Angus MacDonald MP: written questions
151 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Electric Vehicles: Charging PointsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 17 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24799More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) adequacy of EV charging infrastructure in (i) rural and (ii) remote areas and (b) potential impact of that infrastructure on the phasing out
Answer: The Government is committed to accelerating the roll-out of charging infrastructure so that everyone, no matter where they live or work, can make the transition to an electric vehicle. As of 1st of January 2025, the Government and industry have supported ...
Answered 27 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordNeurological Diseases: DrugsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23114More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps with his counterparts in the devolved Administrations to implement a national strategy for treating neurological conditions.
Answer: There are no current plans to implement a national strategy for neurological conditions. We have, however, announced that we are setting up a new United Kingdom-wide neuro forum, facilitating formal, biannual meetings across the Department, NHS England, t...
Answered 14 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordBrain Cancer: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23113More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps with his counterparts in the devolved Administrations to implement a national brain cancer strategy.
Answer: Health Services across the United Kingdom are devolved. In England, we are developing a 10-year plan to radically reform the National Health Service, and my Rt Hon. friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has been clear that there needs...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordState Retirement Pensions: WomenDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 3 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21963More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has had discussions with the Leader of the House on scheduling a parliamentary debate on compensation for women affected by changes to the state pension age.
Answer: Sir John Hayes MP (Conservative, South Holland and The Deepings) has secured a Westminster Hall general debate on the topic of ‘Compensation for women affected by changes to the State Pension age’ on Wednesday 15 January 2025.
Answered 9 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordPensions: Disclosure of InformationDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 3 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21962More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to increase transparency in the (a) management and (b) adjustment of pension schemes.
Answer: Trustees have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of the scheme membership, and are required by law to provide members with information about how the scheme has been managed. This includes legal duties about transparency and disclosure of inform...
Answered 9 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordConstruction: Inheritance TaxTreasuryTabled 3 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21961More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of changes to business property relief on (a) plant hire companies and (b) the ability of those companies to help meet housebuilding targets.
Answer: The Government published information about the reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief at www.gov.uk/government/publications/agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief-reforms. It is expected that up to around 2...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSmart Data Communications Company: EnergyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 3 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21960More
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 in the (a) development and (b) testing of the Virtual Wide Area Network; and whether he plans to make funding av
Answer: The Data Communications Company (DCC) is required to assess opportunities to increase the overall level of communications network coverage for Great Britain beyond its currently provisioned minimum level of 99.25%. To enable the DCC to increase network co...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordFuel Poverty: DeathDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18867More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an estimate of the potential impact of levels of fuel poverty on levels of excess deaths in each of the last two years.
Answer: The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) does not collect data on the potential impact of levels of fuel poverty on levels of excess deaths. The Government is committed to a preventative approach to public health. Keeping people warm and we...
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordBereavement Counselling: ScotlandScotland OfficeTabled 20 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15363More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether his Department has had recent discussions with the Scottish Government on ensuring that bereaved families in Scotland are provided with a key worker to support them after the loss of a child.
Answer: The UK Government is committed to supporting those who have experienced the loss of a child through a range of reserved measures, including Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay and Leave.My officials have regular discussions with their Scottish Government c...
Answered 26 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordState Retirement Pensions: British Nationals AbroadDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 8 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13364More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential financial impact of uprating the pensions of British pensioners overseas whose state pensions are currently frozen.
Answer: No assessment has been made. The UK's policy on the up-rating of the UK State Pension for recipients living overseas is a longstanding one. The UK State Pension is payable worldwide and is uprated abroad where we have a legal requirement to do so, for exa...
Answered 12 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordMilitary DecorationsMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 12645More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if his Department will introduce a medal for (a) seriously injured and (b) medically retired service personnel.
Answer: Service personnel who are injured and evacuated from a medal earning operational deployment are awarded the relevant Campaign, Operational, or General Service medal regardless of whether or not they have served the required number of days for the medal. W...
Answered 12 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordGynaecology: Waiting ListsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 1 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 12345More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking with the devolved Administrations to help (a) reduce waiting times for gynaecological services and (b) address menstrual health inequalities.
Answer: Whilst health is a devolved issue, we intend to work closely with our partners across the devolved administrations in providing support and sharing best practice, to reduce waiting lists and fix the National Health Service. Cutting waiting lists, includin...
Answered 11 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordNutritionDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7396More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to restrict the promotion of unhealthy food and drink products; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing fiscal measures to support the produ
Answer: The Government has committed to tackling the childhood obesity crisis, which includes taking action on the promotion and advertising of less healthy products to children.The Food (Promotion and Placement) (England) Regulations 2021 restrict the promotion ...
