Written questions by Campbell.

What steps he plans to take to help encourage private sector investment in Northern Ireland.

The UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy sets out our key policies to drive growth and investment in every region across the UK. In addition to a range of sector initiatives, Northern Ireland will receive £30 million through the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund to drive transformative innovation in the Belfast and Derry/Londonderry corridor. We will also continue to work with the Northern Ireland Executive to establish the Enhanced Investment Zone. The Regional Investment Summit, taking place in October 2025 will showcase our regional economies and drive investment across the entirety of the UK.

Pursuant to the Answer of 21 July 2025 to Question 67821 on Dementia, what steps he is taking to help tackle the increasing rates of dementia diagnosis.

The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan is underlined by three big shifts in healthcare: from hospital to community; from analogue to digital; and from sickness to prevention.As part of this shift from sickness to prevention, we will tackle ill health, prevent premature deaths, and build a fairer country where everyone lives longer, healthier lives.Following the 10-Year Health Plan, we will deliver the first ever Modern Service framework for Frailty and Dementia to deliver rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity. This will be informed by phase one of the independent commission into adult social care, expected in 2026.The Government is investing in dementia research across all areas, including on its causes, diagnosis and prevention. Through partnerships with patients, researchers, funders and charities, we continue to play a significant role in global efforts against the disease.

Whether he plans to undertake a review of the effectiveness of the Connect Fund by the end of the first round of funding.

The Connect Fund will award up to £1 million to strengthen civic East-West collaboration on matters of shared interest, including mutual challenges and opportunities across a range of sectors that directly affect communities in Northern Ireland. The Government will consider the lessons learnt from the first round and apply them to the second round as appropriate.

What estimate his Department has made of the cost of Universal Credit payments in June 2029.

The Department does not publish a specific forecast of expenditure in June 2029, but expenditure for the 2029/30 financial year on Universal Credit is forecast to be £88,919 million. Benefits’ expenditure and caseloads, in outturn and forecast, are published here: Benefit expenditure and caseload tables 2025 - GOV.UK

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 17 July 2025 to Question 67304 on Innovate UK: Northern Ireland, what data his Department holds on the reasons for the reduction in successful bids.

The numbers provided in the response to Question 67304 are the number of successful completed Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) projects in the specified years, and not the number of successful bids. The bids for the successful projects completing in 2022, 2023 and 2024 would have been made 3-4 years prior to completion. The number of applications in a given year may vary for many reasons and over this time period the number of applications may have been reduced by the Covid pandemic.Innovate UK will continue to market the KTP across Northern Ireland to ensure businesses and universities understand the benefits it can bring.

What the cost of Universal Credit payments were in each year between 2022 and 2024.

Expenditure on Universal Credit was:£40.6billion in the 21/22 financial year£41.9billion in the 22/23 financial year£52.1billion in the 23/24 financial year Figures are taken from DWP's Spring Statement 2025 Benefit Expenditure and Caseload publication table 1a

What progress she plans to make on the implementation of the 10 year infrastructure strategy by the end of 2026.

This government is committed to implementing the 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy published in June. By the end of 2026, we will have delivered several of its key reforms, moving to improve project delivery, and provide industry stakeholders with increased confidence to invest in UK infrastructure and jobs. The 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy sets out further details of the Government’s plans, which is available at the following link: CP 1344 – UK Infrastructure: A 10 Year Strategy

With reference to his oral statement of 15 July 2025 on Afghanistan, Official Report, column 149-152, when was he first informed of the data protection breach.

As outlined in the oral statement of 15 July 2025, the Secretary of State for Defence stated that: As shadow Defence Secretary, I was initially briefed on the ARR by James Heappey, the former Armed Forces Minister, on 12 December 2023, and issued with the super-injunction at the start of that meeting.

What discussions she has had with businesses on levels of need for apprentices.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.This government is transforming the apprenticeships offer into a new growth and skills offer, which will deliver greater flexibility to employers and learners and support the Industrial Strategy.The development of the growth and skills offer is informed by Skills England’s analysis and engagement. Skills England is working closely with employers, training providers and other stakeholders to identify priority skills gaps, helping to ensure that the levy-funded growth and skills offer meets the needs of businesses and helps to kick start economic growth.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to his Eritrean counterpart on reported discrimination of Evangelical Christians who are serving members of the Eritrean armed forces.

We consistently raise human rights with the Eritrean government, including religious freedoms. We advocate for the end of discriminatory detentions based on religion or belief, as we have stated at the UN Human Rights Council. We call for all those unjustly incarcerated to be released. The UK's Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea raised human rights during her most recent visit to Eritrea in April 2025 and the UK supports the work of the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Eritrea, voting in favour of his mandate renewal in July 2025.

