Graeme Downie MP: written questions
219 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Ferries and Freight: RosythScotland OfficeTabled 11 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13662More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he has had recent discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the reintroduction of a (a) passenger and (b) freight service from Rosyth to mainland Europe.
Answer: I have not, but I am aware that you have written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on this matter in connection with infrastructure enhancements that may be required at the port of Rosyth.This Government recognises the importance of upgrading our port in...
Answered 18 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordFerries and Freight: RosythScotland OfficeTabled 11 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13661More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he has had discussions on the reintroduction of a (a) passenger and (b) freight service from Rosyth to mainland Europe.
Answer: My officials have spoken with colleagues in the Department for Transport and the Treasury on this matter and I am aware of your campaigning on this issue.This Government recognises the importance of upgrading our port infrastructure, and that is why we ha...
Answered 18 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordFleet Solid Support ShipsMinistry of DefenceTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10922More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what oversight his Department has had in the preliminary design review of the Fleet Solid Support Ships programme.
Answer: Navantia UK, the prime contractor for the Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ship programme, is responsible for delivering the Design and Manufacture contract. The successful completion of the Preliminary Design Review marks the first major milestone in the progra...
Answered 29 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordFleet Solid Support ShipsMinistry of DefenceTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10921More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of (a) crew accommodation and (b) crewing levels in the Fleet Solid Support Ships contract following the principal contractor’s completion of the Preliminary Design R
Answer: Navantia UK, the prime contractor for the Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ship programme, is responsible for delivering the Design and Manufacture contract. The successful completion of the Preliminary Design Review marks the first major milestone in the progra...
Answered 29 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordNuclear Submarines: DecommissioningMinistry of DefenceTabled 22 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10650More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the annual cost is of maintaining decommissioned nuclear submarines at (a) Rosyth and (b) Devonport.
Answer: The annual cost for maintaining decommissioned submarines varies each year depending on the respective maintenance requirements. In financial year 2023-24, £1.711 million was spent at Rosyth and £7.056 million at Devonport.
Answered 28 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordInternet: Fees and ChargesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 21 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10232More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the decision by the US Federal Trade Commission to require online subscription services to be cancelled more easily on the UK.
Answer: Similar measures have already been introduced in the UK through the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. This introduces new rules to protect consumers from being trapped in unwanted subscription contracts, including a requirement for trad...
Answered 29 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordInternet: Fees and ChargesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 21 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10231More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the decision by the US Federal Trade Commission to require online subscription services to allow users to cancel more easily on UK consumers.
Answer: Similar measures have already been introduced in the UK through the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. This introduces new rules to protect consumers from being trapped in unwanted subscription contracts, including a requirement for trad...
Answered 29 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordInternet: Fees and ChargesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 21 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10230More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has plans to bring forward proposals to make it easier to cancel online subscriptions.
Answer: The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 introduces new rules to protect consumers from being trapped in unwanted subscription contracts, including a requirement for traders to provide straightforward ways for consumers to end contracts. Th...
Answered 31 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordNuclear Submarines: DecommissioningMinistry of DefenceTabled 11 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8734More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to hold discussions with his AUKUS counterparts on including the Submarine Dismantling Project in that partnership.
Answer: As part of the AUKUS partnership, Australia will be responsible for the disposal of its own conventionally-armed, nuclear powered submarines. While there are no plans to include the Submarine Dismantling Project as part of AUKUS, the UK Government continu...
Answered 21 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordNuclear Submarines: DecommissioningMinistry of DefenceTabled 11 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8733More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department will publish a Contract Notice for Submarine Disposal following the Market Interest Day held on 6 July 2023.
Answer: The Submarine Disposal Capability project was established in 2022 to identify an enduring disposal solution. The project is in its Concept Phase and market engagements were undertaken in July 2023 and June 2024 to inform the optimum way ahead.The next pha...
Answered 21 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordNuclear Submarines: DecommissioningMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8595More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects the legacy nuclear powered submarine fleet to have been decommissioned.
Answer: Swiftsure, the first submarine to be fully disposed of, is being used as a demonstrator to refine the dismantling and recycling processes under the Ministry of Defence's Submarine Dismantling Project. There will be a continual process of learning as Swift...
Answered 18 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSubmarines: Repairs and MaintenanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8594More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure long-term availability of submarine berths for repair and maintenance in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK.
Answer: The Government is committed to ensuring the availability of submarine berths to support submarine operations, which includes the Continuous at Sea Deterrent. We are focussed on the long-term infrastructure development of His Majesty’s Naval Base (HMNB) Cl...
