Colum Eastwood MP: written questions 2024
25 published records · newest first.
Written questions
State Retirement Pensions: WomenDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 19 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21541More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to her statement of 17 December 2024 on Women’s State Pension Age Communication: PHSO Report, Official Report columns 167 to 169, whether her Department has made an estimate of the annual
Answer: The State Pension is a transferred matter in Northern Ireland. These matters are the responsibility of the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland.
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordMedia: VacanciesDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 19 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21539More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has made an assessment of the reasons for a decrease in the number of jobs filled in the (a) film, (b) television, (c) video, (d) radio and (e) music digital subsector in 2022-23.
Answer: There are a multitude of factors affecting the number of filled jobs across the creative industries in any given year. Recently this has included the recession in the TV advertising market; streaming services reducing content budgets as they prioritise pr...
Answered 7 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordComputers and Electronic Equipment: VacanciesDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 19 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21538More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has made an assessment of the reasons for a decrease in the number of jobs filled in (a) electronic manufacturing and (b) the computer digital sector in 2022-2023.
Answer: The digital sector is of vital importance to the UK economy, and overall employment in the sector has increased between 2022-2023. DSIT continues to analyse trends in employment in the sector. The government is committed to growing the pipeline of skilled...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordArtificial Intelligence: EmploymentDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 19 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21537More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has held discussions with trade unions on the potential impact of (a) artificial intelligence and (b) automation on workers.
Answer: New technologies such as artificial intelligence and automation have the potential to transform businesses of all sizes, supporting productivity and growth.The government's approach is to protect good jobs, enable good future jobs, ensure rights and prote...
Answered 7 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordArtificial Intelligence and Automation: EmploymentDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 19 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21536More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential net impact of (a) Artificial Intelligence and (b) automation on employment numbers.
Answer: AI has the potential to increase productivity and create high value jobs in the UK economy. This government is committed to making sure AI opportunities are available across the UK and today we have launched the AI Opportunities Action Plan to reach this ...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordCivil Society: Employers' ContributionsTreasuryTabled 16 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20305More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has had discussions with the Minister for Finance in Northern Ireland on the potential impact of increases in employers' National Insurance contributions on community and voluntary sector organisations i
Answer: In order to repair the public finances and help raise the revenue required to increase funding for public services, the UK Government has taken the difficult decision to increase employer National Insurance contributions (NICs).The UK Government recognise...
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordColombia: Peace NegotiationsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18675More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the UN Secretary General’s response to the Colombian government’s rapid response plan aimed at o
Answer: We welcomed the Colombian government's announcement of a new rapid response plan for implementation of the 2016 Agreement at the UN Security Council (UNSC) Session in July. In particular, we welcomed its focus on territorial transformation and the appoint...
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSpiking: Northern IrelandMinistry of JusticeTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17266More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she has had discussions with the Minister for Justice in Northern Ireland on creating a criminal offence of drink spiking.
Answer: Spiking is already an offence in England and Wales and Northern Ireland. We are, however, currently working across Government on a proposed new offence covering spiking, which has included discussions, at official level, with the Department of Justice (No...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordTerrorism (Protection of Premises) BillHome OfficeTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16283More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing funding schemes to support small voluntary groups with the costs of compliance with the measures in the Terrorism (Protection of P
Answer: The Government has made important changes to the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill since it was published in draft, particularly to the standard tier, to ensure that the requirements strike a better balance between protecting the public and avoiding...
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordTerrorism (Protection of Premises) BillHome OfficeTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16282More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill on (a) small voluntary groups and (b) small venues.
Answer: The Government is extremely mindful of the many community and voluntary-run premises across the UK. It has been conscious of the need to ensure the Terrorism (Protection of Premises Bill) strikes the right balance between public protection and avoiding un...
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordConstruction: MaterialsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16247More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether the Office for Product Safety and Standards has made an estimate of the number of constructions using (a) Mica, (b) Pyrite and (c) other defective building materials in Northern Ireland.
Answer: The Office for Product Safety and Standards was appointed by MHCLG in April 2021 as the national regulator of construction products, overseeing conformity of construction products with designated standards under the Construction Products Regulations 2013....
Answered 29 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordBuildings: Fire PreventionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 21 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15534More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which agencies are responsible for redress as a result of damage caused to buildings by defective building materials in Northern Ireland.
Answer: As building safety is a devolved matter, it is for the Northern Irish Government to decide appropriate methods of redress as a result of damage caused to buildings by defective building materials in Northern Ireland.
Answered 27 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordPregabalin: MisuseHome OfficeTabled 21 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15532More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to (a) review and (b) raise the classification of pregabalin under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
Answer: Pregabalin is currently controlled under Class C of the Misuse of Dugs Act 1971. The Government takes expert advice from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), which is the independent advisory body on drugs, on the classification of substanc...
