Scott Arthur MP: written questions
578 published records · newest first.
Written questions
UK Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods: FinanceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 19 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 11518More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of funding to the UK Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods; what assessment he has made of the role of industry co-investment in s
Answer: The Government is supporting the establishment of the UK Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods through funding secured as part of the Replacing Animals in Science strategy, with costs informed by analysis of validation requirements and comparab...
Answered 29 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordMicromobility Vehicles: RegulationDepartment for TransportTabled 18 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 11294More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she plans to launch the consultation on micromobility regulation.
Answer: The Government plans to consult on e-scooter regulations over the next year.
Answered 23 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordInternet: ChildrenDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10896More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle harmful platform features that put children at risk online.
Answer: Protecting children online is a priority for the Secretary of State. Through our recent consultation, which included parents and children's consultations and nationally representative polls, we heard from over 116,000 people. Following this, on 15 June th...
Answered 26 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordInternet: ChildrenDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10895More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she plans to extend proposed restrictions to livestreaming and communication with strangers for child users to other high-risk functionalities including disappearing messages, t
Answer: The government recently announced restrictions on social media services offering their services to under-16s and wider services offering livestreaming or stranger communication to under-16s.Combined with requiring more device level protections for childre...
Answered 26 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordEconomic Growth: Environment ProtectionTreasuryTabled 16 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10413More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of permanent absolute GDP growth on long-term environmental sustainability in the context of the Dasgupta Review.
Answer: The Government recognises the vital role of nature in the economy and agrees with the central conclusion of the Dasgupta Review that biodiversity underpins nature, and sustains our economies, livelihoods and well-being. As recommended by the Dasgupta Revi...
Answered 24 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordEconomic Growth: Nature ConservationTreasuryTabled 16 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10408More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to (a) cost the degradation of natural assets resulting from headline GDP growth and (b) ensure long-term environmental costs are reflected in fiscal planning.
Answer: Since the Dasgupta Review, the Government has taken forward work to integrate nature into policy-making, including improving the valuation of natural capital through collaboration with Defra and its Biodiversity Expert Committee. The Government is support...
Answered 24 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordDevelopment AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 12 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 9438More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the change in funding levels for the Independent Commission for Aid Impact on the evaluation of the (a) effectiveness
Answer: The reduction in the Independent Commission for Aid Impact's (ICAI's) budget is proportionate in the context of the reduction of Official Development Assistance (ODA) to 0.3 per cent of Gross National Income, and provides sufficient funding to maintain it...
Answered 22 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordHuman Rights: EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 12 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 9437More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to promote and support the adoption of the (a) Rights Respecting Schools programme and (b) principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in schools.
Answer: The government is committed to upholding the principles of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child and safeguarding the rights of children within schools. For example, the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act included several measures to enhance chil...
Answered 23 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordMeat and Proteins: Novel FoodsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 9414More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of incorporation of cultivated meat and alternative proteins into future food security and agri-tech strategies.
Answer: Defra is researching the sector’s growth potential, impacts on future emissions, and working across government to support innovation and scaling. Defra is also working with the Food Standards Agency to develop guidance for approval of new alternative prot...
Answered 22 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordNovel Foods: RegulationDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 12 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 9413More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions his Department has had with the Food Standards Agency on the regulatory pathway for novel foods.
Answer: Ministers and officials regularly discuss novel food regulatory pathways with FSA. This includes the Engineering Biology Sandbox and Regulatory Innovation Office’s financial support for a new FSA innovation hub.In October 2024, DSIT awarded the Food Stand...
Answered 22 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordPayroll Deduction Scheme: TaxationTreasuryTabled 12 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 9412More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidance HM Revenue and Customs has issued to employers on the legality and tax treatment of schemes known as grocery salary sacrifice schemes; what steps have they taken to ensure such schemes are structured t
Answer: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) publishes guidance on the tax treatment of salary sacrifice arrangements, including the optional remuneration arrangements rules in the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003. Where arrangements are marketed as providing...
Answered 22 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordCancer: Medical TreatmentsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 8929More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 27 May 2026 to Question 2631, which tumour types will be prioritised for the first cancer manuals; and whether there will be a consultation exercise for the development of
Answer: The Department and NHS England are reviewing the process for developing cancer manuals, including the criteria to use to select specific tumour types, accountability mechanisms and consultation processes.As set out in our National Cancer Plan, the first w...
Answered 16 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordCancer: Medical TreatmentsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 8928More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, further to the Answer of 27 May 2026 to Question 2631, whether accountability mechanisms will be put in place to ensure that NHS trusts, commissioners and regional partnerships act on the quality s
Answer: The Department and NHS England are reviewing the process for developing cancer manuals, including the criteria to use to select specific tumour types, accountability mechanisms and consultation processes.As set out in our National Cancer Plan, the first w...