Answered 18 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordNuclear Submarines: DecommissioningMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8593More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has held with international (a) allies and (b) partners on the Submarine Dismantling Project.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) continues to engage with industry partners to ensure we can deliver an optimised submarine dismantling programme. The Swiftsure demonstrator project serves as a proof of concept and benchmark against which market testing of f...
Answered 18 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordNuclear Submarines: DecommissioningMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8592More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Submarine Dismantling Project on the economy in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence regularly engages with Scottish Government officials on the Submarine Disposals Programme, allowing constructive dialogue on a wide range of issues including jobs. Swiftsure, the first vessel to be disposed of, is being used as a d...
Answered 18 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordNuclear Submarines: DecommissioningMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8591More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on supporting skills development for Scottish workers to enable them to get jobs as part of the Submarine Dismantling Project.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence regularly engages with Scottish Government officials on the Submarine Disposals Programme, allowing constructive dialogue on a wide range of issues including jobs. Swiftsure, the first vessel to be disposed of, is being used as a d...
Answered 18 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordFleet Solid Support Ships: ShipbuildingMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8590More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what locations are being considered for the (a) build and (b) assembly of the fleet solid support ships.
Answer: Successful delivery of the Fleet Solid Support (FSS) Ships project remains a priority. On current plans, the three FSS ships will be assembled from blocks which are expected to be built in Harland & Wolff (H&W) shipyards in Belfast and Appledore i...
Answered 21 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordNuclear Submarines: DecommissioningMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8589More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to publish a timetable for the implementation of the Submarine Dismantling Project.
Answer: Swiftsure, the first submarine to be fully disposed of, is being used as a demonstrator to refine the dismantling and recycling processes under the Ministry of Defence's Submarine Dismantling Project. There will be a continual process of learning as Swift...
Answered 18 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordNuclear Submarines: DecommissioningMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8588More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's timetable is for deciding on the next steps for the Submarine Dismantling Project.
Answer: Swiftsure, the first submarine to be fully disposed of, is being used as a demonstrator to refine the dismantling and recycling processes under the Ministry of Defence's Submarine Dismantling Project. There will be a continual process of learning as Swift...
Answered 18 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordMyanmar: FuelsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7188More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to sanction the sale of jet fuel to Myanmar.
Answer: The UK strongly condemns the Myanmar military's airstrikes on civilian infrastructure, including schools, hospitals and places of worship. This is unacceptable. To date, the UK has imposed six sanctions targeting the import of aviation fuel, focusing on t...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordRailways: VeteransDepartment for TransportTabled 6 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4572More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many journeys have been booked using a Veterans Railcard in each month since its introduction.
Answer: Data on the number of journeys made using a Veteran's Railcard is collected by the Rail Delivery Group but is not published due to its commercially sensitivity. Access to this data can be requested, on application, from RDGPublicAffairs@raildeliverygroup....
Answered 16 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordRailways: VeteransDepartment for TransportTabled 6 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4571More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many Veterans Railcards have been issued since they were introduced.
Answer: Data on the number of Veteran's Railcards issued is collected by the Rail Delivery Group but is not published due to its commercially sensitivity. Access to this data can be requested, on application, from RDGPublicAffairs@raildeliverygroup.com.
Answered 16 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordType 32 Frigates: Design and ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3599More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his planned timetable is for the (a) design and (b) procurement of Type 32 frigates.
Answer: The Type 32 frigate programme remains in the concept phase and has not yet reached the level of maturity to allow publication of a specific design and procurement timetable.
Answered 9 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordWarships: ConstructionMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3598More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the number of (a) welders and (b) electricians required to complete surface warship construction.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence has regular engagement across all aspects of surface warship construction, including the skills required to support it. This Government recognises the vital role Defence, and its skilled workforce, play not only in our national sec...
Answered 19 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordType 31 Frigates: SalesMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3597More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with international partners on the sale of Type 31 frigates.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence is actively supporting live and prospective export campaigns based on the Type 31 (with the export variant known as the Arrowhead 140) capability with support from the Department of Business and Trade. For example, the Secretary of...
Answered 19 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordUkraine: WarshipsMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3596More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Ukrainian naval ships are docked in UK waters; and what plans he has to return those ships to the Ukrainian navy for active service.
Answer: The Royal Navy transferred two Sandown class mine countermeasure vessels to the Ukrainian Navy last year, both of which are docked in the UK.The ships company are undergoing training and exercises with the Royal Navy and NATO partners to prepare them for ...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament record
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