Angus MacDonald MP: written questions
688 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Small Businesses: Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shireDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60278More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what financial steps his Department is taking to support seasonal businesses in Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire constituency.
Answer: Seasonal businesses in Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire can benefit from a range of British Business Bank programmes for example, through the Start Up Loans programme, in addition, the Investment Fund for Scotland also provides debt and equity funding ...
Answered 23 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Insurance Contributions: GratuitiesTreasuryTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60273More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the merits of exempting tips paid by card from National Insurance contributions.
Answer: The method of payment of a tip does not determine whether National Insurance is due. National Insurance is not due on tips paid directly to the worker, or where the employer has no influence in the allocation of the tips. If an employer is involved in dec...
Answered 23 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Insurance Contributions: GratuitiesTreasuryTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60272More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the merits of the application of National Insurance contributions to tips paid by card.
Answer: The method of payment of a tip does not determine whether National Insurance is due. National Insurance is not due on tips paid directly to the worker, or where the employer has no influence in the allocation of the tips. If an employer is involved in dec...
Answered 23 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMotor Vehicles: UkraineDepartment for TransportTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60271More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 56574 on Ukraine: Vehicles, whether her Department has made an assessment of trends in the number of vehicles collected under the ULEZ scrappage scheme that ha
Answer: Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London and Transport for London and they were responsible for the ULEZ scrappage scheme. 680 vehicles were donated to Ukraine through the scheme before it closed in September 2024.
Answered 20 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordVehicles: UkraineHome OfficeTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56574More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of sending (a) vehicles seized by the police and (b) decommissioned police vehicles to Ukraine.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence remains in regular contact with the Government of Ukraine regarding the most effective means of supporting them.
Answered 11 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordShared Rural Network: AerialsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52827More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will publish a full list of approved masts included in the Shared Rural Network programme.
Answer: The locations of proposed government-funded Total Not Spot masts can be found at https://srn.org.uk/about/srn-tns-site-locations/,however this is due to be updated soon, as we now expect the objectives for this part of the programme to be met with far few...
Answered 23 May 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Instruction: ScotlandDepartment for TransportTabled 13 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52175More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of requiring Scottish driving instructors to undergo (a) PVG and (b) DBS checks.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) takes the safety of learner drivers extremely seriously.DVSA requires every prospective approved driving instructor (ADI) in Great Britain to apply for an enhanced disclosure and barring (DBS) check before be...
Answered 20 May 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Instruction: VettingDepartment for TransportTabled 13 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52174More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what comparative assessment her Department has made of the differences between the PVG requirement for driving instructors in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales, (c) England and (d) Northern Ireland.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) takes the safety of learner drivers extremely seriously.DVSA requires every prospective approved driving instructor (ADI) in Great Britain to apply for an enhanced disclosure and barring (DBS) check before be...
Answered 20 May 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Instruction: ScotlandDepartment for TransportTabled 13 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52173More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of the (a) notice provided and (b) the prior consultation for the new requirement for Scottish driving instructors to join the PVG scheme.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) takes the safety of learner drivers extremely seriously.DVSA requires every prospective approved driving instructor (ADI) in Great Britain to apply for an enhanced disclosure and barring (DBS) check before be...
Answered 20 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence Payment: Chronic IllnessesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 6 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50454More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the effectiveness of Personal Independence Payments assessments for people with (i) moderate and (ii) fluctuating health conditions.
Answer: The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment looks at how a long-term health condition or disability impacts on daily life across 12 activities, taking into account fluctuations over a 12-month period. The activities are grouped into two components,...
Answered 9 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence Payment and Universal Credit: Chronic IllnessesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 6 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50453More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of cuts to (a) Personal Independence Payments and (b) the health top-up in Universal Credit on people with (i) moderate and (ii) fluctuating conditio
Answer: No assessment has been made on the impacts of the reforms on claimants with particular health conditions.Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper has been published here ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britai...
Answered 14 May 2025
Original Parliament recordUK Relations with EUCabinet OfficeTabled 28 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48840More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment his Department has made of the benefits of restoring stronger ties with the European Union.
Answer: We have reset our relations with European partners. The Government is now focused on using our strengthened relations to deliver a new strategic partnership with the EU to grow the economy, boost living standards, protect our borders and keep the UK safe....
Answered 9 May 2025
Original Parliament recordTax AvoidanceTreasuryTabled 28 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48839More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if her Department will make promoters of disguised remuneration schemes jointly liable for Loan Charge tax liabilities.
