Written questions by Swann.

What steps he is taking to ensure that deaf and disabled people and Deaf and Disabled People's Organisations from Northern Ireland can engage in the Timms Review, including through the proposed Panel.

Listening to the lived experience and expertise of disabled people will be critical to the Review’s success. Over the summer, I met with representatives from more than 50 organisations across the disability, welfare and co-production spaces, including organisations from all four nations.While PIP is a transferred matter in Northern Ireland, there is a long-standing principle of parity between the social security systems of the Northern Ireland Executive and the UK Government. It is therefore important that the Review hears from disabled people in Northern Ireland and the organisations that represent them.We have launched an open and accessible Expression of Interest to join the Review’s steering group, and we strongly encourage applications from people across the UK, regardless of background or location. The steering group will include a majority of disabled people or representatives of Disabled People’s Organisations.Once in place, the steering group will oversee a programme of engagement and participation that brings together the full range of views and voices.

Whether additional support will be given to NHS dentistry in the context of the decision at the Sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury on ending the use of dental amalgam.

Following the decision made at the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury, we are in the process of planning in detail the necessary steps. This includes establishing what changes may be required for National Health Service dentistry to move towards and implement a phase-out of dental amalgam by 2034.

Whether she has received the feasibility study for the reopening of the Antrim to Lisburn rail line from the Northern Ireland Minister of Infrastructure.

I can confirm that my officials have received a copy of the feasibility study from Translink. The Department will continue to contribute constructively to devolved transport priorities, fully respecting the devolved settlement.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Farming Profitability Review, which stakeholders in Northern Ireland gave evidence to the Review.

Under the Terms of Reference, Baroness Batters’s Farming Profitability Review is an England-only review. Baroness Batters wrote an open letter to stakeholders and received responses from organisations that represent farmers in Northern Ireland. This included Northern Ireland-specific organisations, and organisations covering the whole of the UK. The department is considering her recommendations carefully.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2025 to Question 85623 on Bovine Tuberculosis: Vaccination, for what reason Northern Ireland was not included in the marketing authorisation.

To maintain Northern Ireland’s full access to the EU’s single market, from 1 January 2026, the movement of veterinary medicines into Northern Ireland must comply with relevant EU rules under the Windsor Framework. This includes the current EU-wide prohibition on the use of the bovine tuberculosis vaccine in cattle.

Pursuant to the Answer of 23 October 2025 to Question 81693 on General Practitioners: Insurance, answered on 12th October 2025, how many GPs are covered under the professional indemnity insurance; and what the cost to the public purse of this insurance was in the last 12 months.

The cost to the public purse of the state clinical indemnity schemes, such as the Clinical Negligence Scheme for General Practice and the Existing Liabilities Scheme for General Practice, for 2024/2025 is outlined in NHS Resolution’s corporate accounts, which are available at the following link: https://resolution.nhs.uk/about/corporate-reports-and-publications/ State funded schemes for clinical indemnity cover general practice (GP) activities under National Health Service contracts, such as the General Medical Services contact, the Personal Medical Services contact, and the Alternative Provider Medical Services contact. Costs incurred under the state funded clinical indemnity schemes therefore include GPs, practice nurses, and other staff carrying out activities in connection with GP activities under NHS contracts. We do not hold information on these costs which are disaggregated by GPs.

What assessment she made of the potential merits of reducing Corporation Tax in Northern Ireland.

This is a matter for the NI Executive. The 2014 Stormont House Agreement between the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Executive agreed, in principle, for the power to set the rate of Corporation Tax in Northern Ireland on certain trading profits to be devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly. The Agreement set out that the Executive would need to formally request the power to change the Corporation Tax rate in Northern Ireland. The Executive would also need to demonstrate that its finances were on a sustainable footing, and that the Executive’s block grant would need to be adjusted to reflect the Corporation Tax revenues foregone if the devolved power were exercised.

Pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 83992 on Defence: Northern Ireland, did the officials in the Northern Ireland Executive include (a) the Northern Ireland Economy Minister and (b) officials from the Department of the Economy in Northern Ireland.

Ministry of Defence officials have engaged several stakeholders in Northern Ireland regarding the proposed Defence Growth Deal that was announced in the Defence Industrial Strategy. This has included officials in the Department for Economy and the Executive Office.

Pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 84511 on Business: Northern Ireland, of the £235 million ring-fenced transformation funding (a) how much has been allocated to each Northern Ireland Department and (b) what is the time scale for future allocations before the funding is withdrawn.

A full breakdown of the funds allocated through the Transformation Fund is available via the Department of Finance’s website:Annual Profiling of Transformation ProjectsThe Public Sector Transformation Board is currently considering further transformation bids from departments with the aim of making recommendations to the Northern Ireland Executive on the allocation of remaining funds in the months ahead.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether the cattle vaccine against bovine tuberculosis undergoing Phase 3 trials by the Animal and Plant Health Agency will be available in Northern Ireland.

The field trials and the cattle vaccine will not be available in Northern Ireland. Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency are only seeking marketing authorisation in Great Britain at this stage.

What recent discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the Transformation Fund.

