Written questions by Campbell.

How much and what proportion of the funding provided to the Investment Fund for Northern Ireland has been allocated to businesses in Northern Ireland.

The £70 million Investment Fund for Northern Ireland offers loans ranging from £25,000 to £2 million and equity investments up to £5 million. The fund covers the whole of Northern Ireland, including rural, coastal and urban areas. 100% of the fund is allocated to businesses in Northern Ireland. Of the £70 million total, around £18 million has been deployed to 35 businesses to date, leveraging around £12 million of additional private capital.

Whether she plans to review the progress made in the roll-out of the 10 year infrastructure strategy before the end of this Parliament.

Departments will be responsible for implementing the Strategy, with NISTA overseeing the implementation, and leading on subsequent refreshes of the Strategy every two years and the monitoring of progress against commitments. The Strategy is just the starting point, and government will continue to work with businesses, investors, workers, trade unions and regional and local leaders to drive up ambition and improve delivery.

Representing the House of Commons Commission, how many people have had their pass for the parliamentary estate withdrawn on security or serious misconduct grounds since 5 July 2024.

The House of Commons may suspend a Parliamentary pass temporarily pending the outcome of a criminal or disciplinary investigation. When an investigation is concluded and serious misconduct found against an individual, or a criminal conviction made involving a violent or sexual offence, then the individual’s pass is withdrawn. This response covers only passes that have been permanently withdrawn, as opposed to temporarily suspended.As the House of Commons is not the direct employer of all passholders, information about disciplinary investigations and grounds for dismissal will not automatically be passed to Parliament for all passholders. This response therefore covers only employees of the House of Commons and Joint Departments, former Members of the House of Commons, and Members of the House of Commons who have been convicted of a violent or sexual offence and subject to recall, and any additional cases where the relevant information is shared with the House of Commons Administration. Equivalent data for the House of Lords Administration has not been included as it is a separate organisation.The total number of passes withdrawn for security or serious misconduct since 5 July 2024 is five.

What assessment she has made of the effectiveness in reducing levels of (a) fraud and (b) error in benefit awards.

The Department’s Annual Report and Accounts (ARA) sets out DWP’s approach to reducing fraud and error in the benefit system. The 2023/24 ARA can be found here:ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2023-24 (publishing.service.gov.uk) and states that in 2023/24 DWP has estimated to have saved around £18 billion through preventative activity through frontline controls and detection by counter fraud teams. The 2024/25 ARA will be published shortly providing an up-to-date assessment including our progress in reducing the overall overpayment rate from 3.6% in 2023/24 to 3.3% in 2024/25, with the Universal Credit overpayment rate falling by 21% from 12.4% to 9.7% over the same period. The Department has committed to significant fraud, error and debt measures at Autumn Budget 2024 and Spring Statement 2025, which OBR has estimated will deliver an additional £9.6bn savings over the next five years.

Whether Operation Gull is continuing to operate in Northern Ireland.

Operation Gull is informed by intelligence and is carried out in keeping with this principle.

How many new instances of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in public buildings been identified since 1 January 2025.

The Cabinet Office does not maintain a central record of RAAC cases. Each department maintains its own data and progress on RAAC on an individual basis. Some departments publish information about buildings with RAAC which can be found on GOV.UK

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to announce a replacement to the Sustainable Farming Incentive programme by 22 July 2025.

Defra is working closely with farmers and industry stakeholders to design a future Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer that fairly and responsibly directs funding. Further details about the reformed SFI offer will be announced in summer 2025.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2025 to Question 58921 on Innovate UK: Northern Ireland, how Innovate UK’s regional support advisors in Northern Ireland promote the availability of Innovation Funding Services in Northern Ireland to small firms that previously had no contact with Innovate UK.

Innovate UK actively promotes its products and services to Northern Ireland businesses to improve their access to innovation funding and resources and foster growth within the region’s innovation ecosystem. It does this through a variety of channels. These include Innovate Local events, joint webinars with Invest NI, and participation in Enterprise NI’s finance series. Innovate UK competitions are also promoted on nibusinessinfo.co.uk by Invest NI. The programmes they promote are an important source of support for businesses in Northern Ireland. For example, Innovate UK Business Growth has supported 339 businesses over three years, while the ‘New Innovators’ funding program, which is only available to businesses without prior Innovate UK engagement, has provided £1 million to 23 small and micro businesses since 2020.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 48852 on Diabetes, what his planned timetable is for responding to the (a) research and (b) other recommendations made in the position statement by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition on the on the World Health Organization’s guideline on Non Sugar Sweeteners.

The Department welcomed the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN’s) statement on the World Health Organisation’s guideline on non-sugar sweeteners (NSS), published in April 2025.As a result of these recommendations, we are in the process of updating our consumer advice on the NHS.UK website, which will focus on the long-term goal to reduce both sugar and NSS intake, with NSS being a useful swap for sugar in the short-term.SACN’s recommendations to Government will be considered as part of our ongoing activities and in discussion with the Food Standards Agency; no timeline has been set.The Department encourages the research community and industry to take up SACN’s recommendations directed at them.

