Alex Easton MP: written questions 2025
103 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Block Grant: Northern IrelandTreasuryTabled 18 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39368More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the potential impact of her Department's proposed welfare reforms on the Northern Ireland block grant.
Answer: For any funding implications of these welfare reforms, the arrangements set out in the Statement of Funding Policy will apply in the usual way.Where UK Government programmes are in Annually Managed Expenditure (AME), such as welfare, the UK Government pro...
Answered 24 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordGlass: PackagingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 3 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35104More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Extender Producer Responsibility fee structure on the glass packaging industry; and whether he has consider
Answer: Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging (EPR) will move the cost of dealing with household packaging waste away from taxpayers and onto the packaging producers (applying the ‘polluter pays principle’). This will give producers responsibility for t...
Answered 27 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordIran: Religious FreedomForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35103More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking with his international counterparts to (a) protect and (b) promote the freedom of religion or belief in Iran.
Answer: The UK remains strongly committed to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB). We are championing the right to FoRB and promoting tolerance and mutual respect through our engagement in multilateral fora, our bilateral work, and our programme funding.We condem...
Answered 10 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordUkraine: Peacekeeping OperationsMinistry of DefenceTabled 28 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34716More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with his (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) international counterparts on the potential deployment of UK troops in support of potential international peacekeeping operations in Ukraine; an
Answer: The Secretary of State regularly holds discussions with his Cabinet colleagues and international counterparts on the war in Ukraine and how we can continue to best support Ukraine going forward. On 2 March, the Prime Minister chaired the Leaders Meeting o...
Answered 6 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordVeterinary Services: DrugsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 27 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34508More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to negotiate a veterinary agreement with the European Union to ensure the continued supply of veterinary medicines to Northern Ireland beyond Decemb
Answer: Maintaining availability of veterinary medicines to Northern Ireland after the end of 2025 is a priority. This Government continues to progress work on this issue as quickly as possible and we continue to engage with industry to understand their intention...
Answered 6 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordRefugees: PalestiniansHome OfficeTabled 13 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31709More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Palestine refugee visa scheme on (a) social cohesion, (b) public services and (c) immigration levels; and what steps she is taking to ensure
Answer: Any application for a UK visa will be assessed against the requirements of the Immigration Rules and our suitability requirements. Consideration will be given to compelling, compassionate and exceptional circumstances raised and may be taken into account ...
Answered 28 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordDeath: Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 13 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31669More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a comparative assessment of the cost to the public purse for (a) inquiries and (b) legal proceedings relating to (i) the deaths of four men following the use of lethal force in County Tyr
Answer: The cost of public inquiries will differ according to the scope of each Inquiry. The cost of legal proceedings will also differ substantially according to the scope of each case. It is not therefore possible to provide an accurate comparative assessment o...
Answered 28 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: Elections and ReorgansationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30469More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if her Department will publish the rationale for cancelling or delaying certain council elections scheduled for May 2025; what assessment she has made of the potential impact of
Answer: On 16 December I wrote to leaders of all two-tier councils and of neighbouring unitary authorities, explaining that government would only postpone elections where it will help deliver both reorganisation and devolution to the most ambitious timeframe. I c...
Answered 18 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordReligion: SoftwareForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30447More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his EU counterparts on potential restrictions on (a) Hallow and (b) other religious apps.
Answer: The UK remains strongly committed to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all abroad. It is our firm opinion that no one should live in fear because of what they do or do not believe in. We continue to champion the right to FoRB, whilst promoting tole...
Answered 19 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordDemocratic Republic of Congo: ChurchesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28400More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in the Democratic Republic of Congo on the closure of churches.
Answer: The Foreign Secretary spoke with President Tshisekedi on 2 February to express his deep concern about the events unfolding in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and call for urgent de-escalation. The UK has a long-standing commitment to the promotio...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: Northern IrelandCabinet OfficeTabled 30 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27778More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government is taking to address additional (a) costs and (b) administration faced by small businesses in Northern Ireland as a result of the Irish Sea border; and whether he plans to support local
Answer: Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and the Government will ensure the interests of small businesses are embedded into our Industrial and Trade Strategies, as part of a comprehensive approach to delivering on our economic growth mission. The ...
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Careers Service: DisabilityDepartment for EducationTabled 30 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27746More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to ensure the National Careers Service is fully inclusive for disabled people.