Answered 11 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordLocal Government Finance: DevolutionTreasuryTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7395More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has had discussions with the devolved Administrations on the adequacy of fiscal support for local councils across the UK, in the context of (a) recent trends in levels of demand for services, (b) the imp
Answer: Funding for local councils is a devolved responsibility and it is for the Devolved Governments to decide on their level of funding. I met with all Devolved Government Finance Ministers in Belfast on 3rd October at a meeting of the Finance: Interministeria...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordState Retirement PensionsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7394More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the implications for her policies of the differences in the amounts received by recipients of the old and new State Pension.
Answer: We are absolutely committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement.It is not possible to make direct, like for like comparisons between State Pension amounts received under the pre 2016 State Pension s...
Answered 15 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordHealth Services: Waiting ListsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7393More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to work with his counterparts in the devolved Administrations to help (a) increase the flexibility of NHS appointment systems and (b) reduce the number of missed appointments
Answer: This government is committed to putting patients first. This means making sure that patients are seen on time and have the best possible experience during their care, no matter where they are treated in the UK. Whilst health is a devolved issue, we intend...
Answered 15 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSaudi Arabia: UN Human Rights CouncilForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 11 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5453More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what his policy is on Saudi Arabia’s bid for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Answer: The UK does not disclose voting positions on multilateral elections. However, we expect all members elected to the Human Rights Council to uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights.
Answered 7 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordElectricity: Standing ChargesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 10 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5221More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has had recent discussions with Ofgem on disparities in electricity standing charges between regions.
Answer: Standing charges cover the costs energy suppliers take on to provide consumers with electricity, which vary by location. Ofgem’s recently published discussion paper sets out the options for how standing charges could be reduced, including by moving suppli...
Answered 18 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordMeters and Renewable Energy: Islands and Rural AreasDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 10 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5162More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether officials in his Department have had discussions with relevant organisations on steps to ensure that rural and island communities have (a) equitable access to SMART meters and (b) sup
Answer: Energy suppliers are obligated under their licence conditions to install smart meters throughout Great Britain, including rural and island communities. The Department is working with energy suppliers to identify and share best practice in deploying meters...
Answered 18 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordStudents: LoansDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5161More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the prevalence of outstanding student loan balances increasing despite repayments being made as a result of high interest charges; and whether her Department is taking steps to r
Answer: As education is a devolved issue, the following response outlines the student finance system in England only. Interest rates on student loans do not affect monthly repayments made by borrowers. Repayments are based on earnings above the applicable repayme...
Answered 18 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordState Retirement PensionsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 10 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5160More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that people over the age of 65 receive adequate financial support through the State Pension.
Answer: We are absolutely committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement. The Government is committed to the Triple Lock, which means that in April 2025, the basic and new State pension will increase by the ...
Answered 18 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordHealth Services: Rural AreasDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5159More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to work with the devolved governments to help ensure that NHS services in rural areas can attract and retain adequate numbers of staff.
Answer: The Department makes it a priority to work collaboratively with the devolved nations to drive forward our objective of improving health and care outcomes across the whole of the United Kingdom.The Government will make sure the National Health Service has ...
Answered 18 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordBank Cards: Fees and ChargesTreasuryTabled 10 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5158More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of rising transaction fees for non-European Economic Area cards on small businesses in (a) the Highlands and (b) other tourist areas; and whether
Answer: The Government is committed to promoting competition in the payments sector and recognises the importance of ensuring the fees charged for card payments are fair for all parties, including merchants. Card transaction fees are made up of different componen...
Answered 17 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordHoliday Accommodation: TaxationTreasuryTabled 10 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5157More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of terminating the furnished holiday lettings tax regime on local (a) economies and (b) employment in tourist destinations.
Answer: The Government will abolish the Furnished Holiday Lets (FHLs) tax regime from April 2025, which will equalise the tax treatment of landlords’ property income and gains. The government wants to support visitor accommodation alongside housing for long term-...
Answered 17 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordElectronic CommerceDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 9 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4955More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to inform the public of their rights under the Consumer Contracts Regulations when buying from an online trader.
Answer: The Government funds the Citizens Advice Consumer Service in England and Wales, providing impartial advice on a range of consumer issues, including buying online. In Scotland, where consumer advice and advocacy are devolved, a similar service is provided ...
Answered 17 Sept 2024
Original Parliament record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →