Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

The use of mobile phones in schools can be a distraction for many pupils, preventing classrooms from being calm, safe and supportive environments that are conducive to teaching. The ‘Mobile phones in schools’ guidance, which was published in February 2024, supports head teachers in prohibiting the use of mobile phones throughout the school day.

The department will monitor how schools respond to the new guidance and, should schools continue to raise issues with prohibiting the use of mobile phones in schools, the department will seek to introduce legislation at the earliest opportunity when parliamentary time allows.

Health Services in Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Government.

In Northern Ireland, specialist clinical psychological support has been available for all infected and affected individuals impacted by contaminated blood since January 2019. The service was initially provided within the existing Clinical Health Psychological Services. After receiving the non-recurrent funding from the Department of Health as part of the inquiry process, a dedicated regional psychological service, providing assessment, psychological therapies, liaison and sign posting as appropriate, for those individuals who were infected and affected, as well as their relatives, has been made available. This includes HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C infected or affected individuals. A patient and family information leaflet is available within clinics and to clinicians, to discuss referral to this service with patients and their families.

Rising insecurity in Nigeria has affected communities of all faiths, including Christians. UK Government officials and I regularly raise freedom of religion or belief (FoRB), including the impact of insecurity on communities and the need to bring perpetrators to justice, with the Nigerian Government. In February, I met the Nigerian Minister of State for Police Affairs, where I emphasised the UK's commitment to helping Nigeria tackle the root causes of conflict and instability. During the UK/ Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership dialogue in February, we agreed to enhance the existing cooperation in a number of areas, including training of security forces and conflict management.

People on low, or no income or earnings who have a health condition or disability which restricts the amount of work they can do, can claim Universal Credit (UC). They must provide medical evidence to support their claim - most commonly a Statement of Fitness for Work, usually referred to as a fit note. Claimants whose health condition or disability continues for four weeks or more are referred for a work capability assessment (WCA). The WCA determines how an individual’s health condition or disability affects their ability to work. A key principle is that the WCA considers the impact a person’s disability or health condition has on them, not the condition itself.

Where it has been decided that claimants have limited capability for work (LCW) or limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA), they will be entitled to a work allowance, and in couple claims where one is working, access to help with childcare costs.  Where it has been decided that claimants have LCWRA, they may be entitled to the award of an additional amount of benefit – the LCWRA addition – which is £390.06 per month (2023-24 rates).

Where it has been decided that claimants have LCW, they are not reasonably expected to look for work at present but are expected to prepare for work in the future. Where it has been decided that claimants have LCWRA, they are not expected to look for work or required to undertake any work-related activity. Where it has been decided that claimants are fit for work, they are expected to undertake work-related activity and to look for work.

People whose capability for work is impacted because they are disabled or have a health condition, including people who have Parkinson’s and other long term health conditions, may also be eligible for New Style Employment and Support Allowance (NS ESA) subject to satisfying both the basic and National Insurance contribution conditions. NS ESA is an earnings replacement benefit for working age people who are unable to work due to a health condition or disability. In addition to the support provided for basic financial outgoings by UC people with a long-term health condition or disability may be entitled to support with disability-related extra costs through benefits such as Personal Independence Payment.

The Statistical Expert Group, established by the Infected Blood Inquiry, has provided valuable insight into the numbers of infections from blood and blood products in the UK between 1970 and 1991 and subsequent survival rates. Since October 2022, the Government has paid over £400 million in interim compensation payments to those infected or bereaved partners registered with the UK Infected Blood Support Schemes, totalling over 4000 individuals. However, the requested information is not available by Parliamentary constituency. There is also considerable uncertainty over the number of people, especially those affected, who might be eligible under Sir Brian Langstaff’s recommendations. Therefore I am not able to provide a substantive response to the Honourable member’s questions on his constituency.

The Statistical Expert Group, established by the Infected Blood Inquiry, has provided valuable insight into the numbers of infections from blood and blood products in the UK between 1970 and 1991 and subsequent survival rates. Since October 2022, the Government has paid over £400 million in interim compensation payments to those infected or bereaved partners registered with the UK Infected Blood Support Schemes, totalling over 4000 individuals. However, the requested information is not available by Parliamentary constituency. There is also considerable uncertainty over the number of people, especially those affected, who might be eligible under Sir Brian Langstaff’s recommendations. Therefore I am not able to provide a substantive response to the Honourable member’s questions on his constituency.

