Sorcha Eastwood MP: written questions
148 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Occupied Territories: Human RightsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 20 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15386More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has taken recent steps to meet the duties set out in the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion entitled Legal Consequences Arising From The P
Answer: The UK does not disagree with the central findings of the International Court of Justice's Advisory Opinion on the 'Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem'. We a...
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordIsrael: Arms TradeForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 20 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15385More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of suspending all arms sales to Israel.
Answer: On day one in office, the Foreign Secretary commissioned a thorough review into Israel's compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL), given the grave concerns about the conduct and consequences of the war in Gaza for civilians. The Strategic Expo...
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordVoting RightsNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 20 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15367More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing residence-based voting rights in Northern Ireland.
Answer: The Government has no plans to revise the franchise for any elections based on residency. The right to vote at Parliamentary elections is consistent across the UK and it is important that all MPs are elected on a consistent franchise.In order to register ...
Answered 28 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordHearing AidsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 12 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13920More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for his policies of AirPods Pro 2's Hearing Aid feature.
Answer: We are aware of the new features on the AirPods Pro 2. As part of the 10-Year Health Plan, we will consider the potential of technologies, including wearable technologies, to support the shift in healthcare from hospital to community, analogue to digital,...
Answered 18 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordUK Shared Prosperity Fund: Northern IrelandMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 31 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 12169More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to make changes to funding levels of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in Northern Ireland.
Answer: The Autumn Budget announced that the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, for which the previous government made no plans beyond March 2025, will be extended for 2025-26 at a reduced level of £900 million.With this transitional arrangement, Northern Ireland will co...
Answered 8 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordRadioisotopes: Northern IrelandDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 12022More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking with his Northern Irish counterpart to ensure that radioisotopes are distributed to areas most in need.
Answer: The Department has been working hard with industry to help resolve the shortages of radioisotopes, which are affecting the United Kingdom and other countries around the world. The affected radioisotopes are mainly used for diagnosing cancers, including pr...
Answered 7 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordPublic Sector: Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11089More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what role he plans his Department will have in supporting the work of the Northern Ireland Transformation Board.
Answer: The establishment of a Public Service Transformation Board was a condition of the Government’s £3.3bn restoration package for the Northern Ireland Executive, which included £235m of funding specifically for the transformation of public services. The Board...
Answered 31 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPublic Sector: Northern IrelandCabinet OfficeTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10936More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will have discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive on the potential impact of the proposed Hillsborough Law on public services in Northern Ireland.
Answer: As the Prime Minister announced recently, the Hillsborough Law is a priority for this Government. Discussions have already begun between officials in the Cabinet Office and those in the devolved governments. I will continue to ensure that Ministerial coll...
Answered 5 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordEmployment: Advisory ServicesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 21 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10219More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which organisations she consulted on the proposal of having job coaches visit mental health patients in hospital.
Answer: The Secretary of State has made no announcement regarding having job coaches visit mental health patients in hospital and therefore did not consult any organisations. She was referring to her experience visiting a severe mental illness Individual Placemen...
Answered 28 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordElectronic Cigarettes and TobaccoDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10217More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to introduce the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
Answer: In the King’s Speech on 17 July 2024, we committed to introducing the Tobacco and Vapes Bill in this parliamentary session. The bill will create the first smoke-free generation, gradually ending the sale of tobacco products as well as stopping vapes and o...
Answered 25 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordFunerals: FraudDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 16 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9591More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to shut down online scams related to funeral homes.
Answer: Fraud offences are designated as priority under the Online Safety Act, which means that user-to-user and search services in scope of the Act must implement measures to prevent users encountering scams and frauds via their services.Additional duties to hav...
Answered 25 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordForeign Investment in UK: Northern IrelandDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 16 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9563More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the press release entitled Record-breaking International Investment Summit secures £63 billion and nearly 38,000 jobs for the UK, published on 14 October 2024, whether she has made an
Answer: The International Investment Summit on the 14th October sought to drive investment across the entirety of the UK. The announcement on 8th of October by bus operator Go Ahead, saw £500 million investment, supporting up to 500 UK manufacturing jobs, to deca...
Answered 25 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordDublin Belfast Economic CorridorNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 15 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9389More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has had discussions with the Dublin-Belfast Economic Corridor.
Answer: The Government’s priority is to ensure that Northern Ireland remains an attractive destination in which to live, work and invest. I regularly discuss opportunities for economic growth, including mutually beneficial cross-border opportunities, with the Nor...
