Angus MacDonald MP: written questions 2026
88 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Visas: Scots Gaelic LanguageHome OfficeTabled 15 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 9968More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has held recent discussions with the Scottish Government on the creation of a dedicated work visa for fluent Gaelic speakers to fill Gaelic-medium posts in Scotland.
Answer: We do not limit access to Gaelic-medium posts or any other roles that require Gaelic speakers, provided they meet the other requirements of the Skilled Worker route.We have therefore not had discussions relating to having specific routes for Gaelic speake...
Answered 22 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordVisas: Scots Gaelic LanguageHome OfficeTabled 15 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 9964More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2026 to Question 3737, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a dedicated visa route for other roles that require Gaelic
Answer: We do not limit access to Gaelic-medium posts or any other roles that require Gaelic speakers, provided they meet the other requirements of the Skilled Worker route.We have therefore not had discussions relating to having specific routes for Gaelic speake...
Answered 22 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordRussia: Supply ChainsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7960More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had discussions with her Irish counterpart on reports that Aughinish Alumina has been linked to supply chains supporting Russia's defence industry.
Answer: The UK and Irish governments regularly discuss our staunch support for countering Russia's aggression in Ukraine, including international efforts to maximise pressure on the Russian war economy. We conduct similar conversations with the EU on a regular ba...
Answered 11 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordBusinessDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7859More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to improve the UK's business environment.
Answer: This government is focused on creating a stronger business environment by making the UK the best place to start and grow a business, with a culture that supports entrepreneurship.Through the Small Business Plan, we are tackling late payments, improving ac...
Answered 11 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordEnergy: IndustryDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7858More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to help reduce industrial energy costs.
Answer: The Government recognises the pressure high energy costs place on businesses. Our Clean Power by 2030 mission will bring down bills, reducing exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets and the risk of carbon leakage. In the near term, we are acting through ...
Answered 16 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordVisas: Scots Gaelic LanguageHome OfficeTabled 20 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3737More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Home Office has considered the potential merits of creating a dedicated Gaelic Speaker Work Visa, allowing fluent Gaelic speakers from overseas to fill Gaelic-medium posts in Scotland.
Answer: Teachers, including those who deliver Gaelic-medium education, already have preferential treatment in the Skilled Worker immigration route, with salary requirements based on pay scales in each of the four UK nations. There is no need for a separate dedica...
Answered 2 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordMotor Vehicles: Excise DutiesTreasuryTabled 20 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3719More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of whether Vehicle Excise Duty rates for vehicles in the highest bands are a proportionate application of the polluter pays principle.
Answer: Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) is a tax on vehicles used or kept on public roads. Different VED rates apply to cars, vans, and motorcycles, and the rate for each vehicle is calculated according to a range of factors, such as its date of first registration, wei...
Answered 5 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordMotor Vehicles: Excise DutiesTreasuryTabled 20 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3718More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the proportionality of Vehicle Excise Duty rates for higher-emission vehicles; and whether she plans to review the differential between vehicles in the lowest and highest emission ban
Answer: Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) is a tax on vehicles used or kept on public roads. Different VED rates apply to cars, vans, and motorcycles, and the rate for each vehicle is calculated according to a range of factors, such as its date of first registration, wei...
Answered 5 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordPoultry: Animal HousingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 20 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3694More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with The Humane League UK on the banning of cages for laying hens.
Answer: The Department has had wide ranging discussions with animal welfare organisations and other stakeholders on the banning of cages for laying hens.
Answered 4 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordPoultry: Animal HousingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 20 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3693More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his department plans to take in response to the consultation on the use of cages and crates for laying hens which closed on 9 March 2026.
Answer: The Government is analysing consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.
Answered 22 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordElectricity: BillingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1804More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his department has made of the potential merits of rebalancing policy costs currently levied on electricity bills across gas and electricity bills equally.
Answer: The Government recognises that policy costs fall disproportionately on electricity bills and are taking forward work to ensure that prices reflect the cheaper wholesale price of clean energy.On the distribution of costs between electricity and gas, the Go...
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordElectricity: BillingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1803More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his department has made of the potential merits of rebalancing policy costs levied on electricity bills across gas and electricity bills equally.
Answer: The Government recognises that policy costs fall disproportionately on electricity bills and are taking forward work to ensure that prices reflect the cheaper wholesale price of clean energy.On the distribution of costs between electricity and gas, the Go...
