Robin Swann MP: written questions

Written questions

• Hospitality Industry: Northern IrelandTreasuryTabled 2 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 901240More

  Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has had discussions with the Northern Ireland hospitality sector on the development of a pilot for the reduction of VAT on hospitality.

  Answer: The Chancellor spoke with the First Minister and deputy First Minister on his second day in office as part of the Government's ongoing engagement with Northern Ireland, and ministers and officials regularly engage with hospitality businesses and represent...

  Answered 8 Sept 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Cattle and Sheep: EuthanasiaDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24991More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many i) cattle and ii) sheep have been euthanased by shooting, by their department in each of the last 3 years for welfare concerns.

  Answer: Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) officers would only dispatch animals by shooting in rare and complex animal welfare cases and during depopulation. There are no central records of cattle or sheep killed by shooting by APHA for animal welfare reasons ...

  Answered 4 Sept 2026

  Original Parliament record
• UK East-West CouncilNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 13 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18423More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when the next meeting of the East-West Council established under the Safeguarding the Union Command Paper is due to take place.

  Answer: The Government is continuing to implement the Safeguarding the Union command paper and to support Northern Ireland's place in the Union.Part of that commitment is regular meetings of the East-West Council. We intend that the Council will next meet in autu...

  Answered 16 Jul 2026

  Original Parliament record
• UK East-West CouncilNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 13 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18422More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when the last meeting of the East-West Council established under the Safeguarding the Union Command Paper was; and who attended.

  Answer: The Government is continuing to implement the Safeguarding the Union command paper and to support Northern Ireland's place in the Union.Part of that commitment is regular meetings of the East-West Council. The Council last met in January 2026, with repres...

  Answered 16 Jul 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Knives: ScotlandScotland OfficeTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 900956More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on making the wearing of a sgian dubh illegal.

  Answer: The wearing of the sgian dubh is permitted where it is being worn as part of a national costume. There are no plans to change this. However, we are clear that if any bladed or pointed article is used to threaten or harm others, this will be met with the f...

  Answered 15 Jul 2026

  Original Parliament record