Answered 21 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordUK Commission on Covid CommemorationDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 11 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8706More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department plans to take forward recommendations from the UK Commission on Covid Commemoration: Final Report, published in March 2023.
Answer: We are considering the Commission’s recommendations and have been working with bereaved family groups and other stakeholders, including other government departments and Devolved Governments.We want to do justice to the hard work of the Commission for Covi...
Answered 21 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordCancer: ScreeningDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 8 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7954More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the press release of 6 October 2024 entitled New government tech deals boost the business of cancer detection, whether (a) that initiative extends to Northern Ireland
Answer: The cancer detection initiatives announced on 06 October 2024 were part of UK-wide funding calls led by the Office for Life Sciences (OLS), UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Northern Ireland...
Answered 15 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordInfected Blood Compensation SchemeCabinet OfficeTabled 8 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7953More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) claims under the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme can be inherited by the families of deceased claimants and (b) people who are unable to receive their payments due t
Answer: Where a person who would have been eligible to apply to the Scheme as an infected person has tragically died, the personal representatives of the deceased person’s estate can apply for compensation on behalf of the estate of the deceased infected person. ...
Answered 21 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordInfected Blood Compensation SchemeCabinet OfficeTabled 8 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7952More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will take steps to expedite the payment process for (a) elderly and (b) vulnerable people eligible for compensation under the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme.
Answer: The Infected Blood Compensation Authority is responsible for making payments to those eligible under the scheme, and they are carefully considering all options around payments, including the prioritisation of any payments. For those who are infected, the ...
Answered 18 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordLocal Growth Deals: Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 7 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7629More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to progress funding for the Mid South West and Causeway Coast and Glens growth deals; and for what reason those projects have been paused.
Answer: I understand the enormous importance of the City and Growth Deals in Northern Ireland for economic growth. However, we are facing a £22 billion black hole in the public finances. Many of the City and Growth Deals have decades’ worth of funding attached so...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordInfected Blood Compensation SchemeCabinet OfficeTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6909More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the option for individual assessment of claims will be made to victims of the infected blood scandal.
Answer: The Government expects the majority of claims will be made via the tariff-based Core Route. In some exceptional cases however, the level of compensation awarded through the Core Route may not be sufficiently reflective of the financial loss and care costs...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordInfected Blood Compensation SchemeCabinet OfficeTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6908More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the infected blood compensation scheme will deliver compensation in the event of an infected person's death to (a) their surviving partner and (b) their estate.
Answer: Where a person who would have been eligible to apply to the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme as an infected person has died, the personal representatives of the deceased person’s estate may apply for compensation on behalf of their estate. People who ar...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordInfected Blood Compensation SchemeCabinet OfficeTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6907More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how the infected blood compensation scheme will account for the additional financial burdens experienced by (a) carers and (b) bereaved partners.
Answer: Compensation paid through the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme will be calculated in line with tariffs and based on the severity of infection and negative impacts suffered by victims - both infected and affected - in different aspects of their lives. Al...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordInfected Blood Compensation SchemeCabinet OfficeTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6906More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how the Infected Blood Compensation Authority will determine the date of infection for individuals where no definitive medical records are available; and what criteria will be used to make these determinations.
Answer: Given the historic nature of the infected blood scandal, the Government recognises that not all medical records will still be available. The Scheme has been designed to minimise as far as possible the burden on those applying, and as set out in the Infect...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordInfected Blood Compensation SchemeCabinet OfficeTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6905More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department plans to support the provision of (a) legal advice and (b) advocacy services to potential claimants under the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme.
Answer: The Infected Blood Compensation Authority will aim to ensure that appropriate advice and support is available to assist people with managing their compensation awards, accessing financial services, and accessing benefits advice where relevant. Sir Robert ...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordCarer's Allowance: EligibilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6904More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the eligibility criteria for Carer’s Allowance for people in receipt of the State Pension who have provided long-term unpaid care.
Answer: Although there is no upper age limit to claiming Carer’s Allowance, it cannot normally be paid with the State Pension. It has been a long-held feature of the GB benefit system, under successive Governments, that where someone is entitled to two benefits f...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordLocal Housing AllowanceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6903More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to ensure Local Housing Allowance keeps pace with local rents.
Answer: Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates were restored to the 30th percentile of local market rents from April 2024 for one year. Decisions on LHA for future years will be taken in the context of the Government’s missions, housing priorities, and the fiscal co...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →