Angus MacDonald MP: written questions
151 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Tax 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 recordSoft Power: Development AidMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36026More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that Britain's soft power (a) is maintained (b) continues to play a part in the defence of the UK and her allies, in the context of the reduction in ODA spending.
Answer: The Strategic Defence Review will set out the roles, capabilities and reforms required by UK Defence to meet the challenges, threats, and opportunities of the twenty first century. This takes account of the commitment to increase spending on defence to 2....
Answered 13 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDevelopment AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36025More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the reduction in ODA spending on the UK's position on the United Nations Security Council.
Answer: The Prime Minister has set out a new strategic vision for government spending on defence and security and Official Development Assistance (ODA). Detailed decisions on how the ODA budget will be used will be worked through as part of the ongoing Spending R...
Answered 13 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordBrain: TumoursDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36024More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of developing a National Brain Tumour Strategy.
Answer: My Rt. Hon friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has announced that a National Cancer Plan for England will be published this year. The National Cancer Plan will have patients at its heart and will cover the entirety of the cancer pat...
Answered 14 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence Payment: British Nationals AbroadDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 27 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34574More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the eligibility criteria for Personal Independence Payments to include people who have been forced to move abroad due to life-threaten
Answer: Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can continue to be paid during an absence from Great Britain for 13 weeks. This can be increased to 26 weeks where the absence is specifically in relation to medical treatment of the condition which existed prior to a t...
Answered 6 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordFuel Poverty: ScotlandScotland OfficeTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 902933More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of the recent increase in the energy price cap on fuel poverty in Scotland.
Answer: The Government is taking steps to protect consumers by consulting on an expansion to the Warm Homes Discount. This proposal will help an additional 200,000 households in Scotland with £150 off their energy bills.However, the way to bring down bills for go...
Answered 5 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordElectricity: InfrastructureDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30558More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether guidance on community benefit funds for electricity transmission infrastructure will include transmission projects where (a) voltage and (b) capacity upgrades are required resulting i
Answer: Government is committed to ensuring that communities who live near clean energy infrastructure can see the benefits. This includes publishing guidance on community funds this quarter, which will set out government’s expectations for communities living nea...
Answered 18 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordBiofuelsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29761More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of using renewable liquid fuels as an alternative to mains gas for households unable to connect to the grid.
Answer: As sustainable biomass is a limited resource, the Government expects to prioritise its use in sectors like aviation which have fewest options to decarbonise. Renewable liquid heating fuels (RLHF) are also much more expensive to use than other heating solu...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordCarer's AllowanceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28443More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of Carer's Allowance in supporting unpaid carers; and whether she plans to increase the rate of that allowance.
Answer: This Government continues to protect the value of benefits paid to carers whilst also spending record amounts in real terms. The Secretary of State undertakes a statutory annual review of benefit and pensions, and the value of Carer’s Allowance is protect...
Answered 6 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordFirearms: LicensingHome OfficeTabled 28 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27012More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the funds raised from the increase in firearms licensing fees will be ringfenced for administering firearms licensing.
Answer: On 15 January, the Government laid a statutory instrument before Parliament that will increase fees charged by police forces to provide full-cost recovery for firearms licensing applications. The new fees will come into force on 5 February.It is essential...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordPets: Hazardous SubstancesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26624More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential risks to pets from ingesting antifreeze products.
Answer: The RSPCA and Cats Protection offer advice on how to keep pets safe from accidental poisoning and what to do if someone suspects their pet may have been poisoned. The intentional poisoning of a protected animal is a criminal offence under the Animal Welfa...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordChemicals: Hazardous SubstancesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26621More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will hold discussions with manufacturers on the potential merits of developing antifreeze products without ethylene glycol.
Answer: Products containing ethylene glycol can only be placed on the market if they are safe. This includes meeting any legal requirements on the concentration within that product so that it is at a level that is safe for both humans and the environment. I have ...
Answered 3 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHeating: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 23 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26275More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what support is available to households with legacy gas heating systems for the cost of (a) repairs and (b) replacements; and what steps he is taking to (i) encourage and (ii) support those h
Answer: The Energy Company Obligation delivers household energy efficiency retrofits across Great Britain. Subject to eligibility, these retrofits may include measures such as heating controls, insulation, or improvements to legacy heating systems. The Boiler Upg...
Answered 31 Jan 2025
Original Parliament record
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