Written questions by Swann.

How many hon. Members received direct payment from his Department in each of the last 10 years by year and service provided.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of changing from open flame standards to smoulder only test on the number of (a) deaths caused by fire and (b) home fires per year.

The ‘Product regulation: fire safety of domestic upholstered furniture’ consultation sets out proposals to reform the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 (FFRs), which set flammability requirements for domestic upholstered furniture...

What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Open Book exercise on the Northern Ireland Executive budget.

The Open Book review of the Northern Ireland Executive’s budget identified up to £3.3 billion in potential annual savings and additional spending power. It is now vital the Executive consider these findings and take the necessary decisions to place its fi...

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to WPQ7894, answered 11 June 2026, when was the last reported case of Cochliomyia hominivorax, in the UK.

There have been no detected cases of domestically acquired infestation with Cochliomyia hominivorax in the UK to date.

What role he has in (i) the Chief Constable of the PSNI requesting and (ii) other UK Police forces supplying, mutual aid to the PSNI.

The provision of Mutual Aid between constabularies in the UK is routine and is coordinated by the National Police Coordination Centre (NPoCC) which is a body of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC). There is no role for the Secretary of State.

What role his Department has in the (a) approval, (b) payment of and (c) cost recovery when mutual aid is supplied to the PSNI from other UK Police Forces.

The provision of Mutual Aid between constabularies in the UK is coordinated by the National Police Coordination Centre (NPoCC) which is a body of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC). There is no role for the Secretary of State. The host force is st...

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of transitioning HM Coastguard to a revised volunteer-only model on recruitment and retention.

Changing the Coastguard Rescue Service operating model was not something which we wanted to do but is a mandated consequence of the Court of Appeal ruling. His Majesty’s Coastguard has 3000+ Coastguard Rescue Officers, all with unique personal circumstanc...

What the financial allocation supplied directly to the i) Northern Ireland Department of Justice and ii) Police Service of Northern Ireland from the Transformation Fund was.

The UK Government is investing £235m to transform public services in Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Department of Justice has been allocated a total of £22.64m of this funding, following recommendations from the Public Sector Transformation Board,...

Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has been made of the levels of screw worm infection in the UK cattle herd.

New World Screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax, a parasitic blowfly, is classified as a notifiable pathogen under the Specified Animal Pathogens Order (SAPO) in the United Kingdom. The fly is not established in the UK and there have been no recorded cases o...

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Environment, Agricultural and Rural Affairs Minister on steps to prevent screw worm infection of cattle herd.

No discussions have taken place at Ministerial level, however Defra and DAERA officials work closely together on a range of biosecurity issues as necessary.

What steps he is taking to help support the use of carbon capture technology in Northern Ireland.

DESNZ has provided innovation funding to support the development and demonstration of carbon capture technologies in Northern Ireland, such as CATAGEN’s biohydrogen reactor in Belfast. We welcome engagement from future CCUS projects, including through non...

Whether she has had discussions with her US counterpart on proposals for new international (a) monetary and (b) currency realignment arrangements, including proposals described as Bretton Woods realignment.

We have no such record.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of a significant managed depreciation of the US dollar as part of international currency realignment on UK inflation, gilt markets and sterling.

The government does not comment on market movements. The reserves are managed to ensure the policy objectives set out in the Exchange Equalisation Account Act 1979 can be met at all times.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of a material fall in the value of the US dollar on UK official foreign exchange reserves.

The government does not comment on market movements. The reserves are managed to ensure the policy objectives set out in the Exchange Equalisation Account Act 1979 can be met at all times.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has (a) taken recent steps towards and (b) had discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive on a legislative ban on the sale of aversive training tools for do

Animal welfare is a devolved matter; responsibility for animal welfare policy in Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive. Defra has regular discussions on animal welfare matters with the Northern Ireland Executive. In Engl...

Who the Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service is responsible to in terms of performance.

Responsibility for the Northern Ireland Civil Service is a transferred matter and civil service reporting lines are, consequently, a matter for the First Minister and deputy First Minister.

What the legal status is of the remedial order brought against the Northern Ireland Legacy Bill.

The Remedial Order was laid on 14 October 2025 as part of the Government’s commitment to repeal and replace the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023. The Remedial Order does not yet have legal effect, whilst it awaits the consideration of the House of Lords. The Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) concluded in their report that there are compelling reasons for proceeding by way of Remedial Order for the purposes of Section 10(2) of the Human Rights Act 1998. The Remedial Order passed with a large majority in the House of Commons and I am committed to seeing it debated and passed in the House of Lords, at which point it will become law.

Pursuant to WPQ 126941, answered on the 20th April 2026 at 14:14; to detail any direct intervention on behalf of consumers they have had with suppliers or stakeholders from Northern Ireland.

In enforcing compliance with the Groceries Supply Code of Practice (“the Code”), the GCA aims to ensure that large supermarkets do not impose excessive risks and unexpected costs on their direct suppliers which would adversely affect competition and, ultimately, consumers. It is not the role of the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) to intervene directly on consumer matters. The GCA publishes an Annual Report and Accounts which sets out its priorities and performance.

Pursuant to WPQ 124367, answered 13th April at 11:04, who commissioned the initial open book exercise.

The open-book review was a condition of the £400m reserve claim the Northern Ireland Executive received at Supplementary Estimates 2025-26. The review’s Terms of Reference were agreed between HM Treasury and the Northern Ireland Executive. The exercise has now concluded, and HM Treasury has shared the report with the Northern Ireland Department of Finance.

Food and Rural Affairs, what conditions are necessary to import juvenile trout from fish farms in Northern Ireland for stocking purposes in rivers, lakes or fish farms in i) England or ii) Scotland.

Movements into GB from Northern Ireland of live fish (including eggs and gametes) that are susceptible to or vectors for listed aquatic animal diseases must be accompanied by an animal health certificate issued by thecompetent authority in the place of origin. The certificate must confirm that the animals or goods meet the animal health requirements for entry into Great Britain. Certificate GBHC674 sets out the requirements for placing on the market aquaculture animals from Northern Ireland and the Crown Dependences into GB for farming, ornamental use, relaying or depuration, put and take fisheries and other purposes, this includes juvenile trout from fish farms in Northern Ireland moving to fisheries in GB for stocking purposes. Notification to the relevant Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) (Cefas FHI in England and Wales; Marine Scotland FHI in Scotland) is required at least 24 hours before importing live fish. As required by The Aquatic Animal Health (England and Wales) Regulations 2009 and The Aquatic Animal Health (Scotland) Regulations 2009 the destination premises must also be authorised by the relevant FHI. Further guidance on movements of fish into Great Britain from Northern Ireland has been published on GOV.UK.