Sorcha Eastwood MP: written questions
148 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information RecoveryNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 10 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36898More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on what evidential basis he said that Northern Ireland courts had determined that the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery independence has adequate (a) powers and (b) indep
Answer: The Court of Appeal recognised the structural independence and wide powers of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR). The Court was clear that ICRIR has the capability to replicate investigations that were previousl...
Answered 18 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordPost Office Horizon IT InquiryDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35459More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what his expected timeline is for (a) receiving and (b) responding to the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry.
Answer: Sir Wyn Williams is committed to progressing matters as swiftly as he can. Now that the final Phase of gathering oral evidence is complete, Sir Wyn will look to deliver his report on what happened, what went wrong and why. He said in December 2024 that pu...
Answered 13 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordUnited Nations: Older PeopleForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 11 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30868More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will hold discussions with his UN counterparts on the potential merits of creating a UN Convention on the rights of older persons.
Answer: The UK Government is committed to equality and opportunity for all, with a particular focus on those most likely to be marginalised and discriminated against, including on the grounds of their age. We are open in principle to the idea of a multilateral in...
Answered 17 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHistorical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Act 2019Northern Ireland OfficeTabled 28 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26976More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will amend the Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Act 2019 to include siblings and parents in the entitlement to claim compensation in respect of deceased person criteria.
Answer: The Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Act 2019 provides for a redress scheme for victims who suffered abuse while resident in these institutions in Northern Ireland. The legislation was put in place by the previous UK Government due to the...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordMotor Insurance TaskforceDepartment for TransportTabled 21 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25425More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many meetings of the Motor Insurance Taskforce have taken place; and when the next meeting will take place.
Answer: The cross-Government Motor Insurance Taskforce met for the first time on 16 October 2024. The Government will provide updates on the Taskforce’s work in due course.
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordVisas: PalestiniansHome OfficeTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25020More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to create a visa scheme for Palestinians that is similar to the Ukraine Family Scheme.
Answer: Immediate family members of British citizens, and those settled in the UK, who wish to come and live in the UK and do not have a current UK visa can apply under one of the existing family visa routes. There are no plans to create a bespoke family reunion ...
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordArtificial Intelligence: Northern IrelandDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25019More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the report entitled AI Opportunities Action Plan, published on 13 January 2025, what discussions he has had with the (a) Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and (b
Answer: The AI Opportunities Action Plan sets out how we will achieve our AI ambitions by laying the foundations for AI growth, driving adoption and building UK capability at the frontier. The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology engaged with...
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordBlood Cancer: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 6 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22161More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help reduce inequalities of care for blood cancer patients.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 October 2024 to Question 5808.
Answered 9 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordBlood Cancer: DatabasesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 6 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22160More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of blood cancer data.
Answer: The National Disease Registration Service, through the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Services (NCRAS), collects information on how many people in England are diagnosed with or treated for cancer. Blood cancer is included as a distinct category...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordNorthern Ireland Public Sector Transformation BoardNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 3 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21747More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many departmental bids have been (a) received and (b) approved by the Northern Ireland Public Sector Transformation Board.
Answer: Following the establishment of an Interim Public Sector Transformation Board in May 2024, the interim Board ran a process to consider the 47 proposals which were received from Northern Ireland Departments. The Interim Board has recommended several proposa...
Answered 10 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Expenditure: Northern IrelandTreasuryTabled 19 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21479More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Department of Health and Social Care's press release entitled Biggest investment into hospices in a generation, published on 19 December 2024, whether any Barnett consequentials will be made av
Answer: The Barnett formula applies to all increases or decreases to UK Government Departmental Expenditure Limits (DEL). As this funding for adult and children’s hospices is being re-allocated from within existing Department of Health and Social Care budgets the...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordConsumer Goods: SafetyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 13 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20075More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to support British-based businesses to appoint a responsible person under the General Product Safety Regulations to access to Northern Ireland and EU markets.
Answer: The Government is supporting small businesses to understand and comply with the new General Product Safety Regulation. We have published guidance on the new Regulation in Northern Ireland, which we will keep under review, and we are continuing to engage d...
Answered 23 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPolitics and Government: Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18736More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he plans to have discussions with political parties on the future of Northern Ireland's political institutions.
