Scott Arthur MP: written questions 2025
334 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Tax Avoidance: British Overseas TerritoriesTreasuryTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44803More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of trends in the level of tax avoidance associated with the Overseas Territories.
Answer: The inhabited Overseas Territories (OTs) are largely self-governing jurisdictions with democratically elected governments. In many OTs, responsibility for fiscal matters is devolved, including the determination of tax rates in line with international stan...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordTax Avoidance: British Overseas TerritoriesTreasuryTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44802More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to reduce tax avoidance associated with the Overseas Territories.
Answer: The inhabited Overseas Territories (OTs) are largely self-governing jurisdictions with democratically elected governments. In many OTs, responsibility for fiscal matters is devolved, including the determination of tax rates in line with international stan...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordMalawi: Education and HealthForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44801More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to the Official Development Assistance budget on (a) education and (b) health outcomes in Malawi.
Answer: The UK Government remains committed to working in partnership with Malawi, to support its development. Our current development assistance focuses on strengthening health systems, improving education outcomes, supporting economic development and climate re...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordMalawi: ScotlandScotland OfficeTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44800More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps he is taking to help strengthen links between Scotland and Malawi.
Answer: I recently hosted a Scotland-Malawi Partnership delegation as part of the wider events marking six decades of Malawian independence. The roundtable looked at ways of strengthening the already deep relationship between Scotland and Malawi.As you will know,...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: Parkinson's DiseaseDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 3 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44108More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of her Department's Green Paper entitled Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working, published on 18 March 2025, on peop
Answer: Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course, and some information was published alongside the Spring Statement. These publications can be found in ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get ...
Answered 11 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSign Language: CurriculumDepartment for EducationTabled 2 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43710More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment has she made of the adequacy of the provision of British Sign Language teaching in schools.
Answer: Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only. Schools may choose to offer British Sign Language (BSL) as part of their school curriculum, or as an extra-curricular activity. The government does not hold data o...
Answered 9 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Sector: PublicityDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 27 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42187More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has plans to make changes to the rules on public notices for small online news publishers.
Answer: Public notices are important for ensuring that the public is kept informed of decisions made by their council which may affect their quality of life, local services or amenities, or their property. The independent 2019 Cairncross Review into sustainable j...
Answered 4 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal PressDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 27 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42120More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to support local independent journalism.
Answer: Sustainability of the local media sector across the country is an area of particular concern for this Government. We are developing a Local Media Strategy, in recognition of the importance of this vital sector. Our vision is a thriving local media that ca...
Answered 1 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordIncome Tax: ScotlandMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40760More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, is he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of the Scottish Income Tax Mitigation scheme in each financial year between 2018-19 and 2024-25.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence’s Scottish income tax mitigation payment scheme is unique within the public sector and has been agreed by wider Government for use only where Service personnel are compelled to serve at one location over another. The scheme aims to...
Answered 31 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: HousingMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40759More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Service Family Accommodation units were available in Scotland between 2010 and 2014; and how many and what proportion of those were reported to have (a) black mould and (b) damp in the same period.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) acknowledges serious concerns regarding damp and mould in Service Family Accommodation (SFA). A Damp and Mould Taskforce was established in 2023 to address reported cases of damp and mould in SFA and since then, over 9,000 Se...
Answered 31 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: HousingMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40758More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the press notice entitled Awaab’s Law to force landlords to fix dangerous homes, published 6 February 2025, if he will take steps to extend Awaab's law to include all Service Family Accommodatio
Answer: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) acknowledges serious concerns regarding damp and mould in Service Family Accommodation (SFA). A Damp and Mould Taskforce was established in 2023 to address reported cases of damp and mould in SFA and since then, over 9,000 Se...
Answered 31 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: HousingMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40757More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the extent of any black mould problem in service family accommodation in Scotland.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) acknowledges serious concerns regarding damp and mould in Service Family Accommodation (SFA). A Damp and Mould Taskforce was established in 2023 to address reported cases of damp and mould in SFA and since then, over 9,000 Se...
Answered 31 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: HousingMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40756More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of service family accommodation in Scotland.