Answered 16 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordMathematics: EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7844More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to increase the level of uptake of advanced mathematics to help address the skills gaps identified in Skills England’s Annual Skills Re
Answer: Since 2018, the department has funded the Advanced Mathematics Support Programme (AMSP), which provides high-quality teacher professional development and student support to increase participation and attainment in advanced mathematics in state-funded scho...
Answered 16 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordQuantum Technology: MathematicsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7843More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what funding her Department is making in the mathematical sciences to support the UK’s quantum industry.
Answer: The Government recognises that advanced mathematics underpins excellence across science, engineering and technology, and can play a vital role in driving innovation and productivity. In 2025-2026, UK Research and Innovation committed £25 million to core m...
Answered 16 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordICT: Labour TurnoverDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 5 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7325More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the cost of technical debt to UK productivity; and what steps her Department is taking to address skills shortages linked to the retirement of personnel
Answer: At least 28% of central government systems are classified as legacy. These outdated systems cost around 40% more to maintain than modern alternatives, slow down public services, are harder to join up and increase the risk of disruption, reducing efficienc...
Answered 12 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordAviation: Alternative FuelsDepartment for TransportTabled 4 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7033More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the likely pass-through of increased SAF compliance costs to consumers and the potential impact on (a) average UK air fares and (b) holiday package prices.
Answer: We recognise the need to protect consumers from excessive costs and have factored this into the design of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Mandate. We continually monitor the market, and, alongside the option of buy-out, the Mandate has a built-in review pro...
Answered 15 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordAviation: Alternative FuelsDepartment for TransportTabled 4 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7031More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate her Department has made of the current and projected capacity of domestic Sustainable Aviation Fuel production facilities in the United Kingdom; and what steps she is taking to help prevent shortf
Answer: We recognise the need to protect consumers from excessive costs and have factored this into the design of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Mandate. We continually monitor the market, and, alongside the option of buy-out, the Mandate has a built-in review pro...
Answered 15 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordRailways: Capital InvestmentDepartment for TransportTabled 4 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7008More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure the maintenance of capital investment in rail infrastructure during the transition period to Great British Railways; and what assessment she has made of the risk of operationa
Answer: This government remains committed to the existing settlement for the day-to-day running of the railway during the current funding period (2024 to 2029), including capital spend, and including through the transition from Network Rail to Great British Railw...
Answered 12 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordTransgender People: EqualityWomen and EqualitiesTabled 2 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 6148More
Question: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will set out how organisations will be held to account for demonstrating that any exclusion of trans people from single-sex services is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim in line with t
Answer: The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) regulates equality law across England, Wales and Scotland. The EHRC is independent of the government and makes its own enforcement and regulation decisions.
Answered 9 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordGender: EqualityWomen and EqualitiesTabled 2 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 6147More
Question: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment she has made of the feasibility for service providers with limited physical space to maintain single-sex services while also providing separate third-space arrangements for transgender individu
Answer: The EHRC has assessed the costs for service providers and others. The draft Code of practice for services, public functions and associations acknowledges service providers might comply with the law in different ways due to different factors such as physic...
Answered 10 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordTuberculosis: Disease ControlDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 1 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 5736More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to renew the National TB Action Plan to help ensure the UK meets its commitment to the World Health Elimination (WHO) targets by 2035.
Answer: The UK Health Security Agency and NHS England’s current joint Tuberculosis (TB) Action Plan for England 2021 to 2026 outlines outcomes and indicators to achieve a 90% reduction in people with TB by 2035, aligned with the World Health Organisation eliminat...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4645More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans her Department has to help support the development of standardised high voltage battery diagnostics for electric vehicles to enable repair and reuse.
Answer: The Government is aware of calls from industry to develop standardised high voltage battery diagnostics for electric vehicles (EVs), to support repairability as well as the safe working operations of EV technicians. While the Government currently has no p...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordTransport: UK Relations with EUDepartment for TransportTabled 21 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3886More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to increase the level of collaboration with the EU on transport policy.
Answer: This Government has reset its relationship with European partners to strengthen economic and security cooperation following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. The Secretary of State, Department for Transport Ministers, and officials engage closely with EU i...
Answered 5 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordAviation: CrewDepartment for TransportTabled 21 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3885More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions she has had with her European counterparts on mutual recognition of UK pilot licences for flying EU registered aircraft.
Answer: The Government has been clear that it will work to reset the relationship with Europe, strengthen ties, and tackle barriers to trade. As part of this, the Government is continuing to seek expansions to the Aviation Safety Chapter of the Trade and Cooperat...
Answered 5 Jun 2026
Original Parliament record
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