Every parliamentary written question tabled by Robin Swann this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 21–36 of 36 · Northern Ireland Office
Whether the Northern Ireland Public Sector Transformation Board has (a) permanent o (b) interim status.
The Board structure used to provide recommendations for the first tranche of projects held interim status. The Northern Ireland Minister of Finance has proposed expanding the membership of the Public Sector Transformation Board and moving toward a permanent Board ahead of the allocation of remaining funding.
Pursuant to the Answer of the 14 March 2025 to Question 37022 on Business: Northern Ireland, whether his Permanent Secretary briefed him prior to the announcement.
I refer the Honourable Gentleman to my previous answer (UIN 37022).
Pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2025 to Question 34541 on Business: Northern Ireland, when the remainder of the Transformation Fund will be allocated.
The Public Sector Transformation Board will run a further process to assess proposals from Northern Ireland departments and will make recommendations on those that are judged to have potential for transformation. Following a decision by the Executive, the remainder of the Government’s funding for transformation can be allocated.
Pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2025 to Question 34541 on Business: Northern Ireland, whether the Northern Ireland Office Permanent Secretary briefed him on Board meetings prior to the announcement of Transformation Funding.
Officials advised the Secretary of State on the recommendations made by the interim Board to the Northern Ireland Executive on transformation projects. These projects and their respective funding allocations were announced by the Northern Ireland Minister of Finance on 4 March.
When he expects the issues surrounding the sale and movement of plants to be resolved.
The Government is absolutely committed to ensuring the smooth flow of goods across the UK internal market. Growers and traders in Great Britain can move plants to Northern Ireland using the Northern Ireland Plant Health Label (NIPHL). We continue to work closely with the horticultural sector, including through the Horticulture Working Group which meets regularly, to maximise opportunities for trade in plants and plant products within the United Kingdom. The group will continue to identify and resolve issues related to the movement of plants and seeds between Great Britain and Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework on an ongoing basis.
Which (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department are members of the Transformation Fund advisory board; and how many and what proportion of meetings they have attended.
No UK Government Ministers are members of the Interim Public Sector Transformation Board. The Northern Ireland Office Permanent Secretary is a permanent member of the Interim Board, and has attended all official meetings of the Interim Board.
Whether he has received representations on the feasibility of proposals for the Dáil to sit in Northern Ireland; and whether he has made an assessment of the compatibility of those proposals with the Belfast Agreement.
I have received no such representations.
What discussions he has had with the First and deputy First Minister on the continuing vacancy in the office of the Commissioner of Public Appointments for Northern Ireland.
The appointment of a new Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland is a matter for the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the Safeguarding the Union command paper, published on 31 January 2024.
The Government is committed to implementing the Windsor Framework and to taking all steps necessary to protect Northern Ireland’s place in the UK internal market. Commitments made in the Safeguarding the Union command paper support this objective, and the Government continues to make progress in delivering them.
Whether the Independent Review of the Windsor Framework will consider the (a) operation and (b) output of the Northern Ireland Assembly Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee.
It will be a matter for Lord Murphy to consider the programme of work of the Review. In line with the Terms of Reference, the Review will be obliged to consult with a range of stakeholders, including Northern Ireland political parties, and can engage with the Assembly and its committee functions as it considers appropriate.
Pursuant to the Answer of 13 November 2024 to Question 13304 on Northern Ireland Office: Domestic Visits, what steps he is taking to ensure the process is followed.
Members of Parliament are notified in advance of Ministerial visits to their constituency. On a recent occasion, a typographical error in an email meant that the Honourable Member’s constituency office was not notified correctly. The Northern Ireland Office has since contacted the Honourable Member’s constituency office to convey apologies for this.
What his policy is on notifying an hon. Member before visiting their constituency.
The policy is to notify Members of Parliament in advance of visiting their constituency.
What steps the Government are taking to ensure the continued supply of medicines to Northern Ireland, in the context of the implementation of the Windsor Framework.
The Windsor Framework secures the long-term stability of medicines supply to Northern Ireland, ensuring that medicines will be available in the same packaging and with a single licence across the UK, reflecting the long standing preference of industry. The Government continues to work closely with industry to support readiness for the implementation of these arrangements from 1 January 2025 and ensure there is no disruption. Transitional measures are also available to support companies, such as the temporary use of stickers and the arrangement that all medicines that are on the market before 1 January 2025 can continue to be supplied in existing packaging.
What the (a) contact details, (b) office address, (c) staffing complement and (d) operating budget of Intertrade UK is; and whether minutes of that body's meetings are published.
This Government is committed to implementing the Windsor Framework and taking all steps necessary to protect the UK internal market. To that end, I confirmed the appointment of Baroness Foster as Chair of Intertrade UK on 19 September. The body is in the process of being established and more details of how it will operate to facilitate and boost trade across the UK will be announced in due course.
What the (a) contact details, (b) office address, (c) staffing complement and (d) operating budget of the Windsor Framework Independent Monitoring Panel is; and whether minutes of that Panel's meetings are published.
This Government is committed to implementing the Windsor Framework and taking all steps necessary to protect the UK internal market. In support of that, I confirmed the appointment of Anna Jerzewska, Aidan Reilly and Alastair Hamilton as the Windsor Framework Independent Monitoring Panel on 19 September. The Panel will report to Government on the basis set out in the Safeguarding the Union command paper. The arrangements for the Panel are in the process of being put in place and, consistent with their status, Panellists will not be employees of the UK Government. They will be supported by a secretariat function.
Who is responsible for discharging the (a) responsibilities and (b) functions of the Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner while that post is vacant.
The Government is committed to continuing to support veterans in Northern Ireland, including through the Veterans Welfare Service Northern Ireland and the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust. The Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner’s Office will continue to support veterans across Northern Ireland by acting as a crucial link between veterans and the various support services available to them, including while a new Veterans Commissioner is appointed. We will set out steps for the appointment of a new Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner in due course.