Alison Taylor MP: written questions
42 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Civil Service: Artificial IntelligenceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44702More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to train civil servants in the use of AI.
Answer: DSIT has published guidance and launched training to upskill civil servants in the use of AI. These resources include the AI Playbook for the UK Government offering public services up-to-date guidance on AI technologies, their capabilities and limitations...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordVAT: RepaymentsTreasuryTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44701More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will (a) reinstate VAT-free shopping for visitors and (b) allow VAT refunds on departure.
Answer: The Government has no plans to introduce a new tax-free shopping scheme in Great Britain. According to the OBR, the withdrawal of the VAT Retail Export Scheme will save the Exchequer around £540 million per year by 2025-26. Recent ONS data shows that UK t...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordCabinet Office: BuildingsCabinet OfficeTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44700More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he is encouraging employees in his Department's Scottish offices to attend in person.
Answer: The Government renewed its commitment to the 60% office attendance expectation on 24 October, emphasising the importance of collaboration through face-to-face interactions. This applies to all of the department's offices, including our offices in Glasgow ...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordGovernment Departments: ApprenticesCabinet OfficeTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44699More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how his Department is supporting the (a) delivery and (b) expansion of apprenticeship programmes across Government departments.
Answer: The Cabinet Office is committed to supporting the use of apprenticeships across all government departments to break down barriers to opportunity. This includes supporting the Government's commitment to 2,000 digital apprenticeships by 2030 to improve digi...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordWindsor Framework: ScotlandNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 10 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36877More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the Windsor Framework on the economy of the west coast of Scotland.
Answer: The UK internal market and trade between the UK’s four nations is worth around £129bn. The Windsor Framework ensures Northern Ireland’s businesses have unfettered access to their most important market in Great Britain, including the west coast of Scotland...
Answered 18 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordReserve Forces: Labour Turnover and RecruitmentMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33164More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to improve (a) recruitment and (b) retention within the army reserve.
Answer: This Government inherited a recruitment crisis, with targets being missed every year for the past 14 years, and is taking decisive action to get recruitment back on track. This has included the largest pay rise to personnel in decades and scrapping 100 ou...
Answered 19 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordReserve Forces: Paisley and Renfrewshire NorthMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33163More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to support army reserve units in Paisley and Renfrewshire North constituency.
Answer: The Department recognises the invaluable contributions made by the Army Reserves to Defence. Ensuring they have adequate support remains both a priority of mine, and the Ministry of Defence. Paisley is home to the 102 Field Squadron, a subordinate of the ...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordVeterans: Post-traumatic Stress DisorderMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33162More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he plans to take to help veterans experiencing PTSD find (a) retraining and (b) employment opportunities.
Answer: This is a Government of service that will always stand up for those who serve our country. I am leading work across Government and with Civil Society to look at the best ways to ensure veterans and their families get access to the health and employment su...
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordRecycling: Urban AreasDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31174More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to improve recycling services in towns.
Answer: The Simpler Recycling reforms will ensure that across England, people will be able to recycle the same materials, whether at home, work or school, putting an end to confusion over what can and cannot be recycled in different parts of the country. Every ho...
Answered 24 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordAnti-social Behaviour and Crime: Urban AreasHome OfficeTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31173More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to tackle antisocial behaviour and crime in town centres.
Answer: Tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB) is a top priority for this Government and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission.The Government’s Plan for Change, announced by the Prime Minister on 5 December, included our plan to reduce ASB. This will include a de...
Answered 28 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Transport: StandardsDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31172More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to improve public transport links in towns where bus services have been reduced.
Answer: Transport in Scotland is devolved to the Scottish Government. With respect to bus services in England, the government introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill on 17 December as part of its ambitious plan for bus reform. The Bill puts the power over local b...
Answered 26 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordUrban Areas: RegenerationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31171More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help support the regeneration of town centres affected by increased vacancy rates.
Answer: This government is fully committed to rejuvenating our high streets and supporting the businesses and communities that make our town centres successful. The government has committed £1.5 billion towards a reformed Long-Term Plan for Towns to regenerate co...
Answered 25 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: Environment ProtectionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31159More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that private landowners uphold environmental standards on (a) biodiversity protection, (b) water quality and (c) land management responsib
Answer: The environment and farming are devolved matters, this response covers England only. There are a wide range of regulations that protect biodiversity, water and other parts of the environment in England from potential harms caused by land management activi...
