Carla Lockhart MP: written questions
208 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Armed Forces: Northern IrelandMinistry of DefenceTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105060More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to promote opportunities for young people in Northern Ireland to volunteer for the Armed Forces.
Answer: We are committed to improving recruitment and retention through a range of targets, initiatives and measures and we are making a positive impact. The figures in the latest reporting period highlight that for the first time since early 2021, Armed Forces i...
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordFood: PublicityDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105054More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to promote the use of locally produced food and drink.
Answer: The food strategy recognises the key role that regional and local food systems can play in supporting delivery of the growth, health, sustainability, and food security/ resilience outcomes. Defra wants to create an environment that champions UK food cultu...
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAnimal ExperimentsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105052More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to take steps to end the use of the lethal dose 50% test (LD50) in animal experiments.
Answer: The Government is committed to supporting the uptake and development of alternative methods to the use of animals in science. The Replacing Animals in Science strategy uses a ‘baskets’ approach to group animal tests according to how ready they are for rep...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordFerries: Northern IrelandDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105051More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department plans to take to help tackle the cost of ferry journeys between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Answer: Ferry services between Great Britain and Northern Ireland operate in a commercial and competitive market without intervention from the Government. The Department for Transport has no plans to subsidise ferry services between Great Britain and Northern Ire...
Answered 15 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordCancer: Clinical TrialsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105049More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to encourage collaboration between NHS Trusts and pharmaceutical companies to enhance cancer clinical trials.
Answer: The Department is committed to ensuring that all patients, including those with cancer, have access to cutting-edge clinical trials and innovative, lifesaving treatments.We are incentivising clinical trials and strengthening collaboration between pharmace...
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordCancer: Clinical TrialsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105048More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help improve the availability of clinical trials for cancer patients across the UK.
Answer: The Department is committed to ensuring that all patients, including those with cancer, have access to cutting-edge clinical trials and innovative, lifesaving treatments.The Department funds research and research infrastructure through the National Instit...
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordUk Internal Trade: Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105046More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential economic impact of the Windsor Framework on businesses in Northern Ireland trading with Great Britain.
Answer: The Government is committed to the Windsor Framework and protecting the UK internal market. Over 15,000 businesses are now registered to take advantage of facilitations for freight and parcels under the Windsor Framework, and the Windsor Framework Indepen...
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordIndia: Religious FreedomForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105045More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the state of religious freedom in India and the treatment of minority faith communities.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 18 December in response to Question 98409.
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAbortion: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 18 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101492More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of whether abortion providers, including British Pregnancy Advisory Service and Marie Stopes InternationaI Reproductive Choices, provide clear and comp
Answer: The Department’s required standard operating procedures for the approval of independent sector places for the termination of a pregnancy, an abortion, in England sets out that women requesting termination of pregnancy must be given impartial, accurate, an...
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordBelfast International Airport: USANorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 16 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100757More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what progress has been made in discussions with the United States administration regarding the initiative outlined in the Windsor Framework and Safeguarding the Union document to establish a US Customs a
Answer: As part of commitments within the Windsor Framework and the Safeguarding the Union Command Paper, the then-Government committed to “enter into exploratory talks with the United States Administration on the options for introducing pre-clearance checks on c...
Answered 23 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSuicideDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100756More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps he has taken to implement the National Suicide Prevention Plan; and what further steps he is taking to help tackle suicide rates.
Answer: The Suicide Prevention Strategy for England, published in 2023, identifies eight priority groups for targeted and tailored support at a national level. The strategy also identifies key risk factors for suicide, providing an opportunity for effective early...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordBank Services: Northern IrelandTreasuryTabled 16 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100755More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of bank closures on access to banking services by vulnerable and elderly people; how many Banking Hubs currently operate in Northern Ireland; and what her target
Answer: Banking is changing, with many customers benefitting from the convenience and flexibility of managing their finances remotely. However, Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and is committed to supporting sufficient ...
Answered 22 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordTajikistan: Religious FreedomForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 16 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100754More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with international partners to ensure the protection of Christians and other religious minorities in Tajikistan.
Answer: The UK champions Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all, including in Tajikistan and Tunisia. On 8 July, the UK's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, David Smith MP, set out the Government's new strategy on FoRB, providing a framework f...
Answered 19 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordTunisia: Religious FreedomForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 16 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100753More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with international partners to ensure the protection of Christians and other religious minorities in Tunisia.