How many people were diagnosed with dementia in (a) 2020 and (b) 2024.

The data requested is not collected centrally.We can provide a count of patients with a recorded diagnosis of dementia. This is a count of patients with a dementia diagnosis on their general practice record at the specified point in time irrespective of when the diagnosis was made. The data has been published under the Primary Care Dementia Data publication series since April 2022, and under the Recorded Dementia Diagnoses publication series prior to that.The following table shows the dementia diagnosis figures for all ages for December of each year for 2019, 2020, 2023, and 2024:DateRecorded dementia diagnoses for all agesDecember 2024498,221December 2023479,540December 2020438,361December 2019472,890 It is worth highlighting that these represent an estimate of the total number of people living with a diagnosis of dementia, and that changes over 2020 and over 2024 do not reflect only new diagnoses.

How many people who were born in the Irish Republic have applied for a UK passport through the naturalisation process between 2019 and 2024.

The information requested is not centrally held and could only be collected and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Bundesbank's report entitled What’s behind the sustained decline in German export market shares?, published on 14 July 2025.

Germany is the UK’s second-largest trading partner globally. We recognise the importance of resolving trade frictions between the UK and Germany where they occur. Our new UK-Germany Treaty, signed on 17 July, has economic growth and industrial collaboration at its heart. This will help drive trade between the UK and Germany through both a series of ‘Lighthouse projects’ and a broader implementation plan. For example, a new Business-Government Forum will connect the UK and German governments with leading businesses to identify opportunities and barriers to growth, with a focus on growth-driving sectors including advanced manufacturing, life sciences and financial services.

How many electronic travel authorisations were issued to visitors traveling to Northern Ireland from the Irish Republic between January and June 2025.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 17 June to Question UIN 59294.

Whether the outcome of the Prostate Cancer UK-led TRANSFORM screening trial will be shared with Health Departments in each of the devolved institutions.

The TRANSFORM screening trial, funded in partnership with Prostate Cancer UK, is investigating new prostate cancer screening methods. This national randomised control trial will provide data to policymakers for a decision on recommending prostate cancer screening. Results will be shared with the UK National Screening Committee, representing all four nations.

If she will make an assessment of whether the National Wealth Fund is operating on an equitable basis throughout the UK.

The National Wealth Fund (NWF) identifies investment opportunities across the UK and has dedicated directors in each of the four nations to support its view of markets across the country. 80% of the NWF's portfolio is outside of London and the South-East.The NWF's success is assessed across a range of measures, including that it should have a good geographical spread of its activity across the nations and regions of the UK

Innovation and Technology, if he will have discussions with the Semiconductor Advisory Panel on the ongoing work of Northern Ireland based clusters.

The Government recognises the strategic importance of the semiconductor sector across the UK, including the growing cluster in Northern Ireland with strengths in photonics, power, and sensors. The Semiconductor Advisory Panel, co-chaired by Lord Vallance, meets quarterly and plays a key role in shaping our national approach to support the semiconductor industry, including supporting the development of clusters. The Government is committed to supporting the Northern Irish cluster, such as through the SmartNano NI Initiative funded with £42.4 million from UKRI, and the Panel will continue to discuss the Northern Ireland cluster as part of its ongoing work.

What representations she has received from the public on the use of reparations for those convicted of criminal offences.

The Department has interpreted ‘representations’ to mean correspondence sent to the Secretary of State for Justice or her Ministers. One piece of correspondence related to this issue was received by the Department.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 11 July 2025 to Question 65724 on Innovate UK: Northern Ireland, how many projects have been successfully completed under the Knowledge Transfer Partnership scheme in Northern Ireland in each of the past three years.

59 Knowledge Transfer Partnership projects that involved either a Northern Ireland (NI) based business, or a NI based university or FE college successfully completed in the last 3 years. A breakdown of these projects in each year is:2022 – 282023 – 172024 – 14

If he will extend the closing date for applications to the Connect Fund beyond 10 August 2025.

The Connect Fund will support communities in Northern Ireland, funding projects between £300 and £50,000 with a clear East-West lens that deliver on building connections, sharing information, and collaborative community work. Funding is available in two rounds, with the first round running from now until 30 April 2026, and the second round running from 1 May 2026 to 31 March 2027. The Connect Fund is rolling and applications can therefore be submitted throughout these two periods, with the 10th of the month being the deadline for each month. If one were to miss the 10th of the month deadline, an application will be considered the following month. Further information is available on the grant page at:https://www.find-government-grants.service.gov.uk/grants/connect-fund-1#objectives