Every parliamentary written question tabled by Robin Swann this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 101–120 of 214 · this parliament
Pursuant the Answer of 30 June 2025 to Question 62482, when he received the review of post-Brexit trading arrangements.
Lord Murphy provided the final report of the Independent Review on 9 July 2025, in line with the Terms of Reference for the Review.
How much funding his Department allocated for cadet services in (a) each of the last three financial years, (b) the 2025-26 financial year and (c) the 2026-27 financial year.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 30 May 2025 to Question 55117 to the hon. Member for Fylde (Mr Andrew Snowden).
What assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of border control posts in Scotland on levels of trade between Scotland and Northern Ireland.
I know the Honourable Member will share my firm desire not to see borders erected between the different nations of our United Kingdom. We have been clear that there will be no border control posts at Cairnryan. The UK Government is unequivocal in its commitment to ensuring unfettered access for Northern Ireland’s goods to the rest of the UK internal market and in coming weeks, as I advised the House at a previous Scottish oral questions, I will be meeting with NIO counterparts in coming weeks to discuss what more we can do to promote Scotland-NI trade.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his oral statement of 24 June 2025, Official Report, column 989, on China Audit, which (a) Northern Ireland Executive departments, (b) arms' length bodies in Northern Ireland and (c) Universities in Northern Ireland made a submission to that audit.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office China Audit team proactively engaged a wide range of stakeholders to ensure that the full range of interests arising from the UK's relationship with China was represented; this included Parliament, business, the academic sector, civil society and the devolved governments.
When the border control facility at Parc Cybi will be (a) completed and (b) opened.
Decisions regarding the Border Control Post at Parc Cybi are a matter for the Welsh Government.
When he plans to publish the report from the independent review of the post-Brexit trading arrangements, conducted by Lord Paul Murphy.
It remains for Lord Murphy to provide the final report of the Independent Review of the Windsor Framework. The Government will then proceed with arranging the publication of that report, laying it in Parliament and transmitting it to the Northern Ireland Assembly, in line with the Terms of Reference for the Review.
For what reason he rejected the Electoral Commission of Northern Ireland's request to separate the next scheduled local government and Assembly elections.
The date for local government elections is set in statute as the first Thursday in May every 4 years, and for the Assembly elections as the first Thursday in May every 5 years. The people of Northern Ireland expect to go to the polls on 6 May 2027 and the Government has no intention of changing that.
Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the lack of Legislative Consent Motion from the Northern Ireland Assembly on the progress of the Data (Use and Access) Bill.
We have engaged with the Northern Ireland Assembly throughout the Bill's progression.The Northern Ireland Assembly is currently considering a Legislative Consent Memorandum laid by the Northern Ireland Executive.
With reference to the Answer of 11 October 2024 to Question 8083 on Roads: Safety, what her planned timetable is for laying the secondary legislation required to commence section 19 of the Road Safety Act 2006.
Officials continue to work on the complex draft regulations that would be required to commence Section 19 of the Road Safety Act 2006. When this work is completed the Government will give consideration to enabling Section 19 to come to fruition in respect of mandated driving instruction standards for emergency services.
If she will set out the (a) number, (b) value and (c) average delay of tax refunds on hold due to security reasons for which the latest data is available.
HMRC received 2,871,186 Self-Assessment repayment requests between 6 April 2024 and 5 April 2025. Of these, 199,266 (7%) were held for review, with a value of £2.2bn. The average duration of delay for Self-Assessment customers whose repayments were withheld and subsequently released was approximately 25 days.HMRC received 2,859,032 VAT repayment requests between 6 April 2024 and 5 April 2025. Of these, 188,696 (6.6%) were held for a review, with a value of £65.5bn. The average duration of delay for VAT customers whose repayments were withheld and subsequently released was approximately 25 days.
Pursuant to the Answer of 22 May 2025 to Question 52795 on Domestic Visits: Northern Ireland, on how many occasions did the Secretary of State notify Rt hon. and hon. Members in advance that he would visit their constituency.
