Blair McDougall MP: written questions
121 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Universal Credit: DisabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 3 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74914More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the availability of residential training places for disabled young people in Scotland on proposed changes to eligibility for Universal Credit for
Answer: No assessment has been made. We welcomed views on raising the age someone can access the Universal Credit Health Element to 22, as part of our Green Paper consultation, which closed on 30 June. We are considering the responses to this consultation, and we...
Answered 16 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordX Corp: Artificial IntelligenceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 11 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67181More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will hold discussions with X.com on the potential impact of the output of its Grok AI on community safety.
Answer: The Government’s commitment to tackling online harms applies across all social media companies, and we engage with all major platforms in this regard. Many generative AI services have functionalities that bring them into scope of the Online Safety Act – s...
Answered 21 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordGovernment Departments: X CorpCabinet OfficeTabled 9 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66335More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government plans to continue to use X.com as a platform for government communications.
Answer: The Government uses a range of channels to reach and engage the public. Use of these platforms is assessed against the high standards for digital safety, as set out in the Government Communication Service (GCS) SAFE framework.
Answered 17 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordBritish Nationals Abroad: Crimes of ViolenceForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65967More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many consular cases involving violent crime against British tourists his Department has dealt with for customers of Tui Group.
Answer: Whether or not a British national was travelling with a particular tour company, airline or other business when they sought consular assistance is not captured in our case management system.
Answered 29 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSt Lucia: Crimes of ViolenceForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65966More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many consular cases involving violent crime his Department has dealt with in St Lucia in each of the last five years.
Answer: Between 2019 and 2024 British nationals sought consular assistance as a result of violent crime on 15 occasions.
Answered 29 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordGeorgia: Civil LibertiesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 1 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64137More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department's policies of (a) prosecutions of opposition party leaders and (b) levels of repression of civil
Answer: I am seriously concerned by the recent sentences imposed on several prominent Georgian opposition figures. These are clearly politically motivated and aimed at blocking the political opposition from future elections. On 23 June I called on Georgian Dream ...
Answered 15 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordGovernment Departments: ProcurementCabinet OfficeTabled 18 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60932More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to clause 6(a) of the UK-USA Economic and Prosperity Deal, published on 8 May 2025, if he will make it his policy to bar Chinese companies with links to forced labour in Xinjiang from Government p
Answer: The UK Government is committed to tackling human rights abuses including modern slavery and human trafficking in public supply chains. On 24 February 2025 the Procurement Act came into force, providing contracting authorities with stronger powers to exclu...
Answered 25 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordImport Controls: XinjiangHome OfficeTabled 18 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60931More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to clause 6(a) of the UK-USA Economic and Prosperity Deal, published on 8 May 2025, whether she plans to direct Border Force to search direct cargo flights from Xinjiang to the UK to en
Answer: Border Force does not routinely assess whether goods on freight entering the UK may have been made using forced labour, but we work closely with law enforcement partners to share intelligence to ensure all goods abide by customs and excise rules.The Gover...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordImmigration: Hong KongHome OfficeTabled 18 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60930More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of extending the settlement qualifying period from five to ten years on the community integration of British National (Overseas) visa ho
Answer: The British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) route was launched on 31 January 2021 in response to China’s passing of the National Security Law. The route reflects the UK’s historic and moral commitment to those people of Hong Kong who chose to retain their tie...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAntisemitismHome OfficeTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56661More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to protect Jewish communities from terrorist attacks.
Answer: In her speech to the annual dinner of the Community Security Trust on 26 March, the Home Secretary made clear the Government’s commitment to protect Jewish communities against antisemitic attacks and other security threats. The full speech is available he...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordHate Crime: Social MediaHome OfficeTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49511More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made a recent assessment of the adequacy of legislation covering hate crimes at providing police with sufficient powers to pursue incidents that occur on social media platfo
Answer: We have robust legislation in place to deal with threatening, abusive, or harassing behaviour and incitement to hatred, including laws to tackle perpetrators who stir up racial and religious hatred and hatred based on sexual orientation. Importantly, the ...
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordHate Crime: Social MediaHome OfficeTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49510More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will consider extending statutory regulations so that all social media platforms are covered by legislation on hate crime.
