Written questions by Campbell.

If she will make an estimate of the annual cost of State Pension payments to people resident in Northern Ireland in 2024.

The annual cost of State Pension payments administered by DWP to people resident in Northern Ireland is estimated to be around £4.34 million in 2024. This is based on latest figures for the quarter ending November 2024. Source: DWP Stat-Xplore. This figure reflects State Pension payments made by DWP to people living in Northern Ireland and does not include any State Pension payments administered under the devolution settlement by the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland.

How many reports of threats have been made to the internal Journalist Safety Group in Northern Ireland.

I commend the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) on the progress they have made to address journalist safety in Northern Ireland. They have created an internal Journalist Safety Group and appointed two Journalist Safety Officers. Since 2022, the PSNI Journalist Safety Group has recorded 46 occasions where a journalist has brought a concern to PSNI. A free, independent media is a cornerstone of our democracy. It is vital that journalists are able to continue their work without the fear of attack or threat. The National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists sets out the approach to increase the safety of journalists.

What funding he plans to provide for the National Institute for Health and Care Research Brain Tumour Research Consortium by 2029.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Brain Tumour Research Consortium was established in December 2024 to bring together researchers from a range of different disciplines and institutions, with the aim of driving scientific advancements in how we prevent, detect, manage, and treat brain tumours in both adults and children. The NIHR is working closely with the consortium to support the development of high-quality funding proposals.The consortium is in the process of collaboratively developing its programme of work, which will be submitted to the NIHR for independent peer review by 31 July 2025. There is no set funding window for their proposal, which we hope will be ambitious in scope and potential impact.

If he will meet with the Federation of Small Businesses Northern Ireland to discuss its report entitled, Windsor Framework Realities: Barriers to Trade in the UK Internal Market, published on 24 June 2025.

I discussed the findings of the report at the recent East West Council which was attended by members of Intertrade UK. There is a wide range of support available for businesses using the schemes under the Windsor Framework. The Government remains committed to realising its benefits alongside protecting the UK internal market. As we do so, we will continue to work closely with Northern Ireland businesses and representative organisations like the Federation of Small Businesses.

With reference to his Department's publication entitled The UK’s modern industrial strategy, published on 23 June 2025, whether the strategy will provide additional funding to the Plan for Neighbourhoods.

The Industrial Strategy is a 10-year plan to back our strengths and realise Britain’s potential. Through the Industrial Strategy we are targeting investment towards our eight-growth driving sectors, creating new opportunities so British workers can upskill and fill vacancies and supporting businesses to scale up. The industrial Strategy identifies and accelerates the highest-potential opportunities in these sectors, tackling investment barriers and unleashing the potential of clusters across the country.The £1.5bn Plan for Neighbourhoods will deliver up to £20million of funding and support over the next decade into 75 communities across the UK, laying the foundations to kickstart local growth and drive-up living standards. The Industrial Strategy does not provide direct funding to the Plan for Neighbourhoods but complements it with a package of measures to boost regional growth.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 24 June 2025 to Question 61122 on Life Sciences: Northern Ireland, if he will hold discussions with Innovate UK on ensuring the Launchpad programme supports clusters of SMEs beyond the Greater Belfast area.

The Health and Life Sciences Launchpad is already supporting clusters beyond the Greater Belfast area. For example, in Coleraine, it is funding EOSDX, which is developing an AI-driven, non-invasive structural biomarker test for breast cancer diagnosis. In Derry City and Strabane, it is funding ActionSense’s development of an innovative rehabilitation project aimed at transforming stroke recovery. And in Craigavon, it is supporting e-Clear to develop a dementia training platform. More information on funded projects is available at https://www.ukri.org/publications/innovate-uk-funded-projects-since-2004/. Innovate UK and the Launchpad Cluster Management Organisation HIRANI will continue to support stakeholders across Northern Ireland to drive innovation led growth.

Representing the House of Commons Commission, whether any new instances of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete have been identified on the Parliamentary estate since 1 January 2025.

As part of continued surveys and monitoring, RAAC planks have been discovered in the floor structure of the Upper Committee Corridor North. This is in addition to the RAAC previously identified in this area. An assessment of the condition of these planks by structural engineers has been instructed, in line with best practice guidance from the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), starting in July.

How many times the Defending Democracy Taskforce met in Northern Ireland between January 2025 and June 2025.

Meetings of the Taskforce are attended by Ministers and senior officials from multiple government departments, and have to date, all taken place in secure government premises within the Whitehall estate. These meetings, that I chair in my role as Security Minister, are complemented by official led meetings with Devolved Governments including Northern Ireland.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will hold discussions with his counterpart in India on levels of violence against religious minorities in India.

The UK Government takes all allegations of human rights violations very seriously. We have a broad, deep and respectful partnership with the Government of India. This includes sharing perspectives on human rights and minority issues and finding common ground. Our High Commission in New Delhi and our network across India monitor human rights across the country. We engage Indian stakeholders on a range of human rights matters, working with Union and State Governments, and with civil society. This includes raising issues of concern where we have them.

