Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Education whether any recent assessment has been made of the potential merits of providing free school meals to all school children. Minister of Education: Free school meals (FSM) continue to provide vital help to many low-income families. For some children, access to a nutritious school … Continue reading AQW 47762/22-27 – Free school meals
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Justice to detail any protocols in place regarding the sharing of biometrics and criminal records data with (i) the EU; and (ii) non-EU partners. Minister of Justice: The reciprocal sharing of biometrics and criminal records data with EU Member States is provided for under Part … Continue reading AQW 47633/22-27 – Sharing of biometrics and criminal records data
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail any support that is available to the food and drink sector to transition to low-carbon refrigeration. Minister for the Economy: Financial and technical advice is made available through the Energy and Resource Efficiency Programme, helping businesses in the North to decarbonise. … Continue reading AQW 47405/22-27 – Low-carbon refrigeration
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to detail any steps his Department is taking to support farmers to recycle farm plastic. Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs: The use of plastic on farms is unavoidable, given its role in items such as spray containers, silage … Continue reading AQW 46801/22-27 – Recycling farm plastic
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Justice to detail any recent assessment made of the adequacy of regulations governing the use of unmanned drones in residential areas. Minister of Justice: Counter drones policy is a reserved matter which sits with the Home Office. It is not within the devolved competence of … Continue reading AQW 48003/22-27 – Regulation of unmanned drones in residential areas
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail any recent discussions she has had with the UK Treasury on the benefits of a reduction in the level of VAT for the hospitality sector in the North. Minister for the Economy: Our hospitality businesses are vital not only to our … Continue reading AQW 47870/22-27 – Reduction in level of VAT for hospitality sector
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail any economic modelling that is being factored into Artificial Intelligence governance. Minister for the Economy: My department commissioned Matrix, the NI Science Industry Panel, to assess the potential economic impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) last year. Its report, which is available … Continue reading AQW 47508/22-27 – Artificial Intelligence governance
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail any recent assessment made of the equity of the pay gap between further education college lecturers and school teachers. Minister for the Economy: Further Education (FE) colleges, as employers, are responsible for terms and conditions, including pay, for their lecturers as … Continue reading AQW 47277/22-27 – College Lecturers pay gap
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