Answer: The National Careers Service provides free, up to date, impartial information, advice and guidance on careers, skills and the labour market in England, helping customers make informed choices about their career options.Adults with special educational need...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 30 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27745More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help reduce inequalities in SEND funding between local authorities.
Answer: Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the right support to succeed in thei...
Answered 7 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordBank Services: North DownTreasuryTabled 30 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27726More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to help ensure access to banking services in North Down constituency; and if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the planned closure of the Halifax
Answer: The Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and high streets in North Down and across the UK, and is committed to championing sufficient access for all as a priority. This is why the Government is working closely with ...
Answered 6 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordMarine Environment: Environment ProtectionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27720More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to protect blue carbon habitats from human activities.
Answer: In England, we have established a comprehensive network of 181 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), which cover the majority of our saltmarsh and seagrass habitats. While blue carbon habitats may not always be an explicitly designated feature, MPA protection ma...
Answered 5 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimal ExperimentsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27434More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the development of a roadmap for phasing out animal testing.
Answer: The Government is committed to supporting the uptake and development of alternative methods to the use of animals in science. We are currently engaging with partners from sectors with interests in animal science as to how we will take this commitment forw...
Answered 7 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordReligious FreedomForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26668More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the findings of the Open Doors 2025 World Watch List on levels of religious persecution.
Answer: The UK Government notes the launch of the Open Doors World Watch List 2025 report. The UK strongly believes that no one should live in fear because of what they do or do not believe in. We continue to champion the right to freedom of religion or belief, w...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordSpirit AeroSystems: Northern IrelandDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26638More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with stakeholders on the future of the (a) workforce and (b) production lines at Spirit AeroSystems in Northern Ireland; and what steps he is taking to help (i) protect jobs
Answer: Government recognises the importance of Spirit Aerosystems’ operations, skills, capabilities and experience to the Northern Ireland economy, the wider UK aerospace sector and its future potential in the global market. My department has been a supporter of...
Answered 5 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordTerrorism: Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 24 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26377More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make it his policy to prevent payments to people who were interned in the 1970s.
Answer: Sections 46 and 47 of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 have been found by the Northern Ireland courts to be incompatible with the UK’s human rights obligations. The Government is committed to bringing forward new legacy l...
Answered 3 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: PricesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 22 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25913More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to (a) help tackle the disparity between house prices and average earnings and (b) ensure that affordable housing is accessible to (i) first-time buyers
Answer: The government’s Plan for Change includes an ambitious milestone of delivering 1.5 million safe and decent homes in this Parliament. We are also committed to delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation. This gove...
Answered 6 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: Employers' ContributionsTreasuryTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 902295More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking through the tax system to support small businesses with increases in employer National Insurance contributions.
Answer: The Government has protected the smallest businesses by increasing the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,500. This means that next year, 865,000 employers will pay no NICs at all. The government has also frozen the small business multiplier. Togethe...
Answered 21 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordInternet: SafetyDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24366More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department is taking steps to (a) clarify (i) liability and (ii) enforcement thresholds under the Online Safety Act 2023 and (b) help tackle the unintended consequences of t
Answer: All user-to-user and search services in scope of the Act must tackle illegal content and, where relevant, protect children from harm. Ofcom is the independent regulator for this regime and takes a proportionate and risk-based approach to regulation. Ofcom...
Answered 23 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordIndependent Review of the Windsor FrameworkCabinet OfficeTabled 14 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24053More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many officials are in the team supporting the Windsor Framework Review; what their roles and responsibilities are; what criteria were used to select that team; what the composition is of the selection panel
Answer: Support arrangements for the Independent Review of the Windsor Framework are being put in place. Those arrangements will reflect routine Government practice for providing appropriate support to a panel or review. The Review will operate under the leadersh...
Answered 22 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordNHS: FinanceTreasuryTabled 13 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23657More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to ensure (a) equivalent health funding is allocated to the devolved Administrations and (b) all UK nations benefit equitably from health service improvements.
Answer: The devolved governments are each responsible for deciding how to allocate their funding across their devolved responsibilities in their respective nations, including health. The devolved governments’ Spending Review settlements for 2025-26 are the larges...
Answered 21 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordMotor Vehicles: TheftNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 10 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23230More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that people in Northern Ireland who (a) have their vehicles damaged by stolen cars where the driver is not apprehended and (b) do not have comprehensive insu
Answer: The Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) is an independent organisation within the motor industry and separate from the UK Government. The Northern Ireland Office has no role in decisions relating to the investigation and payment of claims, which are the responsi...
Answered 20 Jan 2025
Original Parliament record
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