The Northern Ireland Office, and Ministers, regularly engage with the Northern Ireland Executive on the Transformation Fund. In particular, through its membership of the Public Sector Transformation Board whose role is to advise and make recommendations on how to use the £235m ring-fenced transformation funding. Work is on going to identify and allocate remaining funds to further transformative projects in the months ahead.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 80771 on Defence: Industry, whether he has had decisions with (a) the Northern Ireland Economy Minister and (b) Invest Northern Ireland on the Northern Ireland Defence Growth Deal.

Ministry of Defence officials have engaged several stakeholders in Northern Ireland regarding the proposed Defence Growth Deal that was announced in the Defence Industrial Strategy. This has included officials in the Northern Ireland Executive as well as industry and academia. Engagement on the development of the growth deal will continue over the coming months.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department’s policies of the Northern Ireland Minister for the Economy ‘s decision not to engage with the Government’s trade talks with Israel.

Trade policy is a reserved matter and the UK Government is responsible for negotiating international trade agreements on behalf of all the nations and regions in the UK. This Government suspended trade negotiations with Israel on 20 May, owing to the actions of the Israeli Government in Gaza and the West Bank.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help her counterpart in Northern Ireland tackle Asian hornets.

Defra and staff from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) have worked closely with officials from Northern Ireland to help them prepare and publish a contingency plan for action against Asian hornets. A sighting of Asian hornet was reported on 10th October close to Dundonald in Northern Ireland. Inspectors from the APHA National Bee Unit and the APHA Non-Native Species Inspectorate have drawn on their extensive experience and provided support to officials in Northern Ireland about deployment of the contingency plan to find and destroy a nest.

Whether he has had discussions with the Minister for the Economy in Northern Ireland on the inclusion of businesses in Northern Ireland in UK Government trade talks with Israel.

The UK Government is responsible for negotiating international trade agreements on behalf of all the nations and regions in the UK. DBT understands that the devolved governments have a significant interest in international trade policy and works closely with them to deliver policy that reflects the interests of all parts of the UK. The UK Government, however, suspended trade negotiations with Israel on 20th May, owing to the actions of this Israeli Government in Gaza and the West Bank. It will take a sustained shift in the positions of this Israeli government for the UK to consider restarting the FTA negotiations.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement on food (a) production, (b) supply and (c) security.

The EU-Mercosur trade agreement has not been signed yet and is a matter for the EU. We do not expect that it will impact UK food production, supply or security.

Communities and Local Government, when he will announce the future funding allocation to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

As announced at the Spending Review, from 2026-27 the UK Government will provide targeted, long-term local growth funding to support growth across the UK, once the UK Shared Prosperity Fund ends in March 2026. In Northern Ireland, we are working closely with the Northern Ireland Office to implement and develop the new Local Growth Fund, in collaboration with the Northern Ireland Executive. The Government is committed to engagement with key stakeholders in Northern Ireland to help implement a package of funding that meets local needs and delivers impact. More information on the development of the Local Growth Fund in Northern Ireland and engagement plans will be set out soon.

If he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of adding (a) 1,000, (b) 1,500 and (c) 2,000 additional GPs to the professional indemnity insurance cover provided by Government.

The state indemnity scheme, Clinical Negligence Scheme for General Practice, which is administered by NHS Resolution, already covers all clinical negligence liabilities arising in general practice under National Health Service contracts. More information on the scheme is available at the following link:https://resolution.nhs.uk/services/claims-management/clinical-schemes/general-practice-indemnity/clinical-negligence-scheme-for-general-practice/We do not hold an estimate of the potential impact of these additional general practitioners on claims volume and provision.

How many prisons use companion dogs.

We understand this question to refer to “pets as therapy” (PAT) dogs. This information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.Application for the use of PAT dogs is open to all prisons, with admittance requiring the authority of the Governor.

With reference to the his Department's press release entitled UK and Irish Governments announce legacy framework to enable truth for families of the Troubles, published on 19 September 2025, whether the proposed (a) right to stay at home, (b) protection from repeated investigations and (c) protection in old age will apply to people who are not veterans that served in the HM Armed Forces.

On 14 October, the Government introduced the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill as part of our commitment to repeal and replace the previous government’s Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy & Reconciliation) Act 2023. The legislation includes strong safeguards for veterans that were not included in the 2023 Act, and that respond directly to the concerns expressed during engagements that the Government has undertaken. The Government is also taking forward some measures on a non-legislative basis. All of the measures that the Government has announced are being introduced in order to protect and ensure fair treatment of any veteran who is asked to engage with legacy mechanisms. Some measures will apply only to veterans, including the protection from cold calling and the new safeguard that ensures veterans from giving unnecessary evidence on historical context and general operational details. Other measures, including the right to give evidence remotely and having regard to the welfare of witnesses, will necessarily apply to others. This will ensure, for example, that former police officers are able to avail of these measures. The Commission’s duty to avoid duplication unless it is considered essential will apply to all of its investigations. This will ensure that the Commission’s investigations are effective, efficient, and focused on getting answers for families, whilst also protecting veterans from having to unnecessarily provide information previously covered.