Sorcha Eastwood MP: written questions
297 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Motor Vehicles: InsuranceDepartment for TransportTabled 20 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122580More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, 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 taskforce worked across government, bringing together departments and independent regulators to understand the complexities of the market and to agree a set of actions. Government departments and regulators are acting to address the broader factors th...
Answered 25 Mar 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 recordRoyal Mail: StandardsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 13 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120723More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions his Department has had with Ofcom on whether additional regulatory powers are required to enforce Royal Mail’s Universal Service Obligation.
Answer: Ministers have regular discussions with Ofcom. The government does not have a role in Ofcom’s individual regulatory decisions. I met Ofcom on 11 March. They confirmed that they are monitoring Quality of Service data closely and will take regulatory action...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordRoyal Mail: StandardsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 13 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120722More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of whether the current ownership structure of Royal Mail is compatible with the effective delivery of the Universal Service Obligation.
Answer: The universal service obligation is a statutory requirement placed on the designated universal service provider and applies irrespective of the company’s ownership structure.Royal Mail has been a fully independent business since its privatisation was comp...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordRoyal Mail: StandardsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 13 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120721More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with Royal Mail on its planned timeline for publishing the improvement plan requested by Ofcom.
Answer: Royal Mail has publicly committed to publishing a detailed deployment and quality of service improvement plan as soon as possible after its discussions with the Communication Workers Union conclude.
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordFireworks: NoiseDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114761More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of fireworks noise on the welfare of (a) pets and (b) vulnerable adults.
Answer: There has been no assessment of the effectiveness of the Fireworks Regulations 2004 on preventing anti-social use of fireworks or the potential impact of fireworks noise on the welfare of pets or vulnerable adults.I recognise that people hold a range of v...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordFireworks: Antisocial BehaviourDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114760More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if his Department will review the effectiveness of the Fireworks Regulations 2004 to help prevent the antisocial use of fireworks.
Answer: There has been no assessment of the effectiveness of the Fireworks Regulations 2004 on preventing anti-social use of fireworks or the potential impact of fireworks noise on the welfare of pets or vulnerable adults.I recognise that people hold a range of v...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordMigrant Workers: Skilled WorkersHome OfficeTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111959More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's open consultation on Earned Settlement, due to close on 12 February 2026, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing transitional arra
Answer: The earned settlement model, proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, has been subject to a public consultation which ran until 12 February 2026.The consultation seeks views on whether there should be transitional arrangements for those already on a ...
Answered 17 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDelivery Services: Northern IrelandDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 3 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110555More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of postal deliveries across Northern Ireland.
Answer: Ministers and officials have discussions with Royal Mail on a regular basis in its capacity as the universal service provider. Earlier this month, I met the CEO of Royal Mail, Alistair Cochrane, to press him on Royal Mail’s progress in improving quality o...
Answered 5 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRoyal Mail: Lagan ValleyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 3 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110554More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will have discussions with Royal Mail to encourage timely deliveries in Lagan Valley.
Answer: Ministers and officials have discussions with Royal Mail on a regular basis in its capacity as the universal service provider. Earlier this month, I met the CEO of Royal Mail, Alistair Cochrane, to press him on Royal Mail’s progress in improving quality o...
Answered 5 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordCancer: ChildrenDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110553More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Department of Health and the Northern Ireland Executive to ensure that families of children and young people with cancer in Northern Ireland ca
Answer: The Department knows that the cost of travel is an important issue for many young cancer patients and their families across the United Kingdom.Through the National Cancer Plan, the Government is committing up to £10 million a year to a new fund open to al...
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordPublic Expenditure: Northern IrelandDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110552More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what Barnett consequentials arise for Northern Ireland as a result of the £10 million per year funding announced to cover travel costs for children and young people with cancer in England.
Answer: The Department knows that the cost of travel is an important issue for many young cancer patients and their families across the United Kingdom.Through the National Cancer Plan, the Government is committing up to £10 million a year to a new fund open to al...
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordLarge Goods Vehicle Drivers: Immigration ControlsDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110169More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Schengen 90 days in any 180 rule on UK professional drivers and the businesses that depend on them.
Answer: Since 2021, UK nationals (including hauliers and coach drivers) have been bound to a limit of 90 days in any 180-day period (90/180 limit) for work and leisure journeys in the Schengen area. This limit is consistent with the approach taken by the EU to na...
Answered 6 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordLarge Goods Vehicle Drivers: Immigration ControlsDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110168More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with her EU counterparts on the potential impact of the Schengen 90 days in any 180 rule on UK professional drivers.
Answer: Since 2021, UK nationals (including hauliers and coach drivers) have been bound to a limit of 90 days in any 180-day period (90/180 limit) for work and leisure journeys in the Schengen area. This limit is consistent with the approach taken by the EU to na...
Answered 6 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordLarge Goods Vehicle Drivers: Immigration ControlsDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110167More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she is taking to secure an exemption for UK professional HGV and coach drivers from the Schengen 90 days in any 180 rule.
Answer: Since 2021, UK nationals (including hauliers and coach drivers) have been bound to a limit of 90 days in any 180-day period (90/180 limit) for work and leisure journeys in the Schengen area. This limit is consistent with the approach taken by the EU to na...
Answered 6 Feb 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 recordPublic Expenditure: Northern IrelandDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 26 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108396More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the Warm Homes Plan will generate Barnett consequentials for Northern Ireland.
Answer: The funding allocations for the Warm Homes Plan do include Barnett consequentials, however the Treasury has not yet confirmed the specific appointments for the Devolved Governments. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have unique devolution settleme...
Answered 3 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordProstate Cancer: AbirateroneDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107546More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of Northern Ireland being the only part of the UK without routine access to abiraterone for men with non-metastatic prostate cancer on patient
Answer: There are no current plans to hold discussions with the Northern Irish Department of Health or the Health and Social Care Board on abiraterone access in Northern Ireland. Decisions on the availability of medicines in Northern Ireland are a matter for the ...
Answered 28 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordProstate Cancer: AbirateroneDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107545More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has had discussions with the Northern Ireland (a) Department of Health and (b) Health and Social Care Board on levels of accessibility to abiraterone for non-metastatic prost
Answer: There are no current plans to hold discussions with the Northern Irish Department of Health or the Health and Social Care Board on abiraterone access in Northern Ireland. Decisions on the availability of medicines in Northern Ireland are a matter for the ...
Answered 28 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordProstate Cancer: AbirateroneDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107544More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of Northern Ireland being the only part of the UK unable to offer abiraterone routinely to eligible prostate cancer patien
Answer: There are no current plans to hold discussions with the Northern Irish Department of Health or the Health and Social Care Board on abiraterone access in Northern Ireland. Decisions on the availability of medicines in Northern Ireland are a matter for the ...
Answered 28 Jan 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 recordLocal Growth Fund: Northern IrelandMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 19 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106686More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will outline how community and voluntary sector organisations in Northern Ireland will be formally involved in the design of the Local Growth Fund delivery model.
Answer: The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government is working in close partnership with the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Executive designing an Investment Plan for delivery of the new Local Growth Fund. The Local Growth Fund r...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament record
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