Answer: I meet regularly with the Northern Ireland parties to discuss a range of issues, including the UK Government’s commitment to ensuring the long-term stability of Northern Ireland institutions.
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordNorthern Ireland Executive: Public AppointmentsNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18735More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of reforming the process for appointing the (a) First Minister and (b) Deputy First Minister.
Answer: I meet regularly with the Northern Ireland parties to discuss a range of issues, including the UK Government’s commitment to ensuring the long-term stability of Northern Ireland institutions.
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordUK Internal Trade: Northern IrelandDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 6 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18435More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to monitor the application of the guidance entitled General product safety regulations: Northern Ireland: Guidance for businesses on Regulation 2023/988, published on 5 Dec
Answer: The Department will be monitoring the application of the new General Product Safety Regulation in Northern Ireland and will keep the guidance on the Regulation under review to ensure we are supporting businesses to trade freely across the UK.
Answered 12 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordUK Internal Trade: Northern IrelandDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 6 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18434More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he is taking steps to ensure that small businesses in Great Britain are aware of his Department's guidance entitled General product safety regulations: Northern Ireland: Guidance for businesses
Answer: My officials have been engaging regularly with businesses on the new General Product Safety Regulations in Northern Ireland. The guidance for businesses has been shared with the business community in Great Britain and Northern Ireland through existing cha...
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordFinancial Inclusion Committee: Public AppointmentsTreasuryTabled 6 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18433More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had on the potential merits of appointing a Northern Ireland representative to the Financial Inclusion Committee.
Answer: On 5 December, I convened a Financial Inclusion Committee which has been established to tackle the problems of financial exclusion. Through this committee, I will work with consumer groups and industry on the development of a Financial Inclusion Strategy....
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordFinancial Inclusion Committee: Public AppointmentsTreasuryTabled 6 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18432More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of appointing a representative from Northern Ireland to the Financial Inclusion Committee.
Answer: On 5 December, I convened a Financial Inclusion Committee which has been established to tackle the problems of financial exclusion. Through this committee, I will work with consumer groups and industry on the development of a Financial Inclusion Strategy....
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordUK Internal Trade: Northern IrelandDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18260More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will meet with online consumers in Northern Ireland experiencing difficulties buying goods from Great Britain.
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is committed to implementing the Windsor Framework in good faith and are constructively working with all stakeholders, including consumer groups, to protect the UK Internal Market. HM Government continues to sup...
Answered 12 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordConsumer Goods: SafetyNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18259More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the impact of the General Product Safety Regulations on the ability of consumers in Northern Ireland to buy goods from Great Britain.
Answer: The updated General Product Safety Regulations largely formalises how businesses are already operating in the UK and the measures are therefore likely to have limited impact in practice. Where businesses need to make changes, we expect that they will be a...
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordConsumer Goods: SafetyNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18258More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the potential impact of the General Product Safety Regulations 2023 on the ability of consumers in Northern Ireland to bu
Answer: The updated General Product Safety Regulations largely formalises how businesses are already operating in the UK and the measures are therefore likely to have limited impact in practice. Where businesses need to make changes, we expect that they will be a...
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSmoking: Northern IrelandDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15880More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on supporting smokers in Northern Ireland to quit.
Answer: The landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill was introduced into Parliament on 5 November 2024 and will be the single biggest public health intervention since the Government banned smoking in indoor public spaces.This bill goes further than ever before. It will cr...
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordEthics and Integrity CommissionCabinet OfficeTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15852More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his planned timetable is for establishing the Ethics and Integrity Commission.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 31 July 2024, Official Report, PQ 1251.
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordVoting Rights: Young PeopleNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 22 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15687More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the introduction of votes at 16 in Northern Ireland.
Answer: The introduction of votes at 16 will be a major change to the franchise. I will of course work closely with my Ministerial counterparts across Government and other stakeholders on the development and implementation of this change.
Answered 29 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordVoting Rights: Young PeopleNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 22 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15683More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he plans to introduce votes at 16 before (a) elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly and (b) local elections take place.
Answer: This Government will legislate to lower the voting age to 16 during this Parliament. This change will strengthen our democracy and empower young people to participate in it.
Answered 29 Nov 2024
Original Parliament record
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