Answered 3 Aug 2026
Original Parliament recordHeating Oil: Price CapsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1802More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his department has made of the potential merits of introducing a price cap on domestic heating oil for households that are not connected to the gas grid.
Answer: The Government has announced its intention to introduce new consumer protections in the heating oil market. The Competition and Markets Authority is currently examining how the market is working for consumers, with its final report expected in June.
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordElectricity: Standing ChargesTreasuryTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1801More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her department has made of the potential impact of VAT on domestic energy bills on regional inequalities in electricity standing charges and unit rates.
Answer: The Government is committed to lowering the cost of standing charges and have worked constructively with the regulator, Ofgem, on this issue. At the same time, the Government has taken significant steps to support households with the cost of energy while ...
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordElectricity: Standing ChargesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1800More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his department has made of the potential merits of equalising standing charges for electricity consumers across the United Kingdom.
Answer: Standing charges vary by region because the costs of the transmission and distribution networks differ from place to place; a ‘common tariff’ for the most isolated areas would smooth out those higher local costs so customers there avoid very high prices, ...
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordElectricity: PricesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1799More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his department has made of the case for extending the Common Tariff Obligation to apply across the whole of the United Kingdom, so that no comparable domestic consumer is char
Answer: Standing charges vary by region because the costs of the transmission and distribution networks differ from place to place; a ‘common tariff’ for the most isolated areas would smooth out those higher local costs so customers there avoid very high prices, ...
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordEnergy: Community DevelopmentDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1054More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent estimate his Department has made of the amount of community benefits paid to a) the United Kingdom, b) Scotland and c) the Scottish Highlands in 2025.
Answer: Using the Scottish Register of Community Benefits and Shared Ownership, DESNZ estimates that the amount of community benefits paid in Scotland was approximately £30 million in 2025 of which £7 million was paid to communities in the Scottish Highlands. Com...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordTimber: ImportsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1052More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has plans to establish a cross-government taskforce to develop a strategy for reducing the United Kingdom's dependence on imported timber and strengthening domestic supply.
Answer: This Government recognises the growing global demand for timber. The Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 and the relaunched Timber in Construction Roadmap (2025) sets out our commitment to increase the supply and use of domestic timber. This includes work...
Answered 19 May 2026
Original Parliament recordTimber: ImportsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1051More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her department has made of the risk to UK national security posed by the country importing over 80% of its timber requirements.
Answer: This Government recognises the growing global demand for timber. The Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 and the relaunched Timber in Construction Roadmap (2025) sets out our commitment to increase the supply and use of domestic timber. This includes work...
Answered 19 May 2026
Original Parliament recordConstruction: EquipmentDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1050More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that workers injured through contact with construction equipment have a legal right to access service, maintenance, and operational records relating to tha
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade recognises the importance of ensuring that workers injured through contact with construction equipment are able to access relevant support.The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) launched its Health Safety and Wellb...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordIndustrial AccidentsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1049More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what conversations her department has had with the Health and Safety Executive with regards to their policy on verifying the accuracy of RIDDOR reports submitted by employers following workplace inciden
Answer: The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 2013 specify that the duty to make reports and follow the reporting procedure rests with the Responsible Person, as defined, which is often an employer. The reports must be...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordTax AvoidanceTreasuryTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1024More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Tax avoidance loan schemes and the loan charge, published on 26 November 2025, if she will publish a breakdown of the sources of the £3.2 billion figure.
Answer: This Government recognised that concerns continued to be raised about the loan charge and that some felt strongly that it had not been handled appropriately. The Government therefore commissioned an independent review of the loan charge to bring the matte...
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament recordEnergy: Community DevelopmentDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 22 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129370More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent estimate his Department has made of the amount of community benefits paid to a) the United Kingdom, b) Scotland and c) the Scottish Highlands in 2025.
Answer: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record5G: Faroe IslandsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 15 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127751More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has held discussions with its counterpart in the Faroe Islands on the rollout of 5G coverage.
Answer: There have been no specific conversations with this Secretary of State and the Faroese authorities on the topic of 5G rollout. As part of the policy development process, we do consider approaches in other countries, particularly approaches that have addre...
Answered 24 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordMobile Phones: AerialsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 15 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127750More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his department has considered working with Ofcom to help ensure that mobile network operators share masts and/or sites where possible.
Answer: The Department works closely with Ofcom on a range of issues including those related to the deployment of mobile networks and infrastructure and continues to engage on how sharing of masts and sites can be encouraged where appropriate.Duties and obligatio...
Answered 24 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
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