ALT Sustainable Energy Communities NI (SEC NI), established to support a community-led model of local energy action in Northern Ireland, has secured Great British Energy funding to support the delivery of the Sustainable Energy Communities Programme by providing community engagement, awareness raising, capacity building, technical assistance and programme coordination activities. SEC NI will be hosting a series of informal information sessions for organisations and communities interested in the Great British Energy Community Fund. The £20 million Community Fund - offers grant funding to help community organisations across England, Wales and Northern Ireland to test, develop and build community-owned clean energy assets.

ALT Support Available & Contact Information There are five Local Net Zero Hubs across England that provide free support and advice to community energy projects. • North East & Yorkshire, • North West, • Midlands, • South West, • Greater South East These Hubs can provide pre-application advice and feedback, support project scoping and development, connect applicants with technical expertise and delivery partners, and facilitate peer learning and knowledge sharing. Applicants based in Wales and Northern Ireland can access additional support from relevant regional and national organisations working in community energy and local decarbonisation. This includes the Welsh Government Energy Service (WGES) in Wales and Advice NI in Northern Ireland.

ALT Jim Shannon In a reply to another hon. Member, the Minister referred to the renewables sector benefits that will be used for all the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Will the Minister specifically outline the benefits that will come to Northern Ireland and help it to reduce its energy costs? Michael Shanks I often have to start with the refrain that energy policy is devolved to Northern Ireland, but there are points to make on two fronts. First, our interconnector with Ireland, which takes gas from Great Britain into Ireland, will benefit from the security of supply that we are delivering through this decision, which is important. Secondly, although I do not have responsibility for decisions on energy policy in Northern Ireland, we have said from the beginning that the National Wealth Fund and Great British Energy will operate and invest in projects in Northern Ireland. I can confirm that the £2 billion we have set up today will be part of that picture

ALT To ask His Majesty's Government how many of those aged 18 to 24 who started a Universal Credit claim in the 12 months to May 2026 had within (1) three months, (2) six months, and (3) 12 months, of the start of their claim been determined to have (a) limited capability for work, or (b) limited capability for work and work-related activity.

ALT Answered on 19 October 2026 Of the 440,000 people aged 18 to 24 who started a Universal Credit claim in the 12 months to May 2026: (1) 4,000 were found to have limited capability for work, and 20,000 were found to have limited capability for work and work-related activity within 3 months of the start of their claim. (2) 5,000 were found to have limited capability for work, and 21,000 were found to have limited capability for work and work-related activity within 6 months of the start of their claim. (3) 5,000 were found to have limited capability for work, and 22,000 were found to have limited capability for work and work-related activity within 12 months of the start of their claim. Notes: A starter to Universal Credit is defined as an individual who has completed the Universal Credit claim process and accepted their Claimant Commitment. Figures are rounded to the nearest 1,000.

ALT Hundreds of thousands of pensioners urged to check they're not missing out on vital Pension Credit

ALT To ask the Minister for Communities to detail any assessment his Department has made of the value for money delivered by Advice NI’s Debt Advice Service, in light of the report From Delay to Action: Research on Debt Advice, Shame and Effective Messaging, finding that the service delivered £5.83 of social value for every £1 invested and created almost £9 million in social value in 2024-25. - Hide Answer My Department receives ring-fenced debt levy funding from HM Treasury to support the provision of debt advice services in Northern Ireland. Through this funding, the Northern Ireland Debt Advice Service is delivered by Advice NI, providing free, confidential and impartial debt advice to individuals and families across Northern Ireland. Service delivery is monitored through established governance and reporting arrangements. The report highlights the significant benefits that access to timely debt advice can deliver for those experiencing financial hardship.

ALT Amendment 3 Clause 1, Page 1, Line 23 At end insert— ‘(1FA) The daily allowance under article 58(1F) shall be no less than any charge imposed for a school meal, in accordance with arrangements approved by the Department.’ Amendment 4 Clause 1, Page 2, Line 10 At end insert ‘and article 58(1FA).’

ALT Mr Baker: May I ask a wee question? Mr Givan: I thought that I had heard something. Feel free, Danny. Mr Baker: Thank you. Before you continue, will you break down the £7 million figure for this year, please? Mr Givan: After the Bill goes through Final Stage and receives Royal Assent, we will be coming into the Christmas period, after which we will hit half term and Easter. We therefore considered the provision's becoming a legal requirement on the granting of Royal Assent and worked through what that will mean for the cost associated with giving effect to the legislation. Sorry, do you want to come in again? Mr Baker: That is great news. I hope that we can have the legislation in place by Christmas, so it is good that you are on that page. Thank you.