Answer: The UK champions Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all, including in Tajikistan and Tunisia. On 8 July, the UK's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, David Smith MP, set out the Government's new strategy on FoRB, providing a framework f...
Answered 19 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: FinanceDepartment for TransportTabled 16 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100752More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2025 to Question 53771 on Railways: Finance, what recent progress she has made on the Union Connectivity Development Fund.
Answer: The Union Connectivity Development Fund (UCDF) has provided financial support for a range of transport connectivity projects in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This includes funding to support four rail feasibility studies in Northern Ireland, the c...
Answered 24 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordPrivate Education: VATTreasuryTabled 16 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100751More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact in Northern Ireland of the abolition of VAT exemption for private school fees on the parents of children with special educational needs; and what estimate she has
Answer: The Government conducted thorough and detailed analysis of the impacts of this policy, including in Northern Ireland, and published a Tax Impact and Information Note (TIIN) which sets out this analysis. This is a comprehensive assessment of the impacts on...
Answered 22 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordGreat British Energy: Small BusinessesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 16 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100750More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Great British Energy’s activities on small and medium-sized enterprises in Northern Ireland since its establishment; what steps his Depa
Answer: Great British Energy (GBE) will operate in Northern Ireland as part of its commitment to deliver in all four nations of the UK. Recognising Northern Ireland’s distinct energy landscape and regulatory framework, GBE will continue to work with the Northern ...
Answered 24 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordImmigration: EnforcementHome OfficeTabled 16 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100749More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many immigration enforcement visits relating to visa overstaying were conducted in Northern Ireland in each quarter since July 2024; and what plans she has to increase capacity.
Answer: To maintain the highest standards of accuracy, the Home Office prefers to refer to published data, as this has been subject to rigorous quality assurance under National Statistics protocols prior to publication. Information about enforcement visits in N...
Answered 22 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordPeople Smuggling: Northern IrelandHome OfficeTabled 16 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100748More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the scale of people-smuggling facilitation activity with operational links to Northern Ireland since July 2024; and how many disruptions and arrests have been made.
Answer: Through the Border Security Command, we continue to work with all key partners, both across the UK and internationally to disrupt and deter people-smuggling facilitation. Our collective law enforcement powers, sharing intelligence, data, and expertise, an...
Answered 23 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 16 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100686More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she will publish a full list of residential properties leased or controlled by her Department or its contractors in Upper Bann constituency, including occupancy status, duration of vacancy, an
Answer: For the safety, security and wellbeing of staff and those being accommodated, the Home Office does not disclose publicly information about accommodation sites which may or may not be utilised.Information on asylum accommodation is published regularly in t...
Answered 6 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 16 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100684More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to sell her Department's vacant residential properties in Upper Bann constituency.
Answer: The Home Office does not own properties used to accommodate individuals in the asylum system.Accommodation is sourced, managed, and maintained by contracted Service Providers under the Asylum Accommodation and Support Services Contracts (AASC), which set ...
Answered 6 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 16 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100683More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether contractors operating residential accommodation on behalf of her Department in the Upper Bann constituency have exceeded permitted profit margins.
Answer: Profit margins being exceeded are not broken down by specific constituencies.Mears, who manage the Home Office’s asylum accommodation for Northern Ireland and other contracted regions, did exceed their profit margins. The Home Office is in the process of ...
Answered 6 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 16 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100678More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much has been paid by her Department to contractors for residential properties in the Upper Bann constituency that were unoccupied at the time of payment in each of the last three financial years.
Answer: The Department only makes payments for Dispersed Accommodation properties when they are occupied. Consequently, no payments have been made for unoccupied properties in the Upper Bann constituency during the period in question.
Answered 6 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 16 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100677More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many residential properties secured by her Department and its contractors in the Upper Bann constituency have been unoccupied for more than (a) three months, (b) six months, and (c) twelve months;
Answer: The Home Office does not publish data on the utilisation of asylum accommodation. We aim to utilise our estate as fully as possible, however, as with all types of accommodation properties may be temporarily vacant for a variety of operational reasons, inc...
Answered 6 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAbortionDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100518More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has plans to review the scope of statutory protections for healthcare professionals who conscientiously object to participating in abortion procedures.
Answer: There are no plans to review the scope of statutory protections for healthcare professionals who conscientiously object to participating in abortion procedures. In England and Wales the right to refuse to participate in terminations of pregnancy, other th...
Answered 6 Jan 2026
Original Parliament record
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