Alan Gemmell MP: written questions

Written questions

• Foreign Investment in UK: AyrshireScotland OfficeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24220More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on attracting international investment to Ayrshire.

  Answer: Ministers and officials from the Scotland Office regularly engage with Scottish Government colleagues, local authorities, and economic development partners to drive inward investment and deliver regional economic growth across Scotland.Recent discussions ...

  Answered 10 Sept 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Foreign Investment in UK: AyrshireScotland OfficeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24219More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps his Department is taking to increase foreign direct investment into Ayrshire's aerospace, advanced manufacturing and engineering sectors.

  Answer: The UK Government actively promotes Ayrshire’s world-class aerospace, advanced manufacturing, and engineering capabilities to global markets.Key steps include:Prestwick Aerospace: Supporting the development of the Aerospace and Space Innovation Centre at ...

  Answered 10 Sept 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Foreign Investment in UK: AyrshireScotland OfficeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24218More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many inward investment projects his department has supported in Ayrshire in each of the last five years.

  Answer: The UK Government is providing substantial funding across Ayrshire to drive long-term economic growth, strengthen local infrastructure, and boost trade and investment.Key direct investments and funding initiatives provided to the region include:● Ayrshire...

  Answered 8 Sept 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Freeports: AyrshireScotland OfficeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24217More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Freeports and Green Freeports on the economy in Ayrshire.

  Answer: The UK Government is committed to driving sustainable economic growth, creating high-quality jobs, and boosting trade across all parts of Scotland. While Scotland's designated Green Freeports, Inverness & Cromarty Firth and Forth Green Freeport, are g...

  Answered 8 Sept 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Anti-social Behaviour: Central AyrshireHome OfficeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24216More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to reduce anti-social behaviour over the summer in Central Ayrshire.

  Answer: Public order and policing are devolved matters in Scotland. Responsibility for tackling anti-social behaviour in Central Ayrshire therefore rests with the Scottish Government and Police Scotland. The UK Government continues to work with the devolved admin...

  Answered 10 Sept 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Knives: CrimeHome OfficeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24215More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to reduce knife crime in Irvine.

  Answer: Knife crime is a national concern. The Government is committed to halving knife crime over the next decade and published Protecting Lives, Building Hope: A Plan to Halve Knife Crime in April 2026. The Plan sets out a cross-government approach focused on p...

  Answered 10 Sept 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Pigs: SlaughterhousesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24214More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what is the timeline of phasing out the use of carbon dioxide gas as a method of slaughtering pigs.

  Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell, Helen Maguire, on 20 May 2026 to PQ UIN 613.

  Answered 3 Sept 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Driving Tests: AyrshireDepartment for TransportTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24213More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many practical driving tests were cancelled due to examiner shortages at the Irvine Driving Test Centre in the last 12 months.

  Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) publishes data on car practical test cancellation reasons by month and driving test centre (DTC) on GOV.UK. This data, in report DRT122B, is updated annually and currently shows data to March 2026. The next u...

  Answered 3 Sept 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Driving Tests: AyrshireDepartment for TransportTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24212More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans she has to increase testing capacity in Ayrshire.

  Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) publishes data on car practical test cancellation reasons by month and driving test centre (DTC) on GOV.UK. This data, in report DRT122B, is updated annually and currently shows data to March 2026. The next u...

  Answered 3 Sept 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Packaging: RecyclingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24211More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Extended Producer Responsibility on businesses in Central Ayrshire.

  Answer: pEPR in the UK has some of the most generous support measures for small businesses across any packaging scheme globally, including an exemption from disposal fees and recycling obligations for producers with an annual turnover below £2 million and packagi...

  Answered 8 Sept 2026

  Original Parliament record