Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Autumn Budget 2025

Wednesday 11 February 2026 · 8 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 6 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Autumn Budget 2025 provided Northern Ireland with an additional 370 million.
  • Lifting the two-child benefit cap in Northern Ireland will help more than 17,000 children.
  • Discussions are underway regarding the second phase of funding for the public services transformation fund.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Sean Woodcock Lab Banbury
Economy Northern Ireland
Context

The MP is concerned about the potential impact of the autumn budget on Northern Ireland, citing specific financial concerns and measures.

Question

What assessment has been made of the potential impact of the autumn budget 2025 on Northern Ireland? The autumn budget provided additional funding for Northern Ireland, but there are concerns about its overall impact.

Answer from Hilary Benn

The autumn Budget provided Northern Ireland with an additional £370 million on top of the record spending review settlement, and will assist families with the cost of living by cutting energy bills, lifting the two-child benefit limit and raising the minimum wage.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The question asked for a comprehensive assessment but only provided funding figures without analysis or impact details.

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Q1 Sean Woodcock Lab Banbury
Economy Northern Ireland
Context

The MP is concerned about the potential impact of the autumn budget on Northern Ireland, citing specific financial concerns and measures.

Question

What assessment has been made of the potential impact of the autumn budget 2025 on Northern Ireland? The autumn budget provided additional funding for Northern Ireland, but there are concerns about its overall impact.

Answer from Hilary Benn

The autumn Budget provided Northern Ireland with an additional £370 million on top of the record spending review settlement, and will assist families with the cost of living by cutting energy bills, lifting the two-child benefit limit and raising the minimum wage.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The question asked for a comprehensive assessment but only provided funding figures without analysis or impact details.

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Q2 Sean Woodcock Lab Banbury
Economy Benefits & Welfare Children & Families
Context

The MP is concerned about the impact of government policies on child poverty and families in Northern Ireland, referencing specific government initiatives.

Question

What assessment has been made of the impact of the abolition of the two-child benefit cap for families in Northern Ireland? The Government's child poverty strategy aims to lift over 550,000 children out of poverty by 2030.

Answer from Hilary Benn

Lifting the two-child benefit cap in Northern Ireland will help more than 17,000 children and over 48,000 people. We are also increasing the national minimum wage to benefit 170,000 people and raising the state pension for 330,000 pensioners.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer provided statistics but did not address the specific assessment of lifting the cap's impact on families in Northern Ireland as asked.

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Q2 Sean Woodcock Lab Banbury
Economy Benefits & Welfare Children & Families
Context

The MP is concerned about the impact of government policies on child poverty and families in Northern Ireland, referencing specific government initiatives.

Question

What assessment has been made of the impact of the abolition of the two-child benefit cap for families in Northern Ireland? The Government's child poverty strategy aims to lift over 550,000 children out of poverty by 2030.

Answer from Hilary Benn

Lifting the two-child benefit cap in Northern Ireland will help more than 17,000 children and over 48,000 people. We are also increasing the national minimum wage to benefit 170,000 people and raising the state pension for 330,000 pensioners.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer provided statistics but did not address the specific assessment of lifting the cap's impact on families in Northern Ireland as asked.

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Q3 Carla Lockhart DUP Upper Bann
NHS Northern Ireland
Context

The MP is concerned about cancer outcomes and waiting times in Northern Ireland, citing specific statistics and seeking transformational funding.

Question

Can the Minister confirm whether conversations are happening with the Treasury to ask for transformational money to help transform our health service so that cancer wait times and medical pathways can be improved? Sadly, Northern Ireland has the worst cancer outcomes across the UK. Breast cancer referrals take in excess of 14 weeks.

Answer from Hilary Benn

Like the whole House, I share the hon. Member's wish to improve cancer treatment and waiting times. There is the public services transformation fund; decisions are about to be taken on the second phase of funding. We need reform under Mike Nesbitt's leadership.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not confirm if there were conversations with Treasury but mentioned a public services transformation fund and needed reforms.

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Q3 Carla Lockhart DUP Upper Bann
NHS Northern Ireland
Context

The MP is concerned about cancer outcomes and waiting times in Northern Ireland, citing specific statistics and seeking transformational funding.

Question

Can the Minister confirm whether conversations are happening with the Treasury to ask for transformational money to help transform our health service so that cancer wait times and medical pathways can be improved? Sadly, Northern Ireland has the worst cancer outcomes across the UK. Breast cancer referrals take in excess of 14 weeks.

Answer from Hilary Benn

Like the whole House, I share the hon. Member's wish to improve cancer treatment and waiting times. There is the public services transformation fund; decisions are about to be taken on the second phase of funding. We need reform under Mike Nesbitt's leadership.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not confirm if there were conversations with Treasury but mentioned a public services transformation fund and needed reforms.

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Q4 Charlie Dewhirst Con Bridlington and The Wolds
Economy Taxation Northern Ireland
Context

The MP is concerned about the impact of national insurance increases on the hospitality sector in Northern Ireland, citing business losses and impacts on tourism targets.

Question

How is the Northern Ireland Executive expected to achieve their target of doubling tourism in the next 10 years if the Chancellor's increase in national insurance contributions is having a devastating impact on the hospitality sector? Over a quarter of businesses report losses; another 20% are breaking even.

Answer from Hilary Benn

The increase in national insurance was a decision that the Government took to deal with the inheritance left by the last Government. The fact that the Northern Ireland economy is growing and has the lowest unemployment in the UK shows the strength of its economy.

Not addressed: The answer did not address how national insurance increases impact tourism targets but instead discussed overall economic growth.

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Q4 Charlie Dewhirst Con Bridlington and The Wolds
Economy Taxation Northern Ireland
Context

The MP is concerned about the impact of national insurance increases on the hospitality sector in Northern Ireland, citing business losses and impacts on tourism targets.

Question

How is the Northern Ireland Executive expected to achieve their target of doubling tourism in the next 10 years if the Chancellor's increase in national insurance contributions is having a devastating impact on the hospitality sector? Over a quarter of businesses report losses; another 20% are breaking even.

Answer from Hilary Benn

The increase in national insurance was a decision that the Government took to deal with the inheritance left by the last Government. The fact that the Northern Ireland economy is growing and has the lowest unemployment in the UK shows the strength of its economy.

Not addressed: The answer did not address how national insurance increases impact tourism targets but instead discussed overall economic growth.

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