Sorcha Eastwood MP: written questions
4 Jul 2025–3 Jul 2026
How these years work
Our reporting years run from 4 July to 3 July, starting with the 2024 general election. They are not official parliamentary sessions. Office costs keep IPSA’s April–March financial years. Records may cover only part of a year; a missing record does not mean no work was done.
Read what this MP said, asked and contributed in Parliament.
36 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Mileage Allowances: Northern IrelandTreasuryTabled 4 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 6953More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her officials have had discussions with colleagues in the Northern Ireland Office on the adequacy of the Approved Mileage Allowance Payment rate of 45 pence per mile.
Answer: Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) are used by employers to reimburse an employee's expenses for business mileage in their private vehicle. The AMAP rate is advisory, so employers can choose to pay more or less than the advisory rate. Employees r...
Answered 12 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordMileage AllowancesTreasuryTabled 4 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 6923More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Approved Mileage Allowance Payment rate on small and medium-sized enterprises and mobile workers in rural regions, including in Northern Ireland.
Answer: Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) are used by employers to reimburse an employee's expenses for business mileage in their private vehicle. The AMAP rate is advisory, so employers can choose to pay more or less than the advisory rate. Employees r...
Answered 12 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordMileage AllowancesTreasuryTabled 4 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 6922More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to introduce an indexation mechanism linking the Approved Mileage Allowance Payment rate to (a) inflation and (b) motoring cost indices.
Answer: Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) are used by employers to reimburse an employee's expenses for business mileage in their private vehicle. The AMAP rate is advisory, so employers can choose to pay more or less than the advisory rate. Employees r...
Answered 12 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordMileage AllowancesTreasuryTabled 4 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 6921More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the Approved Mileage Allowance Payment rate.
Answer: Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) are used by employers to reimburse an employee's expenses for business mileage in their private vehicle. The AMAP rate is advisory, so employers can choose to pay more or less than the advisory rate. Employees r...
Answered 12 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordChildcare: Tax AllowancesTreasuryTabled 20 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3499More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has had discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive regarding the eligibility criteria for the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme as it applies to PhD students whose stipends are not classifie
Answer: Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) is designed to help parents cover childcare costs so they can enter work, stay in employment, or increase their working hours. As a result, eligibility is based on income from paid work: each parent is generally expected to earn a...
Answered 5 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordChildcare: Tax AllowancesTreasuryTabled 20 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3497More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the impact of excluding postgraduate stipends from the definition of qualifying income for Tax-Free Childcare on families where one parent is undertaking doctoral research funded by a
Answer: Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) is designed to help parents cover childcare costs so they can enter work, stay in employment, or increase their working hours. As a result, eligibility is based on income from paid work: each parent is generally expected to earn a...
Answered 5 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordPublic ExpenditureTreasuryTabled 20 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 128318More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the potential Barnett consequences arising from the proposed expansion of the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme.
Answer: The British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme is being delivered in England, Wales and Scotland. Responsibility for energy policy in Northern Ireland sits with the Northern Ireland Executive. However, the UK Government will provide funding for the Norther...
Answered 27 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordMotor Insurance TaskforceTreasuryTabled 20 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122579More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress her Department has made on the agreed actions in the Motor Insurance Taskforce: Final Report and Actions, published in December 2025.
Answer: The final report of the cross-government Motor Insurance Taskforce sets out the actions being taken by government, regulators and industry to help reduce premium costs. Departments, regulators and industry are now taking forward the relevant actions.
Answered 25 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordFuel Oil: Northern IrelandTreasuryTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121145More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason Northern Ireland has been allocated £17 million of the £53 million home heating oil support package announced on 16 March 2026; and if she will publish the methodology used to determine that figure.
Answer: The government has acted quickly to provide timely, targeted support to low-income households struggling with the rising price of heating oils, based on the latest census data. This means the funding is distributed in line with where the most vulnerable o...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordHigh Income Child Benefit Tax ChargeTreasuryTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109328More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans her Department has to reform the High Income Child Benefit Charge.
Answer: The High Income Child Benefit Charge is currently the best way to manage Child Benefit expenditure. By withdrawing Child Benefit from high-income families, it helps to ensure the sustainability of the public finances and protect our vital public services....
Answered 5 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordPublic Expenditure: Northern IrelandTreasuryTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108895More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much funding the Northern Ireland will receive through Barnett consequentials from the support package for pubs further to her Department's press release entitled Government announces support package that backs
Answer: Any Barnett consequentials for the Northern Ireland Executive resulting from policy changes will be confirmed at the relevant fiscal event.
