as the Department does not produce totals by a specific calendar month, such as July 2029. Source: Benefit expenditure and caseload tables 2025

Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to answer Question 74602 on UK Internal Trade: Northern Ireland.

Question 74602 was answered on 15 September 2025

Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to respond to Written Question 74702 on Sustainable Farming Incentive.

Question 74702 was answered on 22 September 2025.

Representing the Members Estimate Committee, when he plans to respond to Written Question 74628 on Representative money.

Written Question 74628 was answered on 16 September 2025.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when she plans to answer Question 75168 tabled on 4 September 2025 by the hon. Member for East Londonderry.

I apologise for the delay in responding to the Hon. Member's written parliamentary question. I issued a response to the Hon. Member on 3 October.

What estimate she has made of the number of employees who having received the National Living Wage increase in April 2025 have now begun to pay income tax.

The information is not available. HMRC does not hold information on hourly pay rates of Pay As You Earn taxpayers and therefore cannot identify which employees are in receipt of the National Living Wage (NLW).

Media and Sport, how many appointments have been made to the Boards of her Department's public bodies since 10 July 2024.

Since 10 July 2024, 114 regulated appointments and reappointments have been made to the Boards of the Department for Culture, Media & Sport’s public bodies.

Whether her Department is taking steps to monitor activities at Confucius Institutes.

​​Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.​The department engages regularly with representatives from the higher education (HE) sector to support universities to maximise opportunities of collaboration whilst managing risks.​The department expects the HE sector to be alert to a range of risks when collaborating with international partners and to conduct appropriate due diligence and oversight. Any international arrangements English HE providers who are registered with the Office for Students (OfS) make, including Confucius Institutes, should be within the law and comply with OfS registration conditions. These include a commitment to the public interest governance principles, which include operating openly and in accordance with ensuring academic freedom and freedom of speech.​If students, staff, or the public feel that a provider is not meeting these requirements, they can submit a notification to the OfS. As the regulator for registered English providers, the OfS can intervene and use its regulatory powers, if a breach is identified.​

If he will take steps with Intertrade UK to help (a) consumers and (b) businesses in Northern Ireland trade with businesses in Great Britain.

The Government established Intertrade UK in February 2025, with a clear purpose to provide advice on and promote trade and investment across the UK. This is why Intertrade UK’s recently published Work Programme sets out how the body will advise on ways to support intra-UK trade by removing barriers to trade, promoting UK internal market opportunities, and enhancing infrastructure and connectivity. This includes, but will not be limited to, advice on ways to help consumers and businesses in Northern Ireland trade with businesses in Great Britain.

Whether his Department plans to hold discussions with the hospitality sector on the promotion non-sugar sweeteners.

Most people are regularly consuming double the recommended amount of free sugars. Diets high in sugar increase the risk of tooth decay and weight gain. Being overweight or living with obesity is associated with a range of negative health impacts such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and some kinds of cancers.On 2 April 2025, the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) published its position statement on the World Health Organisation guideline on non-sugar sweeteners. SACN concluded that the evidence of risk to health, including type 2 diabetes, from consuming non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) is inconsistent. SACN also made a precautionary recommendation that intakes of NSS should be minimised. As there is greater certainty of the negative impact of sugars on health, including type 2 diabetes, SACN recommended that “swapping sugars for NSS may help reduce sugar intake from foods and drinks (and so reduce energy intake), at least in the short term. The long-term goal is to limit both sugar and NSS intake”. It is up to businesses to decide whether they choose to use NSS when reformulating products to reduce sugar levels. While some businesses have used them, others have chosen not to which may be due to legislative restrictions on their use in some products or in recognition of consumer preferences. It is recognised, though, that there are benefits in businesses not using NSS as this maintains a highly sweet taste in a food or drink and does not allow people’s palates to adapt to a less sugary taste. This applies to businesses in all sectors. The Soft Drinks Industry Levy has led to reductions of 47% in sugar levels in drinks in scope. Much of this reduction has been delivered by using NSS. Many reformulated drinks are available in the out of home sector as well as supermarkets.

Over what period of time Operation Gull has been functioning in Northern Ireland.

Immigration officers in Northern Ireland took responsibility for Operation Gull in the financial year 2010-11.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 May to Question 52582 on Defence Gardens Scheme, what recent progress he has made in simplifying access to Government support for Armed Forces charities.

I would like to recognise the work of Armed Forces charities across the country. They play an invaluable role, offering support to the Armed Forces community - helping Serving military personnel, veterans and their families when they face difficulties and challenges; together with helping communities across the country. This Government works closely with many Armed Forces charities. The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust also administered £10 million in HMG grants this financial year to support the Armed Forces community. Our new £50 million VALOUR initiative will help to bring together statutory services and the charity sector as a core objective. This will include development funding to support local delivery, and ensuring that services are available when, and where, they are needed.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2025 to Question 74957 on Citroën: Air Bags, whether her Department has received a response to its letter to Stellantis on the recall of Citroën cars.

I can confirm that Stellantis replied to the letter from the Secretary of State on 12 August. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency officials continue to have regular engagement meetings with representatives from Stellantis about the Citroën/DS recall and continue to support Stellantis, prioritising safety while minimising economic and social impact.

What steps he is taking to ensure the Army's future participation in jobs fairs in Northern Ireland, in the context of the Army's withdrawal from a jobs fair in Londonderry in September 2025.

Improving recruitment is one of the Army’s top priorities, supported by defence. We will continue to welcome any opportunity to attend jobs fairs in Northern Ireland, and across the United Kingdom, to share the careers available to all potential recruits. Whilst we are disappointed not to have been able to attend the jobs fair event hosted on 9 September, the Department accepts the council’s decision in this matter.