Answer: The Government has commissioned an independent review of the Loan Charge. The review has a focused remit, allowing it to report by this summer and the Government will respond by Autumn Budget 2025. Alongside the review, on 30 October 2024, the Government ...
Answered 7 May 2025
Original Parliament recordOverseas Trade: ColombiaDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 28 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48838More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the UK-Colombia Investment treaty on the safety of human rights defenders in Colombia.
Answer: The UK continues to support the protection of human rights in Colombia, including by improving access to justice, protecting human rights defenders and promoting media freedom. The UK-Colombia Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) includes binding investment ...
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPowers of Attorney: ScotlandScotland OfficeTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42923More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions his Department has had with the Scottish Government on the difference in the (a) process and (b) cost of completing a Power of Attorney in Scotland compared to England and Wales.
Answer: The process and costs associated with Power of Attorney vary between legal jurisdictions within the UK due to the distinct legal frameworks in place. The processes and costs are a matter for the Scottish Government.
Answered 7 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: TrainingDepartment for EducationTabled 26 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41715More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to help ensure that Ofsted assessments include a requirement for schools to provide SEND training for all teachers.
Answer: This is a matter for His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver. I have asked him to write to the hon. Member for Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire directly and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Answered 3 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: DyslexiaDepartment for EducationTabled 26 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41714More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to make dyslexia training mandatory for (a) classroom educators and (b) on-going continued professional development.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member for Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire to the answer of 31 March 2025 to Question 40829.Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.
Answered 3 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordDyslexia: ScreeningDepartment for EducationTabled 26 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41713More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to introduce universal dyslexia screening within the first two years of primary school to help ensure (a) early identification and (b) support for dyslexic children.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member for Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire to the answer of 31 March 2025 to Question 40829.Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.
Answered 3 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy: MetersDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 19 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39781More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of pre-configured smart meters on radio teleswitch service customers who are unable to switch to a smart meter.
Answer: Ofgem and the Department have been clear that they expect suppliers to arrange a suitable replacement metering solution for their RTS customers in a timely manner ahead of the switch off. In the few circumstances where a Wide Area Network (WAN) connection...
Answered 28 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy: MetersDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 11 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37511More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to support the Data Communications Company expand smart meter network coverage in the context of the Radio Teleswitch switch off.
Answer: The Department and Ofgem have been clear that they expect energy suppliers to promptly arrange suitable replacement metering solutions for their remaining RTS customers. The Data Communications Company (DCC) is examining options for premises not currently...
Answered 19 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy: MetersDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 10 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36974More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions his Department has had with (a) Ofgem and (b) energy suppliers on (i) providing additional financial support and (ii) targeted protection for vulnerable households with incre
Answer: The Department attends the Industry Taskforce on the Radio Teleswitch Service, which was convened by Ofgem last year and is led by Energy UK. The Taskforce’s Call to Action in October 2024 highlighted that energy suppliers should fast-track meter upgrades...
Answered 18 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy: MetersDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 10 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36973More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the transition from the radio teleswitch service on households in (a) rural and (b) remote areas; and what steps he is takin
Answer: The Department and Ofgem have been clear that they expect energy suppliers to promptly arrange suitable replacement metering solutions for their remaining RTS customers. Suppliers should sufficiently resource themselves to ensure they have installer workf...
Answered 18 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy: PricesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36350More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has set a financial target for the reduction of energy bills by 2030.
Answer: The Government is determined to cut bills as far and as fast as we can. In October 2023, independent experts modelled the effect of a clean power system on electricity bills. Based on the latest renewable generation costs available at the time, they found...
Answered 14 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordElectricity: PricesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36031More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent discussions his Department has had with the utility companies on offering off-peak electricity prices at the same hourly rate applicable for charging an electric vehicle for peopl
Answer: The Government is supportive of electricity suppliers offering tariffs which incentivise consumers, including electric vehicle owners, to consume energy at off peak times, as this benefits all consumers by reducing the need for additional grid capacity. T...
Answered 13 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordArtificial Intelligence: ArtsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36027More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that creative industries and their intellectual property rights are (a) protected and (b) strengthened, in the context of increasing us
Answer: The Government’s consultation on Copyright and Artificial Intelligence (AI) closed on 25th February.This consultation sought views on a range of approaches to clarify copyright law for both the creative industries and AI innovators. The Government’s prior...
Answered 13 Mar 2025
Original Parliament record
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