Written questions by Swann.

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.

Awaiting answer.

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.

Awaiting answer.

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.

Awaiting answer.

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 domestic animals in Northern Ireland.

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 England, Defra’s Code of Practice for the welfare of dogs supports positive reward training techniques for dogs. As set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy for England, we will consult on whether to ban the use of electric shock collars later in this Parliament.

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, to detail the date when the open book exercise was completed for each Northern Ireland Department.

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.

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.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 April 2026 to Question 124367, what the terms of reference were for the 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.

What role the Grocery Code Adjudicator has in Northern Ireland.

The Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) ensures the UK’s largest grocery retailers comply with the Groceries Supply Code of Practice (Groceries Code). The Groceries Code is a competition measure owned by the independent Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).  Competition policy is a UK reserved matter. The GCA operates across the whole of the United Kingdom and regularly engages with Northern Irish suppliers and stakeholders.

What (a) fuel duty and (b) other tax treatment is applicable to hydrotreated vegetable oil used in (i) road fuel and (ii) home heating fuel.

Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) is taxed in line with other fuels according to its use. For fuel duty purposes, HVO is treated as a diesel-equivalent “heavy oil” in the Hydrocarbon Oils Duty Act 1979. When used as a road fuel, it is therefore liable to the standard rate of fuel duty applicable to diesel which is 52.95p per litre. When used for domestic heating, HVO benefits from the rebated duty rate of 10.18p per litre. For VAT, HVO is subject to the standard rate when used as a road fuel. When supplied for domestic heating, it is eligible for the reduced rate of VAT, subject to the same conditions that apply to other heating fuels, including applicable quantity thresholds. The Government currently encourages the use of HVO through the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), which incentivises the use of low carbon fuels and reduces emissions from fuel supplied for use in transport and non-road mobile machinery. The RTFO has been very successful in supporting a market for renewable fuel since its introduction in 2008. Renewable fuels supplied under the RTFO currently contribute a third of the savings required for the UK’s transport carbon budget.

Media and Sport, how much funding has been allocated through the Places of Worship Renewal Fund to places of worship in Northern Ireland.

The Places of Worship Renewal Fund is England only as Heritage is a devolved policy area. The Northern Ireland Government received Barnett consequentials at the Spending Review, taking into account any changes to DCMS’ overall settlement. It is for the Northern Ireland government to consider whether to set up new arrangements should they so wish.We are working closely with other funders in the sector to ensure that opportunities for funding places of worship throughout the UK are maximised. The NLHF already offers grants for places of worship across all the UK and is currently investing £100m over 3 years through National Lottery Heritage Grants and a strategic initiative designed to provide targeted support to build capacity.

When she plans to publish the results of the open book assessment of Northern Ireland devolved departments.

The open-book exercise is intended to support the Northern Ireland Executive, so any decision to publish the report would be a question for the Northern Ireland Executive.

Will he publish the full details of MoU he has agreed with the Irish Government.

The Memorandum of Understanding referenced is an instrument of cooperation between the UK Government and the Government of Ireland. Any decision to publish the document must be taken jointly by both Governments.

What volume of the Republic of Ireland's national strategic oil reserve is held in UK-based storage.

Ireland's National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) is a commercial entity that holds some oil stocks in Northern Ireland. Details of these stockholdings are commercially sensitive. It would be for NORA to provide any further details about them.

If will list the Barnett consequentials received by the Northern Ireland Executive as a result of UK Government policy decisions on (a) energy, (b) fuel poverty, and (c) household energy support by (i) policy decision, (ii) funding stream, (iii) amount, (iv) date received and (iv) conditions in each of the last five years.

The Block Grant Transparency publication breaks down all changes in the Northern Ireland Executives block grant funding from the 2015 Spending Review up to and including Spending Review 2025. The most recent report was published in October 2025:Block Grant Transparency: October 2025 - GOV.UK

Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to bring forward reforms to the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966.

The consultation on reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 opened on 28 January and is due to close on 25 March. The Government is committed to responding within 12 weeks of a consultation closing. Defra are looking at bringing in new legislation, when Parliamentary time allows.

What value of goods have been identified as a threat to the European Union's economy and held at a check point between Great Britain and Northern Ireland since the introduction of the Windsor Framework by year.

HMRC does not hold data on the value of goods identified as a threat to the EU economy. The UK Internal Market Scheme enables businesses to move goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland without being subject to customs duties and unnecessary checks and paperwork. Over 15,000 businesses have been authorised for UKIMS. The Independent Monitoring Panel's recent assessment of the UK Internal Market System showed that 96% of the value of goods moving via freight from Great Britain to Northern Ireland did so under the UK internal market system for the period 1 January 2025 – 30 June 2025.