The Statistical Expert Group, established by the Infected Blood Inquiry, has provided valuable insight into the numbers of infections from blood and blood products in the UK between 1970 and 1991 and subsequent survival rates. Since October 2022, the Government has paid over £400 million in interim compensation payments to those infected or bereaved partners registered with the UK Infected Blood Support Schemes, totalling over 4000 individuals. However, the requested information is not available by Parliamentary constituency. There is also considerable uncertainty over the number of people, especially those affected, who might be eligible under Sir Brian Langstaff’s recommendations. Therefore I am not able to provide a substantive response to the Honourable member’s questions on his constituency.

The hon. Member will know that, shockingly, smoking kills 80,000 people across the UK every year, and costs society £17 billion in ill health and loss of productivity. The Government will introduce the tobacco and vapes Bill shortly. I am delighted to say that Northern Ireland Ministers announced just this morning that we will legislate for the whole of the United Kingdom.

The Department has not made an estimate of the number of people who were treated with contaminated blood products and given contaminated blood transfusions by the National Health Service in the South Antrim constituency, nor has it made an estimate of the numbers of these people who have since died.

State-funded healthcare within the United Kingdom but outside of England is a devolved matter, and the responsibility of the devolved administrations.

Transport is a ‘transferred matter’ i.e. devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive and thus the responsibility of the Executive. However, as outlined by the Secretary of State for Transport in his written ministerial statement of 7 December 2023, the UK Government is funding a feasibility study on the electrification of the railway line from Belfast to the border with the Republic of Ireland. The study is being conducted by Translink on behalf of the Department for Infrastructure, with a projected completion date of spring 2025.

This is an appalling tragedy, and my thoughts remain with all those affected. We understand the strength of feeling, and the need for action. The Government have accepted the moral case for compensation, and have acknowledged that justice needs to be delivered for victims. As such, the Government intend to respond in full to Sir Brian Langstaff’s recommendations for wider compensation following the publication of the inquiry’s final report in May this year.

This Government is committed to tackling all forms of homelessness including youth homelessness.

The Government's 'Ending Rough Sleeping for Good' Strategy, published last year and backed by £2 billion over three years in England, recognises young people face particular challenges. The strategy confirmed a £200 million investment in the Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme (SHAP) which will deliver homes for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping, including young people. In addition, £2.4 million of Rough Sleeping Initiative funding for 2022-2025 supports youth services in local areas.

The department will continue to work with local authorities and partners in the voluntary and community sector and private sector to tackle youth homelessness.

Officials from the Department for Transport regularly engage with their counterparts in Northern Ireland’s Department for Infrastructure on the recommendations made by Lord Peter Hendy’s Union Connectivity Review (UCR). The UK Government’s response to the UCR was published on 7 December 2023 and outlined UK Government funding of £4.8m to support the recommendations made for improved rail connections in Northern Ireland, including £700k for a feasibility study on reopening the Antrim to Lisburn railway line with an additional stop at Belfast International Airport.

The Union Connectivity Review was an independent review, led by Lord Peter Hendy of Richmond Hill. We agree that high quality data across all transport modes in the UK are vital for managing capacity, ensuring safety and future transport planning. We are considering the current scope of data collection with a view to expanding it where possible and beneficial. This will include improving collaborative working with the devolved administrations on data sharing.

For example, improving the collection of UK-wide data was discussed at the Transport Inter-Ministerial Group in May. Ministers have asked officials from all administrations to conduct an audit of existing data sharing arrangements and look for areas of improvement and further collaboration.

Policy regarding pavement parking and its enforcement in Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Department for Infrastructure. Any decision around the publication of the results of the ‘Inconsiderate pavement parking - Options Paper’ and the potential implementation of its recommendations rest with the Department of Infrastructure.

A devolved power-sharing government, in line with the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, is the best way to deliver good governance and prosperity in Northern Ireland. It is vital that the Northern Ireland Executive is restored so that locally elected representatives are in place to continue important policy development relating to issues such as parking and enforcement.

Government grants have been in place for over a decade to help reduce the up-front purchase price of electric vehicles. Since 2011, the Government has provided over £1.8 billion in grant funding to bring ultra-low emission vehicles onto UK roads, which has supported over 500,000 ULEVs. 355,000 of which are zero emission vehicles.

The Plug-in Van and Truck Grants remain available until at least the financial year 2024/25. Through these grants, customers can secure funds of up to £2,500 for small vans and £5,000 for large vans.

All Plug-in Vehicle grants are kept under continual review to ensure best value for money for the taxpayer.