Written questions by Campbell.

Pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2025 to Question 56158 on Prisons: Research, when she expects the research findings process for that Ipsos MORI research project to conclude.

Ministry of Justice officials received research findings from Ipsos MORI in November last year (2024) and are currently considering the implications of the work.Research findings are published in accordance with Government Social Research guidelines, following a peer review process to ensure the quality and robustness of the work. Until that has taken place findings cannot be published.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Syrian authorities following the suicide bombing that resulted in twenty three deaths and scores injured at a Church in Damascus on 23 June 2025.

The UK strongly condemns the horrific terrorist attack at Mar Elias Church in Damascus, and remains committed to combatting terrorism in all forms. I sent a personal message to Syrian Foreign Minister Al-Shaibani, expressing my condolences and the UK's continued support to the people of Syria. The UK Special Representative for Syria visited Damascus last week and discussed the assessment of the situation with the Syrian authorities, including the Foreign Minister and also gave her condolences. We will continue to advocate for the right to Freedom of Religion or Belief for all Syrians.

Pursuant to the Answer of 26 June 2025 to Question 61117 on Business: Northern Ireland, what his planned timetable is for allocating the remaining funding to businesses in Northern Ireland.

The £70 million Investment Fund for Northern Ireland launched in November 2023. The Fund has an investment period of five years, so the approximately £52 million remaining should be fully invested by November 2028.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information the National Cyber Security Centre holds on the number of cyber attacks that were carried out against UK-based businesses between 2022 and 2024.

The cyber threat picture in the UK is diverse. Cyber security incidents can be reported into several different agencies within the UK depending on the type and severity of the incident. The UK's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) provides practical, expert guidance tailored to help businesses of all sizes build resilience against evolving cyber threats. NCSC also addresses a wide range of national cyber threats, from protecting citizens against online harm to responding to major cyber incidents. I recently met with NCSC colleagues to discuss the trends in threats and attacks and how we ensure high levels of resilience.Since September 2024, NCSC have managed more than 200 incidents, with a significant proportion impacting businesses across the UK. This includes twice as many nationally significant incidents as the same period a year ago. As published in the NCSC Annual Review (https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/files/NCSC_Annual_Review_2024.pdf) the breakdown of incidents managed by the NCSC Incident Management team is as follows:DateNumber of IncidentsSept 21 - Aug 22355Sept 22 - Aug 23371Sept 23 - Aug 24430 Other credible reports on cyber incidents include the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology's Cyber Security Breaches survey from each of the last three years: 2022 (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/cyber-security-breaches-survey-2022/cyber-security-breaches-survey-2022), 2023 (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/cyber-security-breaches-survey-2023/cyber-security-breaches-survey-2023) and 2024 (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/cyber-security-breaches-survey-2024/cyber-security-breaches-survey-2024). The Information Commissioner's Office also has an Incident Trend Report (https://ico.org.uk/action-weve-taken/complaints-and-concerns-data-sets/data-security-incident-trends/) on cyber incidents reported to them.

What estimate her Department has made of the number of collective defined contribution schemes in operation as of 31 December 2024.

As of the 31 December there was one collective defined contribution scheme in operation in the UK, the Royal Mail Collective Pension Plan.

Pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2025 to Question 60821 on Immigration Controls: Northern Ireland, whether Operation Gull is currently operating in Northern Ireland.

Yes, Operation Gull is an intelligence led operation and is deployed on that basis.

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.

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.

What information her Department holds on the annual rent paid by public authorities in Northern Ireland to the Crown Estate in each year between (a) 2014 and (b) 2024.

The table shows Crown Estate rent income received from public authorities in Northern Ireland. This uses a broad definition of public authority which captures any organisations considered by The Crown Estate to be responsible for public money.2014217,736.842015262,345.542016262,430.362017261,275.192018272,004.522019265,668.972020458,805.482021319,659.652022326,046.472023352,876.812024382,650.18Grand total 3,381,500.01

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.