Answer: Circa 97% of Service Family Accommodation (SFA) in Scotland meets or exceeds the Government's Decent Homes Standard. This Government continues to invest significant sums to improve the quality of SFA in the United Kingdom. For Financial Year 2024-25, circ...
Answered 31 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordIndustryDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37885More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of staff cuts at Dundee University on the industrial strategy.
Answer: The Government recognises the crucial role of universities in the UK's innovation ecosystem and in delivering the skills needed to drive growth as part of the Industrial Strategy. Education policy is devolved in Scotland, and it is for the Scottish Govern...
Answered 20 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordEconomic GrowthTreasuryTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37884More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of staff cuts at Dundee University on economic growth.
Answer: The Government recognises the crucial role of universities in the UK’s innovation ecosystem and in delivering the skills needed to drive growth as part of the Industrial Strategy. Education policy is however devolved in Scotland. It is for the Scottish Go...
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordUniversity of Dundee: RedundancyScotland OfficeTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37883More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of Dundee University's plan to cut staffing by 20% on the Tay Cities Deal.
Answer: I am fully aware of the well documented financial situation with the University of Dundee and share concern that any job losses are regrettable, however the University is a key partner in the Tay Cities Region Deal and remains fully committed to deliverin...
Answered 18 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordLong CovidDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36934More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support people with long covid; and what steps he is taking to increase awareness of the impacts of long covid.
Answer: Across England, services within the National Health Service are available to support people with post-COVID syndrome, often described as long COVID. These services offer physical, cognitive and psychological assessment, and, where appropriate, refer patie...
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordIndustry: ScotlandDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 7 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36535More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Scottish Government's National innovation strategy 2023 to 2033 on his industrial strategy.
Answer: Accelerating the rate of innovation and increasing the adoption and diffusion of ideas, technologies, and processes is an essential step for growing productivity of our growth-driving sectors. My officials are working with the Scottish Government on how w...
Answered 18 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordIndustry: ScotlandDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 7 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36534More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had discussions with Scottish universities on the development of an industrial strategy.
Answer: The Government recognises the crucial role of universities in the UK’s innovation ecosystem and in delivering the skills needed to drive growth as part of the Industrial Strategy. My officials have discussed our Industrial Strategy plans with Universities...
Answered 19 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy: PricesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 7 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36533More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the support provided by (a) his Department and (b) energy suppliers for people with chronic ill health for the cost of energy.
Answer: The Government believes the only way to protect consumers permanently is to speed up the transition towards homegrown clean energy. The creation of Great British Energy will help us to harness clean energy and have less reliance on volatile international ...
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy: PricesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 7 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36532More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the support provided by (a) his Department and (b) energy suppliers for vulnerable households for the cost of energy.
Answer: The Government believes the only way to protect consumers permanently is to speed up the transition towards homegrown clean energy. The creation of Great British Energy will help us to harness clean energy and have less reliance on volatile international ...
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Sector: Employers' ContributionsTreasuryTabled 7 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36531More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to provide additional funding to the Scottish Government for the cost of additional National Insurance contributions in the public sector from the 2025-26 financial year.
Answer: The Scottish Government will receive funding through the Barnett formula in the usual way in 2025-26, including for any support provided to UK Government departments for employer National Insurance contributions. This is the normal operation of the fundin...
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: BatteriesDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31672More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of implementing a standardised battery health certification scheme for second-hand electric vehicles.
Answer: The Department for Transport has worked with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) to develop a Global Technical Regulation on electric vehicle batteries (GTR 22). If implemented, the regulation would set standards for the lifespan of ...
Answered 24 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordRented Housing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30838More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking with the build to rent sector to increase the supply of housing.
Answer: The government is committed to supporting the Build to Rent sector. We are unlocking nearly £2 billion in additional lending through the Private Rented Sector Guarantee Scheme and have announced a £700 million extension to the Home Building Fund to help d...
Answered 18 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordActive Travel: ChildrenDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30366More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to create local walking and cycling networks to enable more children to stay active on the way to school.
Answer: it is for local authorities to make their own decisions about where to prioritise investment in local transport networks. Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) aim to help authorities take a strategic approach to improving conditions for...
Answered 18 Feb 2025
Original Parliament record
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