The Honourable Gentleman will be aware it is a requirement to notify Members of Parliament before a visit to their constituency. For the recent occasion when he was not notified, I have apologised to him.
Pursuant to the Answer of 20 May 2025 to Question 52794 on Lisburn-Antrim Railway Line, what funding is available for the reopening of rail lines across the United Kingdom.
While transport is largely devolved to Northern Ireland, the UK Government was uniquely able to offer funding for specific rail feasibility studies through Union Connectivity Development Fund. This fund was set up to address recommendations and next steps raised by the Union Connectivity Review.The Government is currently working to finalise what will be a challenging Spending Review - while this work is continuing, I cannot comment further on funding availability.
What progress she has made on the Union Connectivity Fund feasibility study for the reopening of the Antrim to Lisburn rail line.
The Department provided funding to Translink through the Union Connectivity Fund to deliver a feasibility study for the reopening of the Antrim to Lisburn rail line. The Department understands from Translink that they plan to publish their findings over the Summer and that they will engage with stakeholders to present the results.
Pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2025 to Question 51251 on Domestic Visits: Northern Ireland, on how many of those visits the hon. Member for that constituency received prior notification.
The Honourable Gentleman will be aware it is a requirement to notify Members of Parliament before a visit to their constituency. For the recent occasion when he was not notified, I have apologised to him.
How many visits he has made to each constituency in Northern Ireland since his appointment.
I have carried out over 80 visits to 16 constituencies across Northern Ireland since my appointment. I welcome suggestions for future visits from Parliamentary colleagues.
Pursuant to the Answer of 13 November 2024 to Question 13304, and the Answer of 18 November 2024 to Question 14268, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that there is not a reoccurrence.
Members of Parliament should be notified in advance of Ministerial visits to their constituency. I have apologised to the Honourable Member for the recent failure to notify him. The Northern Ireland Office is currently reorganising this notification process to ensure there is no reoccurrence.
What the Barnett consequential for Northern Ireland from the recent trade deal with India will be.
The UK-India Free Trade Agreement will make it easier for British businesses to trade with the fastest growing economy in the G20. The government estimates that it will increase bilateral trade by £25.5 billion, add £4.8billion a year to our economy and boost wages by £2.2 billion every year in the long run. The Barnett formula is applied when UK Government departmental budgets change. Any future changes to UK Government department funding as a result of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement will have the Barnett formula applied in the normal way.
How much of the funding for VALOUR centres will be allocated to Northern Ireland.
VALOUR is a new commitment to establish the first-ever UK-wide approach to veteran support. A new VALOUR HQ within the Ministry of Defence, a network of field officers, regional VALOUR-recognised support centres, and development funding to support local delivery will be established, overseen by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs. VALOUR will foster the enterprising spirit of veteran charities, better connect local and national services and ensure veterans’ support is data driven. The details regarding the funding for VALOUR centres is currently being developed by officials. This includes the process by which centres can apply for funding, and the way in which funding is distributed across the UK. Further information, including on funding for centres, will be released in due course.
Who the delivery body will be for VALOUR centres in Northern Ireland.
VALOUR is a new commitment to establish the first-ever UK-wide approach to veteran support. A new VALOUR HQ within the Ministry of Defence, a network of field officers, regional VALOUR-recognised support centres, and development funding to support local delivery will be established, overseen by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs. VALOUR will foster the enterprising spirit of veteran charities, better connect local and national services and ensure veterans’ support is data driven. The details regarding the funding for VALOUR centres is currently being developed by officials. This includes the process by which centres can apply for funding, and the way in which funding is distributed across the UK. Further information, including on funding for centres, will be released in due course.
Whether he plans to continue the Getting it Right First Time programme.
Yes. We are committed to driving NHS reform and supporting programmes that aim to deliver better and quicker care for patients.An excellent example is the Getting It Right First Time programme which supports trusts to streamline pathways and deliver timely elective care and operations.This includes supporting systems to ring-fence elective capacity, optimise surgical pathways, and increase surgical hub numbers over the next three years.