Minister's Answer My Department or the Public Health Agency have not been invited to attend this event. Screening policy across the UK is informed by the recommendations of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), an independent committee which advises the four UK health Departments on screening matters. My Department will continue to be guided by the UK NSC’s recommendations on proposals for screening programmes.

Minister's Answer I agree with the Member about the impact of waiting times on patients and their families and friends. I do not have an answer to the Member's specific question about Belfast City Hospital. Generally speaking, however, we are trying to deal with regional variation, particularly where it is not reasonable variation. I gave an example to Mr Kingston of what I consider not to be reasonable variation or a reasonable reason for delay. As well as making savings in

Thinking ahead to planting season? A local social enterprise based in prison grounds is offering sustainably grown trees at reduced prices while stocks last. Magilligan Tree Nursery has announced two special offers and has also explained how each order helps support its prisoner rehabilitation efforts as well as work to help native tree species and the community. The offers – 10 trees from £8.95 plus one free tree with every ten purchased – are now available. The £8.95 price

Minister's Answer My officials initially assessed the damage to the sea wall, at Rhanbuoy Park, immediately following Storm Bram, which occurred on Tuesday 9 December 2025. Temporary measures were put in place to ensure public safety and mitigate against future flooding, until permanent repairs can be completed. As you will appreciate work of this nature is susceptible to the elements; therefore, repairs will be scheduled during more amenable weather conditions. Officials con

The Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI), Education Authority (EA) and Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) are issuing the below joint letter to parents and carers via schools, colleges, youth clubs and other organisations working with children and young people. The letter highlights growing concerns about the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) to create or manipulate harmful and sexualised images of young people. There is growing concern about the use of

Minister's Answer We have engaged with a number of organisations, not least the National Association of Head Teachers. We have facilitated engagement with principals. We continue to identify specific localities where there is a need, and we seek to engage with school principals there, but, ultimately, not enough schools are making themselves available. Whatever their concerns may be, they need to work with the EA to identify the challenges. I intend to strengthen the Educatio

Minister's Answer I do agree with that. That is why I outlined what a 10-year capital programme for special educational needs provision would look like, not least in establishing new schools but in enhancing provision in mainstream settings. Where children are able to avail themselves of their local school that will inevitably reduce the requirement for long-distance transport and the associated costs. The EA has looked at the current provision through its contracts with taxi

Minister's Answer The Member points to the independent review of education, which references the creation of a single authority, but leaves out the recommendations. Each member of the panel said that this would be a necessary step towards the creation of a single education authority. Those independent members recognise that the controlled sector is treated in a suboptimal fashion. They support the creation of the managing authority for controlled schools, and they say that it

Minister's Answer The procurement policy note (PPN) 01/21 on social value in procurement was revised in February 2025 following reviews by the Strategic Investment Board (SIB) and key stakeholders, including the voluntary, community and social enterprise sectors, Departments and centres of procurement expertise (COPEs). The reviews identified the policy as having made a real difference to how contractors incorporate social value into their business models. However, they also

Minister's Answer Yes, it will include a review of section 167 of the 2008 Act. I am sure that everyone in the House knows that section of the Act. The review will provide certainty for institutions that are not established under the law of Northern Ireland but operate here for charitable purposes.