Answered 27 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordBank Services: Urban AreasTreasuryTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31158More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to prevent the loss of in-person banking services in towns.
Answer: The Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities, high streets and towns across the UK, and is committed to championing sufficient access for all as a priority. This is why the Government is working closely with banks to ro...
Answered 26 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordCash Dispensing: Urban AreasTreasuryTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31157More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that there is adequate access to free-to-use cash machines in towns.
Answer: The Government recognises that cash continues to be used by millions of people across the UK, including those in vulnerable groups, and is committed to protecting access to cash for individuals and businesses.The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) introduc...
Answered 26 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordGaza: Health ServicesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31142More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help ensure the protection of (a) medical equipment in hospitals in Gaza and (b) medical facilities in conflict zones.
Answer: We remain gravely concerned by the lack of adequate medical care in Gaza. Nearly all of Gaza's hospitals are damaged or partly destroyed, according to the World Health Organization. I have raised our concern about the ability of civilians safely to access...
Answered 25 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordNew Businesses: Paisley and Renfrewshire NorthDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31141More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help (a) encourage investment in startups and (b) support entrepreneurs in Paisley and Renfrewshire North constituency.
Answer: We will publish our Small Business Strategy later this year with a clear ambition to promote startups and encourage entrepreneurship, built around the new Business Growth Service.Existing support includes Help to Grow: Management - UK, providing practical...
Answered 27 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordApprentices: DisadvantagedDepartment for EducationTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31104More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure young people from disadvantaged backgrounds can access Level 7 apprenticeships.
Answer: Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.The government is committed to spreading opportunities and economic growth with the support of a strong skills system.To support young people, including those from ...
Answered 26 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordApprenticeship Levy: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31103More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of removing levy funding for Level 7 apprenticeships on the Government’s commitment to delivering 1.5 million new
Answer: My Department has been actively engaging with the Department for Education to discuss the proposed changes to the apprenticeship levy to understand the impact on housing delivery.
Answered 26 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordTransport: Economic GrowthDepartment for TransportTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 902778More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help ensure that the transport system supports economic growth.
Answer: Growth is the priority Mission of this government. Transport provides the connectivity needed to achieve it. We are improving connectivity through infrastructure programmes such as HS2, East West Rail, and the Transpennine Route Upgrade. We are empowering...
Answered 13 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHeathrow Airport: ConstructionTreasuryTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29379More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has of the potential impact of expanding Heathrow Airport on Scottish exports.
Answer: The benefits from Heathrow expansion are not just in London and the South East but the entire UK, with the Frontier Economics analysis estimating that over half (60%) of the benefits would be in the rest of the UK.This could increase trade opportunities f...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordArtificial Intelligence: InvestmentDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29329More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to encourage investment in artificial intelligence in (a) the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District in Paisley and Renfrewshire North constituency and (b) o
Answer: The AI Action Plan will ensure all parts of the UK benefit from the opportunities AI presents. AI Growth Zones (AIGZs) will be closely aligned with wider government initiatives, including Local Growth Plans, ensuring substantial regional and national bene...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Savings: Tax AllowancesTreasuryTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29328More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of increasing the personal savings allowance for basic rate taxpayers.
Answer: The Personal Savings Allowance (PSA) allows basic rate taxpayers to receive up to £1,000 in savings income tax free. Higher rate taxpayers can receive up to £500 in savings income tax free. Individuals can also save up to £20,000 into an Individual Saving...
Answered 13 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordVisas: UkraineHome OfficeTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29326More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with relevant stakeholders on the potential merits of extending the duration of visas for Ukrainians with three-year visas that are approaching expiry.
Answer: To provide future certainty, Ukrainians provided with temporary sanctuary in the UK under the Ukraine visa schemes can apply for a further 18 months' permission to remain in the UK through the Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme, which opened to app...
Answered 13 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordMicroplastics: Pollution ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29324More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to reduce levels of microplastics in the environment, in the context of the potential impact of microplastics on levels of prevalence of heart attac
Answer: Under the 2022/23 UK REACH Work Programme, Defra initiated a research proposal to investigate the risks of intentionally added microplastics. It did not look specifically into any links between microplastics and the prevalence of heart attacks and strokes...
Answered 19 Feb 2025
Original Parliament record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →