Angus MacDonald MP: written questions 2025
581 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Offences against Children: InternetHome OfficeTabled 8 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75907More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to tackl livestreamed child sexual abuse being accessed in the UK.
Answer: The Government is unequivocal in its commitment to protecting children from all forms of child sexual exploitation and abuse. This includes ensuring that we are working to combat livestreamed abuse and ensuring that offenders cannot use technology to harm...
Answered 15 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: Mobile BroadbandDepartment for TransportTabled 8 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75906More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of internet connectivity on long-distance rail services between Scotland and London.
Answer: An assessment was carried out as part of the spending review business case. This determined the Low Earth Orbit approach on all mainlines.As a result of the spending review, we secured funding to deliver low earth orbit satellite technology on all mainlin...
Answered 15 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordProof of Identity: Digital TechnologyDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75545More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of introducing digital identity systems on people living in (a) Inverness, (b) Skye and West Ross-shire constituency and
Answer: The Government is committed to making the state more efficient and easier to interact with through harnessing technology. We want to learn from countries who have digitised government services for the benefit of their citizens.We are looking at whether a ...
Answered 17 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordProof of Identity: Digital TechnologyDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75543More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on digital identity systems.
Answer: The Government is committed to making the state more efficient and easier to interact with through harnessing technology. We want to learn from countries who have digitised government services for the benefit of their citizens.We are looking at whether a ...
Answered 17 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordProof of Identity: Digital TechnologyDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75541More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of digital identity systems on data security.
Answer: The Government is committed to making the state more efficient and easier to interact with through harnessing technology. We want to learn from countries who have digitised government services for the benefit of their citizens.We are looking at whether a ...
Answered 17 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordProof of Identity: Digital TechnologyDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75539More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that access to public services does not depend exclusively on the use of digital identity systems.
Answer: GOV.UK One Login is being developed by Government Digital Service (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology), as the ‘front door’ for accessing government services online. Our aim is to make it as simple and inclusive as possible for individuals,...
Answered 17 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordProof of Identity: Digital TechnologyDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75534More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the introduction of digital identity systems on people who are digitally excluded.
Answer: The Government is committed to making the state more efficient and easier to interact with through harnessing technology. We want to learn from countries who have digitised government services for the benefit of their citizens.We are looking at whether a ...
Answered 17 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: PetsMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75071More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to support families posted abroad with pets following the new Consumer Charter that makes it easier for armed forces families to own pets.
Answer: The Department is currently trialling a new ‘Global Mobility Allowance’ for Service personnel who are posted overseas. This allowance provides a fixed sum of money at the start and end of an overseas posting. This provides our Service personnel with great...
Answered 11 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: PetsMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75070More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to review financial assistance available for armed forces personnel for the costs associated with relocating pets to an assigned duty station abroad.
Answer: The Department is currently trialling a new ‘Global Mobility Allowance’ for Service personnel who are posted overseas. This allowance provides a fixed sum of money at the start and end of an overseas posting. This provides our Service personnel with great...
Answered 11 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: StarlinkDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74397More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has had recent discussions with Starlink on satellite services for trains.
Answer: There have been no recent discussions with Starlink on satellite services for trains.The Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of satellite technology on (a) mobile and (b) internet connectivity on long-distance rail services between S...
Answered 10 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: Mobile BroadbandDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74396More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of satellite technology on (a) mobile and (b) internet connectivity on long-distance rail services between Scotland and London.
Answer: There have been no recent discussions with Starlink on satellite services for trains.The Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of satellite technology on (a) mobile and (b) internet connectivity on long-distance rail services between S...
Answered 10 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: Mobile BroadbandDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74395More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to improve mobile and internet connectivity on long-distance rail services between Scotland and London.
Answer: There have been no recent discussions with Starlink on satellite services for trains.The Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of satellite technology on (a) mobile and (b) internet connectivity on long-distance rail services between S...
Answered 10 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordGaza: Press FreedomForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 2 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74359More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help ensure enforcement of international humanitarian law protections for journalists in Gaza.
Answer: The UK strongly condemns all violence directed against journalists and media workers. Civilian reporters covering conflicts are afforded protection under international humanitarian law. We are therefore appalled by the extremely high number of fatalities,...
Answered 18 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordGeneral Practitioners: DermatologyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 2 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74352More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking with devolved Administrations to help reduce waiting times from GP referral to first routine dermatology appointments.
Answer: It is unacceptable that patients across the United Kingdom continue to wait lengthy periods for treatment. Although health is a devolved matter, bringing down the elective waiting lists, including for dermatology, is a top priority across the four nations...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordRadio FrequenciesDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 2 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74351More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she plans to provide financial support to maintain long wave radio services.