With reference to the Spending Review, published on 11 June 2025, whether the funding allocated to Casement Park is a (a) grant or (b) loan; whether a payment will be made to the (i) Gaelic Athletic Association or any body associated it or (ii) the Northern Ireland Executive or any Department associated wth it; and whether the UK Government will require any subsequent repayments or returned profits from activities at the Stadium when completed.

The UK Government has provided £50m of Capital Financial Transactions funding to redevelop Casement Park. The UK Government will continue to work with the Northern Ireland Executive, however it is up to the Executive to design and implement the Financial Transaction. The Financial Transaction will be provided to the Executive on a net basis, it does not need to be repaid to the UK Government and the Executive can recycle any repayments indefinitely.

Whether she plans to purchase (a) tower blocks and (b) former student accommodation to house asylum seekers in Northern Ireland.

Only individuals claiming asylum in Northern Ireland are accommodated there, and as such there are no plans to acquire additional dispersal accommodation to house a wider cohort of UK asylum seekers there. The Home Office continues to work with a range of stakeholders and consider a range of options to fulfil its statutory obligations, and deliver our commitment to reduce the overall cost of asylum accommodation, including ending the use of hotels by the end of this Parliament.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce instances of wildfires during the summer.

Defra encourages landowners and land managers to undertake wildfire risk assessments and consider mitigating actions as part of good quality wildfire management plans. Defra regularly engages with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and other Government departments in addition to bodies such as the National Fire Chiefs Council and the England and Wales Wildfire Forum, to monitor and review sector-led improvements and mitigations.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 20 May 2025 to Question 52581 on Broadcasting, whether her Department is responsible for initiating changes to OFCOM's oversight role.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has overall sponsorship responsibility for Ofcom. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport retains responsibility for broadcasting policy. This includes relevant legislation that sets out Ofcom’s duties regarding broadcasting regulation.

Pursuant to the Answer of 19 May 2025 to Question 52196 on Prostate Cancer: Preventive Medicine, when he expects to receive the outcome of UK NSCs comprehensive evidence review.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) has commissioned work to update its recommendation on population screening for prostate cancer screening last made in 2020. The review this time round however has been expanded in response to calls to consider evidence that looks at targeted screening using prostate-specific antigen testing and other high-risk factors, as well as screening specifically Black men of a set age group and looking at other screening tests. To do this comprehensive review, the UK NSC has commissioned a cost effectiveness model to explore these various screening strategies.It is expected that the model will report back to the UK NSC in early autumn 2025. The committee is in contact with the reviewers and stands ready to review this and consider next steps before opening a public consultation on this.

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2025 to Question 58165 on Unmanned Air Systems: Military Bases, whether any investigations were ongoing into drone activity in the vicinity of other security bases in the three months (a) prior to and (b) after the incidents at the bases outlined in that Answer.

The use of uncrewed aerial systems around protected areas in the UK causes a risk to life and is illegal. Such activity will be subject to thorough investigation. We are unable to release information relating to ongoing criminal investigations or operational security matters.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will have discussions with his French counterparts on recent reported violent incidents in migrant camps from where a number of attempted boat crossings to the UK have occurred.

I am aware of worrying recent incidents in migrant camps in France and extend my sympathies to the victims. I condemn these instances of violence which are often fuelled by criminal people-smuggling gangs responsible for small boat crossings. The Foreign Secretary and I, as well as Home Office colleagues, have regular contact with our French counterparts on a range of topics, including strengthening cooperation to combat these gangs, end dangerous crossings, and save lives.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 56735 on Cars: Credit, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the banking sectors' resilience in ensuring the scale of regulated motor finance is manageable.

HM Treasury works in close coordination with the Bank of England, the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), monitoring the resilience of the banking sector and the overall stability of consumer credit markets, including motor finance. Regular stress testing by the Bank of England shows the UK banking system remains strong, resilient, and well capitalised. HM Treasury continuously monitors risks across the financial sector and escalates its response where appropriate in coordination with the independent financial authorities.

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 December 2024 to Question 18502 on Consumer Goods: Safety specifically that his Department is supporting businesses to trade freely across the UK, if he will make it his policy that free movement of goods without bureaucratic requirements is applied across the UK.

The Government is committed to implementing the Windsor Framework and protecting the UK internal market.With respect to the updated General Product Safety Regulation, as referenced in Question [18502], I understand that, for some businesses, the regulation has required changes. The Department has issued guidance for businesses selling to Northern Ireland and has continued to engage businesses directly to ensure that they understand the obligations.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has held with his US counterpart on the appointment of a special economic envoy to Northern Ireland.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland engaged extensively with contacts in the US Administration and Congress on Northern Ireland issues, including during his visit to Washington in March 2025. The role of US Special Envoy is currently unfilled.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to announce proposals to strengthen the rules on donations to political parties before the summer recess.

In line with its manifesto commitment, the Government is currently considering a series of policy interventions, such as enhanced checks by recipients of donations and tighter controls on donors, including more restrictions around company donations. This will help enhance the protections of our system against potential risks. The Government plans to set out further details in its Strategy for Elections, which is expected to be published this summer.