Written questions by Swann.

How much funding his Department has provided to (a) the Invictus Games and (b) UK participants in the Invictus Games (i) in each of the last three games and (ii) how much funding she plans to provide to UK participants at the next games.

It is taking time to collate the required information to answer the hon. Member's Question. I will write to him when the information is available, and a copy of this letter will be placed in the library of The House.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of amending the closed season for periwinkle gathering in inter-tidal areas in England.

No national assessment has been made of the merits of amending closed seasons for periwinkle gathering. The management of inshore fisheries in England, including the gathering of periwinkles in inter‑tidal areas, is the responsibility of the ten Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCAs). IFCAs are committees of local Government. IFCAs have powers to introduce local byelaws, including seasonal restrictions, to ensure the sustainable management of species within their districts.

Whether she has considered introducing Graduated Driver Licenses for new drivers, in the context of levels of car insurance.

Driver licensing is devolved in Northern Ireland and is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive and the Northern Ireland Assembly.Whilst we are not considering Graduated Driver Licensing in Great Britain with further restrictions on newly qualified drivers, such as carrying passengers or driving at night, we are consulting on a Minimum Learning Period before learner drivers can take their practical driving test. This would allow learners more time to gain essential experience, for example in different weather conditions, before driving independently and reduce the risk to themselves and other drivers.If the number of collisions involving young drivers and novice drivers fall overall, then this could lead to a reduction in insurance premiums for younger drivers.It is also important to note that motor insurers are responsible for setting the terms and conditions of the policies that they offer and it is for them to decide the level of risk that they take in issuing any policy to a given applicant. Motor insurers use a wide range of criteria to assess the potential risk a driver poses and this includes the age of the applicant, the type of vehicle being insured, the postal area where the applicant lives and the driving experience of the applicant. The setting of premiums is a commercial decision for individual insurers based on their underwriting experience and the Government does not intervene or seek to control the market.

How many Northern Ireland resident veterans have accessed the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital in Gobowen in each of the last three years.

The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District Hospital NHS Trust has confirmed it has no record of veterans who are resident in Northern Ireland being referred to their orthopaedic hospital in the last three years.

If he will provide a breakdown of the recipients of the War Widow(er)s Recognition Payment Scheme by (a) nation of the UK and (b) the branch of the Armed Forces in which their late spouse or partner served; and if he will provide a list of the regiments or corps of the recipients.

I refer the hon. Member to my previous answer recently provided to Questions 105112 and 105113. The Scheme received 381 applications, of which 249 were approved. Since its launch, the Scheme has successfully fulfilled its intended purpose, having awarded more than £21 million and providing meaningful recognition to those who were eligible. Following an internal review and a decline in application numbers, the Scheme closed on the 15 October 2025, as originally outlined at its inception.

With reference to the closure of the War Widow(er)s Recognition Payment Scheme on 15 October 2025, what the final number of (a) applications received and (b) successful payments made was; and what his Department’s assessment is of the final uptake rate against the initial projected eligible cohort.

I refer the hon. Member to my previous answer recently provided to Questions 105112 and 105113. The Scheme received 381 applications, of which 249 were approved. Since its launch, the Scheme has successfully fulfilled its intended purpose, having awarded more than £21 million and providing meaningful recognition to those who were eligible. Following an internal review and a decline in application numbers, the Scheme closed on the 15 October 2025, as originally outlined at its inception.

How many people are in receipt of the war widowers recognition payment by (a) constituency and (b) regiment.

Following its launch on 16 October 2023, 249 applications were approved with more than £21 million awarded under the War Widow(er)s Recognition Payment Scheme. Over 70 per cent of applications were submitted in the first three months, while only 14 claims were submitted in 2025. Given the continued reduction in application numbers, the Government proceeded with the planned closure of the Scheme on 15 October 2025 as outlined at its inception. Information relating to the constituency of the widow(er) and the regiment of the individual whose widow(er) has received payments under the War Widow(er)s Recognition Payment Scheme is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

What proportion of war widowers eligible for the war widowers recognition payment received the payment in each of the last five years.

While the exact number of individuals eligible for the War Widow(er)s Recognition Payment Scheme is not known, the number of payments made under the Scheme between its launch on 16 October 2023 and closure on 15 October 2025 is shown below. 202302024237202512 Given the continued reduction in application numbers, the Government proceeded with the planned closure of the Scheme, as outlined at its inception.

Pursuant to the answer of 8th January 2026 to Question 103096, who is responsible for requesting the national security vetting for the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman.

Responsibility for recruitment (including requesting national security vetting) for the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland lies with The Executive Office.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 7th January to Question 102317, on Shared Island Media Fund, if he will set out in detail the shared priorities between the UK and Ireland which are advanced by this initiative.

The Shared Island Media Fund will support efforts to improve media literacy (including working with Northern Irish organisations) and build capacity for high-quality, sustainable journalism, working to bolster media resilience in the digital age. Such priorities reflect challenges faced by both countries.

What mechanisms are in place for the Drug Tariff Committee and suppliers to provide input into revisions of the the Wave 1 Part IX categorisation published by the NHS Business Services Authority.