Answer: The BBC is operationally and editorially independent from the Government, and the Government cannot intervene in the BBC’s day-to-day operations. The decision on transmissions and distribution of BBC radio services, including for how much longer the BBC m...
Answered 11 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordRadio Frequencies: National SecurityDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 2 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74349More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of maintaining long wave radio transmission infrastructure on (a) national resilience and (b) strategic defence.
Answer: The BBC is operationally and editorially independent from the Government, and the Government cannot intervene in the BBC’s day-to-day operations. The decision on transmissions and distribution of BBC radio services, including for how much longer the BBC m...
Answered 16 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordRescue Services: HelicoptersDepartment for TransportTabled 1 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74043More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to publish a list of community-owned helipads currently closed to Coastguard Search and Rescue helicopters due to CAP1264 Version 3 compliance requirements.
Answer: HMCG SAR helicopter provider, Bristow Helicopters Limited (BHL) conducted a review of all Hospital Helicopter Landing Sites (HHLS) against the revised safety guidance in CAP1264. BHL wrote to all impacted hospitals advising them that SAR helicopters will ...
Answered 5 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordRescue Services: HelicoptersDepartment for TransportTabled 1 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74042More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions her Department has had with (a) NHS Scotland, (b) the Scottish Government and (c) helicopter operators on (i) establishing responsibility for the use of community-owned helipads for hospital pa
Answer: The Department for Transport, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Coastguard have regular engagement with NHS Scotland, the Scottish government and operators to promote safety at helipads. The Civil Aviation Authority CAA publication “Standards for...
Answered 9 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordRescue Services: HelicoptersDepartment for TransportTabled 1 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74039More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Coastguard Search and Rescue helicopters having to land at alternative, un-surveyed sites instead of community-owned helipads on the safety of (a) patient
Answer: The Civil Aviation Authority publication “Standards for Helicopter Landing Areas at Hospitals (CAP 1264, 3rd edition)” provides guidance on standards for hospital helipads. When operating a Search and Rescue mission, the duty captain of the helicopter can...
Answered 9 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordRescue Services: HelicoptersDepartment for TransportTabled 1 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74037More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance her Department provides on the (a) accountability and (b) operational documentation required for third-party helipads to be used for hospital patient transfers by Coastguard Search and Rescue heli
Answer: The Civil Aviation Authority publication “Standards for Helicopter Landing Areas at Hospitals (CAP 1264, 3rd edition)” provides guidance on standards for hospital helipads. When operating a Search and Rescue mission, the duty captain of the helicopter can...
Answered 9 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordRescue Services: HelicoptersDepartment for TransportTabled 1 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74035More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking with the (a) Civil Aviation Authority and (b) Maritime and Coastguard Agency to help enable community-owned helipads used for hospital patient transfers to (a) meet CAP1264 V
Answer: The Department for Transport, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Coastguard have regular engagement with NHS Scotland, the Scottish government and operators to promote safety at helipads. The Civil Aviation Authority CAA publication “Standards for...
Answered 9 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordPower Stations: BiofuelsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72690More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department requires operators of biomass power stations to publish annual data on the quantity and composition of ash produced.
Answer: All installations permitted under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 are required to supply pollution inventory data annually. For biomass power stations, this includes the amount of ash produced, but not it’s composition. P...
Answered 7 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordBiofuels: AgricultureDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72689More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of adopting restrictions similar to those in Switzerland on the spreading of biomass ash on fields.
Answer: Defra has not made an assessment of the potential merits of adopting restrictions similar to those in Switzerland on the spreading of biomass ash on fields. Waste and agriculture are devolved policy areas, so this response only covers England. In England ...
Answered 5 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordDrax Power StationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72687More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information his Department holds on whether ash from biomass burned at the Drax power station is (a) spread on agricultural land, (b) used in cement production or (c) sent to land
Answer: Of the 300,000 tonnes of biomass ash produced in 2024, ca 65,000 tonnes (22%) was used in the cement industry with the remainder being landfilled.
Answered 4 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordTimber: Environment ProtectionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72686More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that ash produced from the burning of wood pellets is disposed of in a manner that is safe for (a) the environment and (b) public health.
Answer: Drax power station is regulated by the Environment Agency (EA) under the conditions of its environmental permit and is required to operate in such a way as to minimise the risk of pollution. Ash generated at Drax Power Station is sent to the adjacent Barl...
Answered 4 Sept 2025
Original Parliament record
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