Scott Arthur MP: written questions 2025
334 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Train Operating CompaniesDepartment for TransportTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72446More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions her Department has had with open access passenger service operators on the potential impact of the Railway Bill on their operating model.
Answer: DfT officials have regularly engaged Open Access operators, alongside other stakeholders, to provide both updates regarding proposed reforms and to invite their feedback. This includes engagement around the recent consultation on the Railways Bill, and th...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordUndocumented Workers: EdinburghHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72358More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking in Edinburgh to identify employers recruiting people residing in the city without legal permission or valid immigration status.
Answer: The government is committed to taking effective action against employers of illegal workers. The Home Office collaborates closely with labour market enforcement bodies, routinely sharing intelligence and information to understand the threats and to inform...
Answered 4 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordDelivery Services: Undocumented WorkersHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72357More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an estimate of the number of workers residing in the country without legal permission or valid immigration status employed by food delivery companies.
Answer: The Home Office does not hold an estimate of the number of people working illegally in the gig economy. The recent joint work between the Office for National Statistics and the Home Office explains the complexities: Measuring illegal migration: our curren...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordWealth: TaxationTreasuryTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72356More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the impact of wealth taxes on national economies in countries where they exist.
Answer: The Government is committed to making sure the wealthiest in our society pay their fair share of tax. That is why the Chancellor announced a series of reforms at Autumn Budget 2024 to help fix the public finances in as fair a way as possible. These and o...
Answered 5 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordPensions: TrustsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71920More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions her Department has had with the Pensions Regulator on the effectiveness of the steps it is taking to ensure the independence of pensions trustee bodies.
Answer: The Department works closely with the Pensions Regulator (TPR) to ensure that pension scheme trustees always act in the interests of all beneficiaries. All pension scheme trustees have the same duties and responsibilities and must comply with the law and ...
Answered 5 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordPensions: SurplusesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71919More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has had discussions with private pension schemes on ensuring that people who have made contributions to defined benefit private pensions are able to benefit from a pension surplus
Answer: The Department for Work and Pensions consulted on surplus release from defined benefit pensions schemes last year. Throughout the consultation, and in developing the consultation response and the Pension Schemes Bill, the Department has engaged with pensi...
Answered 5 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordConversion TherapyWomen and EqualitiesTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71707More
Question: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will publish a timeline for introducing trans-inclusive legislation banning conversion practices.
Answer: This Government’s position is that conversion practices are abuse. Such practices have no place in society and must be stopped. This is a complex issue, and it is imperative that we get this right.That is why, in collaboration with Ministerial colleagues,...
Answered 9 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordEquality: Codes of PracticeWomen and EqualitiesTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71706More
Question: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she plans to publish the Code of Practice on services, public functions, and associations before it is laid before Parliament.
Answer: The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has revised its Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations following the six week consultation and submitted it to the Minister for Women and Equalities. The Parliamentary process for l...
Answered 16 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordEuropean Company for the Financing of Railroad Rolling StockDepartment for TransportTabled 21 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69649More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of accession to the EUROFIMA convention.
Answer: The Government is committed to developing a long-term industrial strategy for rolling stock, supporting British manufacturing, fostering innovation, and enhancing the rail passenger experience. As part of this work, the Department is exploring a range of ...
Answered 3 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordSewersDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69529More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to enact Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.
Answer: The Government is strongly committed to improving the implementation of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and we are looking at what additional steps might be taken to support this Better delivery of SuDS may be achieved by continuing to improve the cur...
Answered 1 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordSyria: Politics and GovernmentForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 21 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69504More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to support Syria in becoming (a) unified, (b) inclusive and (c) peaceful.
Answer: We have consistently advocated for an inclusive political transition and underlined the importance of protecting the rights of all Syrians. The Foreign Secretary discussed this with President al Sharaa and Foreign Minister al Shaibani when he visited Dama...
Answered 3 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordState Retirement Pensions: Tax ThresholdsTreasuryTabled 21 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69501More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of not increasing the tax threshold to accommodate future increases in state pension on levels of pensioner poverty.
Answer: The Government is committed to making sure older people can live with the dignity and respect they deserve in retirement. The State Pension is the foundation of the support available to them. Over the course of this Parliament, the yearly amount of the fu...
Answered 4 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordState Retirement Pensions: Tax ThresholdsTreasuryTabled 21 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69500More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to increase the tax threshold to accommodate future increases in state pension.
Answer: This Government remains committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement. Through our commitment to protect the Triple Lock, over 12 million pensioners benefitted from a 4.1% increase to their basic or...
Answered 4 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: Secondhand GoodsDepartment for TransportTabled 15 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 68207More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help improve customer confidence in battery performance when buying used Euro 6 compliant electric vehicles.
Answer: The Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate and the recently announced Electric Car Grant require manufacturers to provide a warranty of 8 years or 100,000 miles on EV batteries. In comparison, new petrol or diesel cars usually come with a 3-year warranty. Moreove...
Answered 22 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordLife Sciences: Migrant WorkersDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 15 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 68206More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department to ensure the life sciences sector has the visa routes it needs to attract global talent to the UK.
Answer: The Government is committed to attracting top global talent to the UK. We are working with the Home Office and the Home Secretary to deliver the Immigration White Paper, ensuring that the very highly skilled can come to the UK. The Life Sciences sector al...
Answered 23 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordLife SciencesDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 15 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 68205More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with cancer-related charities on taking steps to help support the UK to become the leading life sciences economy in Europe by 2030.
Answer: The Life Sciences Sector Plan (LSSP) sets out a ten-year vision for enabling world-class R&D, making the UK an outstanding place for investment in life sciences, and driving healthcare innovation in the NHS. The plan received input from over 250 organ...
Answered 23 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordVisas: Life SciencesHome OfficeTabled 15 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 68204More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help ensure the biomedical sector has (a) efficient and (b) cost-effective visa routes for attracting world-leading scientists to the UK.
Answer: The Home office’s Immigration White paper, published on 12 May, sets our proposed reforms in a wide range of areas including attracting top scientific talent to the UK, further details of which will be set out in due course.
Answered 23 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordBusiness: Inheritance TaxTreasuryTabled 14 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67695More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the net fiscal impact of changes to inheritance tax for family owned businesses in each year to 2029-30.
Answer: The Government published information about the reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief at www.gov.uk/government/publications/agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief-reforms.This measure is forecast to raise a...
Answered 21 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordBusiness: Government AssistanceTreasuryTabled 14 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67694More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to consult family-owned businesses with annual turnover above £100 million on potential fiscal policies.
Answer: Government Ministers and Senior Officials regularly meet with businesses of all sizes, from large corporations to SMEs, including family-owned businesses with an annual turnover of above £100 million. These meetings afford an opportunity for the Governmen...
Answered 22 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordBusiness: Government AssistanceTreasuryTabled 14 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67693More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to support family owned businesses with annual turnover above £100 million.
Answer: Government Ministers and Senior Officials regularly meet with businesses of all sizes, from large corporations to SMEs, including family-owned businesses with an annual turnover of above £100 million. These meetings afford an opportunity for the Governmen...
Answered 22 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Oceanography CentreDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 14 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67692More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to ensure the National Oceanography Centre is meeting its nationwide remit.
Answer: The National Oceanography Centre (NOC) plays a key role in delivering oceanographic science and innovation across the UK. It provides access to a wide range of data, infrastructure, and research services to universities, government departments, and other ...
Answered 22 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordParking: Pedestrian AreasDepartment for TransportTabled 14 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67691More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on providing English local authorities the powers to enforce a pavement parking ban.
Answer: The Secretary of State for Transport has not had any discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on this matter. The Department held a consultation on pavement parking in 2020 and has been considering all the view...
Answered 22 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordParking: Pedestrian AreasMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 14 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67690More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on providing English Local Authorities the powers to enforce a pavement parking ban.
Answer: The Secretary of State has not had any discussions with the Secretary of State for Department for Transport on this matter. The Department for Transport held a public consultation in 2020 and has been considering all the views expressed in response to the...
Answered 17 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordTravel: DisabilityDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66780More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to Sustran's report entitled Transforming mobility, published on 8 July 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of establishing paid local access panels to (a) review and (b) i
Answer: The Sustrans Transforming Mobility Report highlights how paid access panels could be one means by which local transport authorities engage with disabled people to shape, review, and monitor transport policies and projects, so that accessibility is embedde...
Answered 16 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordPedestrian CrossingsDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66779More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to Sustran's report entitled Transforming mobility, published on 8 July 2025, what steps she is taking to support the roll-out of side road zebra crossings.
Answer: An amendment to the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 (TSRGD) would be required to permit zebra crossings to be placed without zig-zag lines or yellow globes.The Department has been working with Active Travel England who have been carr...
Answered 15 Jul 2025
Original Parliament record
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