The final draft, version 1.2, of the Part IX Drug Tariff (Med Tech in the community) Wave 1 categorisation was developed in collaboration with an Expert Reference Group and updated in line with stakeholder feedback over four iterations. The final version was published in October 2025 and can be found on the NHS Business Services Authority Website at the following link:https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/manufacturers-and-suppliers/drug-tariff-part-ix-informationThe Department is currently recruiting Independent Assessment Panels (IAPs) for Wave 1 and has agreed to ask them to review late feedback received from a company on the eye drops category. This is due to take place in February 2026 and will not require further input from industry as it has already been circulated for comment by them.The Department recognises that the categorisation is not stagnant and may need further amendments as medical devices continue to evolve and the IAPs are stood up. Companies can suggest further amendments when they apply to Part IX of the Drug Tariff or through the Drug Tariff Committee.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 January 2026 to Question 99008, who is responsible for conducting the national security vetting for the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman.

United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) acts as service providers for National Security Vetting (NSV) across His Majesty’s Government (HMG) for specific roles affording access to Protectively Marked Materials (PMM) sites and assets. The ultimate decision on whether to grant any level of NSV will be taken either by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV), the department or police force that requires the individual to hold clearance, or by the sponsoring authority that carries out this task on behalf of departments. In line with the practice followed by successive administrations, the Government does not otherwise comment on security matters.

What discussions he has had with the Irish Government on the €14million Shared Island Media initiative.

I regularly engage with the Irish Government on a number of issues of interest to both Governments, but to date, no discussions have taken place on the Irish Government’s Shared Island Media Fund.

Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the Irish Government on the €14million Shared Island Media initiative.

The Shared Island Media Initiative is led and funded by the Government of Ireland. While from a UK perspective, only Northern Ireland will be able to benefit from the initiative, DCMS officials have had some initial conversations with Ireland’s Department of Culture, Communications and Media to learn about it. I have not been directly involved in these discussions, but my officials remain interested in how this initiative advances the UK's and Ireland's shared priorities.

Media and Sport, if she will review the limit on the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme.

The Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, previously funded until March 2025, has been extended for one year with a £23 million budget. To ensure the budget remains affordable for this year, claims are now capped at £25,000 per place of worship. These changes were necessary given the inherited fiscal challenges and pressures on other parts of the heritage and cultural sectors. Departmental analysis indicates that 94% of applications will be unaffected by this change, with most claims typically being under £5,000. In order to ensure the scheme is available to as many listed places of worship as possible, within this context, we do not feel it is appropriate to reassess the cap for this financial year.

Communities and Local Government, whether the Local Growth Fund 2024/25 has been allocated to the Northern Ireland Executive.

The UK Government will invest £45.5 million per annum of the Spending Review period to provide targeted, long-term funding to support local growth across Northern Ireland. The Local Growth Fund will begin delivery next April, and will be designed and delivered in partnership with the Northern Ireland Executive, the Northern Ireland Office and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. More information on the Local Growth fund in Northern Ireland including the delivery model will be set out soon.

For her assessment on the effectiveness of Stalking Prevention Orders.

Tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG), is a top priority for this Government and the VAWG Strategy published on 18 December sets out clear action to tackle stalking as a part of this.Stalking Protection Orders (SPOs) are an essential tool, designed to protect victims of stalking at the earliest possible opportunity and address the perpetrator’s behaviours before they become entrenched or escalate in severity.We know that the use of SPOs could be improved to better support victims and disrupt perpetrators. Therefore, the Government’s manifesto committed to strengthen the use of SPOs.We are delivering on this commitment by introducing a power for the courts to issue Stalking Protection Orders (SPOs) on conviction or acquittal of their own volition through the Crime and Policing Bill. We are also strengthening the use of SPOs including through setting up SPO intensification sites in select forces which aim to drive up use of SPOs and provide opportunities to test innovative approaches to enforce conditions and monitor breaches, which could be adopted nationwide.

If he will provide an assessment on the role of Chaplains in the Armed Forces.

Chaplains play a vital role in the provision of holistic care and support of service personnel and their families. Their role is multifaceted, focusing on spiritual, moral and pastoral support for personnel of all faiths and beliefs, reflecting the diversity of British society and the Armed Forces. A chaplain’s role is especially important in operational contexts, where they are among the few individuals accessible outside the command structure; this enhances trust and makes them an important source of support and advice for Service personnel. They bolster morale and cohesion, leading religious services and ceremonial or commemorative events, reinforcing tradition and collective identity. Chaplains also contribute advice to commanders on the moral dimensions of leadership and the human impact of military decisions. Their input can shape the command culture and aid decision-making, reinforcing the Armed Forces’ emphasis on values and standards and being a force for good.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment has been made of the adequacy of City Growth Deals in Northern Ireland for implementing outcomes aligned with the UK Science and Technology Framework.

The UK Science and Technology Framework provides a holistic picture of the ten critical levers that the UK Government can use to drive growth and improve the lives of citizens through science and technology. We remain committed to the Framework and to applying these levers to ensure science and technology supports the delivery of core priorities, such as the Plan for Change and the Industrial Strategy.All Northern Ireland City Growth Deal project business cases are reviewed by UK Government departments to ensure strategic alignment with wider government priorities. This includes officials in both DSIT and UKRI, who assess strategic alignment with the UK Government’s priorities for science and technology, including the UK Science and Technology Framework.This process helps to ensure that City Growth Deals across Northern Ireland have taken account – at a local delivery level – of the UK Government’s priorities across science and technology, as set out in the Framework.

What steps she plans to take to enable the Northern Ireland Executive to retain monies received from identifying benefit fraud; and whether there is any blockage to this happening.

Benefit payments in Northern Ireland are a devolved matter.To make sure support goes to those who truly need it, the UK Government will work with the Northern Ireland Executive over the coming months on ways to tackle welfare fraud and error in Northern Ireland and on different funding options, including the potential to share a portion of resulting savings with the Executive.