Answered 29 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: Inheritance TaxTreasuryTabled 19 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15098More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the number and proportion of farms that will be affected by changes to agricultural property relief in Northern Ireland.
Answer: I refer the Honourable Member to the PQ referenced 12861 published on 15th November 2024 at https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-11-05/12861. The Chancellor also recently wrote to the Chair of the Treasury Select Commit...
Answered 25 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordEmployers' Contributions: Public SectorTreasuryTabled 13 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14154More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2024 to Question 12760 on Employers' Contributions: General Practitioners, whether support arrangements for additional employer National Insurance contribution costs will be pro
Answer: As has been confirmed, the UK Government will provide support for departments and other public sector employers for additional employer National Insurance contributions costs. The detail of this policy change is being worked through thoroughly. My departm...
Answered 18 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordCulture and Languages: Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 11 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13578More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the time taken to appoint commissioners under the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022.
Answer: The Northern Ireland Executive is responsible for implementing the provisions of the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022, including those provisions which allow for the establishment of an Irish Language Commissioner and a Commissioner for t...
Answered 14 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordHeat Pumps: HousingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 11 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13577More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of support arrangements for the installation of domestic heat pumps.
Answer: The Government is taking a range of action to support the transformation of the low-carbon heating market. Further detail on the government’s approach to support the transition to cleaner, energy-secure homes and buildings will be set out in the governmen...
Answered 14 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordArmenia: Detainees and RefugeesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 11 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13576More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to make representations on (a) a right of return for Armenians and (b) the release of detained Armenians during the COP29 summit.
Answer: The Government has encouraged Azerbaijan to provide clarity on the rights and security of ethnic Armenians displaced by conflict who wish to return to Nagorno-Karabakh. The UK continues to urge Azerbaijan to ensure that those detained during September 202...
Answered 18 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordGaza: Food SupplyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 11 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13575More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Famine Review Committee's alert entitled, Gaza Strip, Published on 8 November 2024.
Answer: The Famine Review Committee's warning that areas of northern Gaza likely face imminent famine is appalling. At a UK-chaired meeting of the UN Security Council on 12 November, Lord Collins called on Israel to finally, and immediately, make good on its comm...
Answered 19 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordGeneral Practitioners: Employers' ContributionsTreasuryTabled 5 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 12760More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 2.40 of the Autumn Budget 2024, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to employer National Insurance contribution rates on GPs in Northern Ireland; and whether s
Answer: Raising the revenue required to fund public services and restore economic stability requires difficult decisions on tax, which is why we are asking employers to contribute more. A Tax Information and Impact Note will be published in due course alongside t...
Answered 11 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordSpikingHome OfficeTabled 8 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7870More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it is her policy to create a standalone criminal offence for drink spiking; and what steps she is taking to help tackle drink spiking.
Answer: Spiking is an abhorrent crime and illegal in any form, whether through vape, food, drink or needle. The Government’s manifesto and the King’s Speech committed to strengthening spiking legislation to help the police better respond to this crime. We are cur...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPassports: Republic of IrelandHome OfficeTabled 10 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5143More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing (a) elected representatives from Ireland and (b) other Irish passport holders to verify UK passport applications using the HM Passpor
Answer: As part of the criteria for a person to act as a referee to a passport application, His Majesty’s Passport Office requires that the referee must hold a passport that it can validate to confirm that person’s identity. In addition to British passport holder...
Answered 7 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordElectronic SurveillanceHome OfficeTabled 25 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 1819More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department (a) received and (b) granted requests to provide communications data on (i) lawyers, (ii) journalists and (iii) Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly in each of the last five
Answer: The Investigatory Powers Commissioner's Office is the independent oversight body responsible for communications data authorisations.The most recent Information on the authorisation of investigatory powers, including the use of powers and number of authori...
Answered 31 Jul 2024
Original Parliament recordSurveillance: Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 24 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 1584More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to figure 19.6 of the Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office’s annual report 2022, published on 26 March 2024, if he will hold discussions with the Department of Justice in Northern Ir
Answer: Figure 19.6 of the Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office’s annual report 2022 refers to statistics for communications data authorisations involving members of a sensitive profession between 2018 and 2022. These are statistics for the whole of the UK,...
Answered 29 Jul 2024
Original Parliament recordArms Trade: IsraelDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 23 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 1408More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for Government policy on arms export licenses to Israel of the decision of the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to issue
Answer: The Government assesses export licences against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria. We will continue to monitor developments as part of the assessment process. The Foreign Secretary met with President Netanyahu in Israel on 14 July and pushed for an ...
Answered 26 Jul 2024
Original Parliament record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →