Written questions by Swann.

Whether the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman’s national security vetting has been reviewed in the last 12 months: and whether the office holder has access to material classified as top secret.

The Police Ombudsman is accountable to the Northern Ireland Assembly, through the Northern Ireland Minister for Justice. The Office of the Ombudsman is a NDPB of the NI Department of Justice.

Pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2024 to Question 9859 on Motor Insurance Taskforce: Northern Ireland, when she will publish the report from the Taskforce on motor insurance.

The Motor Insurance Taskforce final report was published on 10 December.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she has taken in response to recent reports of Blue Tongue Disease being detected in Northern Ireland.

Disease control is a devolved matter and it is for the Devolved Governments to assess the disease risks and impacts in relation to their national herds, alongside the impacts of controls, and respond accordingly. Defra works closely with the Devolved Governments with the aim of providing, where possible, a consistent and coordinated response across the UK. Following the first suspected bluetongue case in Northern Ireland on 28 November 2025, Defra is working with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to review policy regarding movement of bluetongue susceptible animals between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has had discussions with Invest Northern Ireland on its Strategic Cooperation Framework Memorandum of Understanding with the China Chamber of Commerce in the UK.

This Government supports UK businesses to do business with China – while being open-eyed to any risks.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 November to Question 92336, on Asylum: Republic of Ireland, if she provide the exact date when her Department first briefed the Irish Government on her proposed changes on asylum.

The UK and Ireland share a unique relationship and a joint commitment to safeguarding the integrity and security of the Common Travel Area (CTA). This partnership includes close cooperation and the exchange of information on policies relevant to maintaining the CTA’s security and preventing abuse. Prior to the publication of the asylum and returns policy statement, Home Office officials engaged with their counterparts in Ireland on Friday 14th November 2025.

When her Department first briefed the Irish Government on her proposed changes on asylum.

The UK and Ireland have a close and collaborative working relationship on a range of issues, including migration and border security. That collaboration includes a joint commitment to protect the Common Travel Area from abuse while preserving the rights of British and Irish citizens.

With reference to the Timms Review what steps he has taken to engage with deaf and disabled people and Deaf and Disabled People's Organisations in Northern Ireland.

Listening to the lived experience and expertise of disabled people will be critical to the Review’s success. Over the summer, I met with representatives from more than 50 organisations across the disability, welfare and co-production spaces, including organisations from all four nations.While PIP is a transferred matter in Northern Ireland, there is a long-standing principle of parity between the social security systems of the Northern Ireland Executive and the UK Government. It is therefore important that the Review hears from disabled people in Northern Ireland and the organisations that represent them.We have launched an open and accessible Expression of Interest to join the Review’s steering group, and we strongly encourage applications from people across the UK, regardless of background or location. The steering group will include a majority of disabled people or representatives of Disabled People’s Organisations.Once in place, the steering group will oversee a programme of engagement and participation that brings together the full range of views and voices.

What steps he is taking to ensure that deaf and disabled people and Deaf and Disabled People's Organisations from Northern Ireland can engage in the Timms Review, including through the proposed Panel.

Listening to the lived experience and expertise of disabled people will be critical to the Review’s success. Over the summer, I met with representatives from more than 50 organisations across the disability, welfare and co-production spaces, including organisations from all four nations.While PIP is a transferred matter in Northern Ireland, there is a long-standing principle of parity between the social security systems of the Northern Ireland Executive and the UK Government. It is therefore important that the Review hears from disabled people in Northern Ireland and the organisations that represent them.We have launched an open and accessible Expression of Interest to join the Review’s steering group, and we strongly encourage applications from people across the UK, regardless of background or location. The steering group will include a majority of disabled people or representatives of Disabled People’s Organisations.Once in place, the steering group will oversee a programme of engagement and participation that brings together the full range of views and voices.

Whether additional support will be given to NHS dentistry in the context of the decision at the Sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury on ending the use of dental amalgam.

Following the decision made at the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury, we are in the process of planning in detail the necessary steps. This includes establishing what changes may be required for National Health Service dentistry to move towards and implement a phase-out of dental amalgam by 2034.

Whether she has received the feasibility study for the reopening of the Antrim to Lisburn rail line from the Northern Ireland Minister of Infrastructure.

I can confirm that my officials have received a copy of the feasibility study from Translink. The Department will continue to contribute constructively to devolved transport priorities, fully respecting the devolved settlement.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Farming Profitability Review, which stakeholders in Northern Ireland gave evidence to the Review.

Under the Terms of Reference, Baroness Batters’s Farming Profitability Review is an England-only review. Baroness Batters wrote an open letter to stakeholders and received responses from organisations that represent farmers in Northern Ireland. This included Northern Ireland-specific organisations, and organisations covering the whole of the UK. The department is considering her recommendations carefully.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2025 to Question 85623 on Bovine Tuberculosis: Vaccination, for what reason Northern Ireland was not included in the marketing authorisation.

To maintain Northern Ireland’s full access to the EU’s single market, from 1 January 2026, the movement of veterinary medicines into Northern Ireland must comply with relevant EU rules under the Windsor Framework. This includes the current EU-wide prohibition on the use of the bovine tuberculosis vaccine in cattle.

Pursuant to the Answer of 23 October 2025 to Question 81693 on General Practitioners: Insurance, answered on 12th October 2025, how many GPs are covered under the professional indemnity insurance; and what the cost to the public purse of this insurance was in the last 12 months.

The cost to the public purse of the state clinical indemnity schemes, such as the Clinical Negligence Scheme for General Practice and the Existing Liabilities Scheme for General Practice, for 2024/2025 is outlined in NHS Resolution’s corporate accounts, which are available at the following link: https://resolution.nhs.uk/about/corporate-reports-and-publications/ State funded schemes for clinical indemnity cover general practice (GP) activities under National Health Service contracts, such as the General Medical Services contact, the Personal Medical Services contact, and the Alternative Provider Medical Services contact. Costs incurred under the state funded clinical indemnity schemes therefore include GPs, practice nurses, and other staff carrying out activities in connection with GP activities under NHS contracts. We do not hold information on these costs which are disaggregated by GPs.

What assessment she made of the potential merits of reducing Corporation Tax in Northern Ireland.

This is a matter for the NI Executive. The 2014 Stormont House Agreement between the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Executive agreed, in principle, for the power to set the rate of Corporation Tax in Northern Ireland on certain trading profits to be devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly. The Agreement set out that the Executive would need to formally request the power to change the Corporation Tax rate in Northern Ireland. The Executive would also need to demonstrate that its finances were on a sustainable footing, and that the Executive’s block grant would need to be adjusted to reflect the Corporation Tax revenues foregone if the devolved power were exercised.

Pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 84511 on Business: Northern Ireland, of the £235 million ring-fenced transformation funding (a) how much has been allocated to each Northern Ireland Department and (b) what is the time scale for future allocations before the funding is withdrawn.

A full breakdown of the funds allocated through the Transformation Fund is available via the Department of Finance’s website:Annual Profiling of Transformation ProjectsThe Public Sector Transformation Board is currently considering further transformation bids from departments with the aim of making recommendations to the Northern Ireland Executive on the allocation of remaining funds in the months ahead.

Pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 83992 on Defence: Northern Ireland, did the officials in the Northern Ireland Executive include (a) the Northern Ireland Economy Minister and (b) officials from the Department of the Economy in Northern Ireland.

Ministry of Defence officials have engaged several stakeholders in Northern Ireland regarding the proposed Defence Growth Deal that was announced in the Defence Industrial Strategy. This has included officials in the Department for Economy and the Executive Office.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether the cattle vaccine against bovine tuberculosis undergoing Phase 3 trials by the Animal and Plant Health Agency will be available in Northern Ireland.

The field trials and the cattle vaccine will not be available in Northern Ireland. Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency are only seeking marketing authorisation in Great Britain at this stage.

What recent discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the Transformation Fund.

The Northern Ireland Office, and Ministers, regularly engage with the Northern Ireland Executive on the Transformation Fund. In particular, through its membership of the Public Sector Transformation Board whose role is to advise and make recommendations on how to use the £235m ring-fenced transformation funding. Work is on going to identify and allocate remaining funds to further transformative projects in the months ahead.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 80771 on Defence: Industry, whether he has had decisions with (a) the Northern Ireland Economy Minister and (b) Invest Northern Ireland on the Northern Ireland Defence Growth Deal.

Ministry of Defence officials have engaged several stakeholders in Northern Ireland regarding the proposed Defence Growth Deal that was announced in the Defence Industrial Strategy. This has included officials in the Northern Ireland Executive as well as industry and academia. Engagement on the development of the growth deal will continue over the coming months.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department’s policies of the Northern Ireland Minister for the Economy ‘s decision not to engage with the Government’s trade talks with Israel.

Trade policy is a reserved matter and the UK Government is responsible for negotiating international trade agreements on behalf of all the nations and regions in the UK. This Government suspended trade negotiations with Israel on 20 May, owing to the actions of the Israeli Government in Gaza and the West Bank.