Answer: We have robust legislation in place to deal with threatening, abusive, or harassing behaviour and incitement to hatred, including laws to tackle perpetrators who stir up racial and religious hatred and hatred based on sexual orientation. Importantly, the ...
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordWang BingzhangForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 28 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48607More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to his Chinese counterpart on the release of Dr Wang Bingzhang.
Answer: The UK Government stands firm on human rights in China. We raise our concerns at the highest levels: the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, Chancellor and Energy Secretary all raised human rights recently with their counterparts (President Xi, Foreign Min...
Answered 7 May 2025
Original Parliament recordNuclear PowerScotland OfficeTabled 8 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 903750More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to ensure that Scotland benefits from nuclear energy developments in the UK.
Answer: Nuclear energy creates well-paid jobs and develops vital transferable skills. Investment in new nuclear power stations brings billions of pounds into local communities. It is good for the environment and good for national energy security.So, what do the S...
Answered 23 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordInternational Commission on Missing PersonsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 1 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43220More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what long term support the Government plans to provide the International Commission on Missing Persons to support their work in identifying those still missing from (a) the w
Answer: The UK supports post-conflict reconciliation in the Western Balkans, through diplomatic and programmatic efforts. This has included funding for the International Commission on Missing Persons for work in the Western Balkans, including for Regional Co-oper...
Answered 9 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordInternational Commission on Missing Persons: FinanceForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 1 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43218More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what funding the Government plans to provide to Regional Co-operation in Accounting for Missing Persons in the Western Balkans (The Missing Person Group) of the International
Answer: The UK supports post-conflict reconciliation in the Western Balkans, through diplomatic and programmatic efforts. This has included funding for the International Commission on Missing Persons for work in the Western Balkans, including for Regional Co-oper...
Answered 9 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy Drinks: ChildrenDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42715More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to review the regulations on the sale of energy drinks to children under the age of 16.
Answer: As set out in the King’s Speech, we plan to bring forward the necessary secondary legislation to deliver on our commitment to ban the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children under the age of 16 years old.We are developing plans which consider the ...
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy Drinks: ChildrenDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42714More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of energy drinks on children under 16.
Answer: As set out in the King’s Speech, we plan to bring forward the necessary secondary legislation to deliver on our commitment to ban the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children under the age of 16 years old.We are developing plans which consider the ...
Answered 7 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordDriver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: StandardsDepartment for TransportTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42713More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the DVLA licensing backlog.
Answer: The quickest and easiest way to transact with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is by using its extensive suite of online services. There are no delays or backlogs for vehicle applications or straightforward driving licence applications and c...
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordDriver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: StandardsDepartment for TransportTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42712More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress her Department has made on reducing the DVLA backlog.
Answer: The quickest and easiest way to transact with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is by using its extensive suite of online services. There are no delays or backlogs for vehicle applications or straightforward driving licence applications and c...
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordParking: Private SectorMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42711More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of parking enforcement companies; and whether she plans to bring forward legislative
Answer: The Government recognises the need for high standards in the private parking industry and is committed to delivering a Code of Practice, in accordance with The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019. We are progressing with plans to protect and support motor...
Answered 7 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordParking: Private SectorMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42710More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if her Department will consider introducing protections for consumers in the new Parking Code of Practice.
Answer: The Government recognises the need for high standards in the private parking industry and is committed to delivering a Code of Practice, in accordance with The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019. We are progressing with plans to protect and support motor...
Answered 7 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordParking: Private SectorMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42709More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when her Department plans to re-introduce the Parking Code of Practice.
Answer: The Government recognises the need for high standards in the private parking industry and is committed to delivering a Code of Practice, in accordance with The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019. We are progressing with plans to protect and support motor...
Answered 7 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordTravellers: Caravan SitesHome OfficeTabled 19 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39632More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the High Court ruling that Part 4 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 is incompatible with the European Convention
Answer: As with all cases of this nature, we are now carefully considering the judgment in order to determine the best way forward.
Answered 28 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordBahrain: DemonstrationsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 17 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38709More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his counterpart in Bahrain on allegations relating to the detention of minors in relation to peaceful protests.
Answer: The Foreign Secretary last visited Bahrain in October 2024 where he met the Foreign Minister. The focus for that visit was de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East, and to meet UK personnel working in the region, underscoring our commitment to regiona...
Answered 27 Mar 2025
Original Parliament record
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