Media and Sport, whether her Department has approved a funding application for Basement Films Company in the last 12 months.

No. DCMS does not directly approve individual funding applications for film and television content. Our partners, including the British Film Institute (BFI), are responsible for implementing specific funding programmes. The BFI has advised they have no record of funding being awarded to this production company.

Pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2025 to Question 60413 on Asylum: Northern Ireland, whether her Department plans to purchase (a) tower blocks and (b) student accommodation to house those people claiming asylum in Northern Ireland.

I refer the Hon Member to the Answer he received on 23 June 2025 to UIN 60413.

Pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2025 to Question 59713 on Foreign Investment in UK: Northern Ireland, on what date he discussed filling the role of US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland with the US Administration and Congress.

Economic growth is the number one priority of the Government. That is why we are working closely with the Northern Ireland Executive to create a thriving, competitive and regionally balanced economy in Northern Ireland through increased investment, job creation, and higher living standards. I had a range of meetings during my visit to Washington in March, but the role of a US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland was not raised with me. There has not been such a position in every US Administration, and is a matter for which the US Administration is responsible.

If he will have discussions with representatives of the PXN Group on supporting private sector venture funding opportunities in Northern Ireland.

Ministers have regular discussions with private sector partners who can help deliver the Government's priority of economic growth across the UK, including in Northern Ireland. Private sector venture funding opportunities would not normally form part of such discussions as they are commercially sensitive and an investor's ability to identify such opportunities is part of their competitive advantage. Any investment partnerships with government are based on fair and open procurement by the British Business Bank, undertaken independently of ministers.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 57984 on Road Traffic Offences: Speed Limits, how many drivers undertook a second driver retraining course between 2019 and 2024.

The Home Office collects and publishes information on the number of speed limit offences that resulted in ‘driver retraining’, as part of its annual ‘Police Powers and Procedures: Roads policing’ statistical release.The latest data is available here Police powers and procedures: Roads policing, to December 2023 - GOV.UK and covers the calendar year ending December 2023.However, offences cannot be linked and data on how many drivers undertook a second driver retraining course is not held centrally.

How many cases are under consideration for potential prosecution in relation to travellers in Northern Ireland not having a valid electronic travel authorisation between 1 January and 1 June 2025.

Journeys from Ireland to the UK are within the Common Travel Area (CTA). As part of the CTA arrangements, the UK does not operate routine immigration controls of individuals arriving in the UK by air or sea from within the CTA, and no immigration checks are undertaken at the land border with Ireland.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will hold discussions with his counterpart in the UAE on the detention of Ryan Cornelius.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Ministers regularly raise consular cases with their foreign counterparts. The Foreign Secretary last discussed Ryan Cornelius' case with the UAE Foreign Minister in December 2024. The FCDO takes the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention's opinions seriously. While their recommendations are not legally binding, we will continue to highlight their concerns in discussions with UAE authorities. The FCDO are providing Mr Cornelius with consular assistance, and we take any reports of human rights violations, including coercion and poor prison conditions very seriously and, with the consent of Mr Cornelius, will raise any concerns with local authorities.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2025 to Question 59297 on Civil Servants, if she will make an assessment of the reasons for which the number of people employed in Northern Ireland is smaller than in England, Scotland and Wales.

The distribution across the United Kingdom, of Civil Servants employed as Government Social Researchers, is comparable to the distribution across the United Kingdom of the wider Civil Service. Excluding those on the Fast Stream programme, Government Social Researchers are all directly employed by Departments, Devolved Administrations, and other UK Civil Service organisations. They are recruited on the basis of demand from individual Departments, Devolved Administrations, and other UK Civil Service organisations, to employ Government Social Researchers. The regional distribution of the Civil Service reflects the diverse functions and geographic locations of government departments and agencies.

With reference to the National road traffic projections, published on 12 December 2022, when her Department plans to publish the next update of these projections.

The Department regularly reviews evidence and data on the drivers of travel demand and will publish an update in due course.

Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that the distribution of allocations from the Northern Ireland Life and Health Sciences Launchpad is equitable.

Innovate UK’s Launchpad programme is aimed at supporting clusters of SMEs and the most innovative businesses to progress their ideas toward commercialisation, contributing to local economic growth. Social equity and UK-wide impact are important features of the programme.The Health and Life Sciences Launchpad in Northern Ireland is run in partnership between Innovate UK and Invest NI. Funding has so far been offered to over forty-five projects, across digital health, biotech therapeutics and diagnostics and medical technologies disciplines. During the competition period, Innovate UK and Invest NI raised awareness across different areas through media channels and hosting several in-person sub-regional workshops.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 June 2025 to Question 59711 on UK Internal Trade, what progress his Department has made on removing additional obligations placed on GB based businesses supplying Northern Ireland.

I understand that some GB based businesses have faced changes as a result of the updated General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR). The Department has issued guidance for those who are selling to Northern Ireland, which we will continue to keep under review. We have engaged with businesses directly to ensure they understand their obligations arising from the GPSR, and to support them in trading freely across the entirety of the UK.The Government is committed to upholding its obligations under the Windsor Framework, and to protecting the UK internal market.