Answered 4 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordChildminding: Tax AllowancesTreasuryTabled 21 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107543More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the removal of the 10 per cent wear-and-tear tax deduction for childminders as part of the move to Making Tax Digital for Income Tax on (a) childminders in No
Answer: The Chancellor discusses a range of policy matters with Ministerial colleagues. Childminders can continue to claim tax relief for wear and tear by deducting the actual cost of buying, repairing or replacing items. They can also deduct the cost of business...
Answered 29 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordChildminding: Tax AllowancesTreasuryTabled 21 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107542More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what engagement her Department had with the (a) Department of Education, (b) Department of Health and (c) Department of Finance in Northern Ireland in advance of the announcement of the phased removal of the 10% wea
Answer: The Chancellor discusses a range of policy matters with Ministerial colleagues. Childminders can continue to claim tax relief for wear and tear by deducting the actual cost of buying, repairing or replacing items. They can also deduct the cost of business...
Answered 29 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordPublic Expenditure: Northern IrelandTreasuryTabled 14 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105967More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether any forthcoming additional support announced for pubs in England to mitigate increases in business rates will result in Barnett consequentials for Northern Ireland.
Answer: Any Barnett consequentials for the Northern Ireland Executive resulting from policy changes will be confirmed at the relevant fiscal event.
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: Inheritance TaxTreasuryTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97425More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential long-term economic impact of the proposed Agricultural Property Relief reforms on the viability of farm businesses where land has to be sold to meet inheritance tax liab
Answer: The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, fixing the public finances, and funding public services. The reforms reduce t...
Answered 11 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: Inheritance TaxTreasuryTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97424More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposed Agricultural Property Relief reforms on the level of productive farmland and food security; and whether she has consulted the Secretary of State for E
Answer: The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, fixing the public finances, and funding public services. The reforms reduce t...
Answered 11 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: Inheritance TaxTreasuryTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97423More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed Agricultural Property Relief reforms on farms in Northern Ireland.
Answer: The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, fixing the public finances, and funding public services. The reforms reduce t...
Answered 11 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: Inheritance TaxTreasuryTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97422More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief on family farms which are passed to multiple children, including where land has t
Answer: The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, fixing the public finances, and funding public services. The reforms reduce t...
Answered 11 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: Inheritance TaxTreasuryTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97421More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will define active farming for the purposes of proposed changes to Agricultural Property Relief, including whether this includes farmers who work in partnership with successors, or who have partially stepped
Answer: The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, fixing the public finances, and funding public services. The reforms reduce t...
Answered 11 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: Inheritance TaxTreasuryTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97420More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed changes to Agricultural Property Relief on the economic viability of small and medium-sized farm, including farms of around 110 acres in size in N
Answer: The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, fixing the public finances, and funding public services. The reforms reduce t...
Answered 11 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordVAT: Northern IrelandTreasuryTabled 28 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95491More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to help improve awareness and acceptance of XI VAT numbers among businesses outside Northern Ireland.
Answer: I refer the member to the answer given to UIN 95354 on 04 December 2025
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordVAT: Northern IrelandTreasuryTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95354More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to improve awareness and acceptance of XI VAT numbers among businesses outside Northern Ireland.
Answer: HMRC has published guidance on GOV.UK setting out the requirements for any business trading in goods between the EU and Northern Ireland and the need for an XI VAT number.
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordPostal Services: Northern IrelandTreasuryTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95353More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for his policies of parcels from Northern Ireland being incorrectly flagged for EU customs checks due to UK-wide system defaults.
Answer: The Government introduced important new arrangements for the movement of parcels moving to and from Northern Ireland, ensuring that goods can continue to move smoothly between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.HMRC does not carry out routine customs chec...
Answered 5 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordIncome Tax: GratuitiesTreasuryTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93882More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if her department will conduct an assessment into the feasibility of exempting tips from income tax.
Answer: Employees pay tax on all payments that reward them for the work they do. This includes wages, tips, gratuities, or any share of a service charge that they receive. Whether National Insurance contributions are due on tips depends on how tips are managed in...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordChild BenefitTreasuryTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92168More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has conducted an equality impact assessment on the effect of school-attendance-linked Child Benefit rules on children with mental-health-related disabilities.
Answer: Child Benefit remains in payment until 31 August following a child’s 16th birthday. This applies without any conditions on education, so there is no impact on children of this age if they are unable to attend school for any reason.For young people who are...
Answered 26 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
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4 Jul 2025–3 Jul 2026. One record per UIN and tabled date; the named department is not a measure of answer quality.
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