Scott Arthur MP: written questions 2025
334 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Railways: FaresDepartment for TransportTabled 17 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60703More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to ensure that rail fares are affordable.
Answer: Scottish fares are a matter for the Scottish Government. However, in both administrations Scotland and England, some fares are regulated to protect passengers by setting the maximum amount that regulated fares can increase year-on-year. London North Easte...
Answered 25 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordIsrael: Arms TradeMinistry of DefenceTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60252More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of banning of weapons exports to Israel on the training of Israeli Defense Forces personnel in the UK.
Answer: Whilst both take into account international humanitarian law considerations, decisions to suspend certain export licences to Israel and the provision of UK training courses to Israel Defence Forces personnel are not directly linked. There are fewer than f...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordGaza: British Nationals AbroadForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 13 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59843More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether any UK passport holders have been accused of breaching international law in Gaza.
Answer: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) does not comment on individual cases or provide information relating to specific UK nationals, in line with long-standing policy to protect personal data and in accordance with General Data Protectio...
Answered 2 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces and Israel Defense Forces: TrainingMinistry of DefenceTabled 13 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59842More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the last time was that a member of UK armed forces was trained by Israel Defense Forces.
Answer: The last time a member of the UK Armed Forces was trained by Israel Defence Forces was in Israel on a military academic course in July 2022.
Answered 25 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordRedford Barracks: SalesMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58833More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his target sale date is for the Redford Barracks site; whether he plans to have (a) a single sale and (b) sale in parts; if he will publish a plan of the area being considered for disposal; and what discussi
Answer: The target sale date for the Redford Barracks site remains 2030. The Ministry of Defence anticipates selling the whole site in a single sale; however, it is too early in the disposal process to confirm this. A plan of the disposal area will be published a...
Answered 17 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordF-35 Aircraft: Spare PartsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58445More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he permits the export of F-35 components which are only compatible with the F-35I variant of the aircraft.
Answer: No. As my Rt. Honourable friend the Minister for Defence Procurement has previously confirmed to the House, UK suppliers do not manufacture or export components that are exclusively used on the Israeli variant of the f-35 aircraft.
Answered 17 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordIsrael: F-35 AircraftForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58444More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether international allies have raised concerns with him on the use of UK made F-35 parts in Gaza.
Answer: Conversations with F-35 Partners occur regularly and cover a range of issues, however we are unable to disclose details of confidential conversations held within an international programme.
Answered 19 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordIsrael: F-35 AircraftForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58443More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with allies involved in the F-35 programme on Israel's use of F-35 jets in Gaza.
Answer: Conversations with F-35 Partners occur regularly and cover a range of issues, however we are unable to disclose details of confidential conversations held within an international programme.
Answered 19 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordIsrael: F-35 AircraftForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58442More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he holds evidence on the use of F-35 jets to breach international law in Gaza.
Answer: No, we don't. We have carefully collated, reviewed and assessed relevant evidence concerning the Gaza conflict. The action we have taken, as announced to Parliament, is consistent with our legal obligations and we remain wholly committed to international ...
Answered 19 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordParking: Pedestrian AreasDepartment for TransportTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57525More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the lessons learned from the implementation of pavement parking restrictions in (a) Edinburgh and (b) London.
Answer: The Department has been carefully considering the responses to the consultation that took place in 2020 and is currently working through the policy options. There will be a full impact assessment of the policies to be implemented, which will consider a wi...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordVisas: Skilled WorkersHome OfficeTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55784More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of which academic fields have benefitted most from the Global Talent visa scheme.
Answer: Following its introduction in February 2020, the Home Office commissioned Ipsos to undertake research into the impact of the Global Talent visa. Wave 1 of the research was published in May 2022 and wave 2 was published in March 2024.The Global Talent Visa...
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordVisas: Skilled WorkersHome OfficeTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55783More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the effectiveness of the Global Talent visa scheme.
Answer: Following its introduction in February 2020, the Home Office commissioned Ipsos to undertake research into the impact of the Global Talent visa. Wave 1 of the research was published in May 2022 and wave 2 was published in March 2024.The Global Talent Visa...
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordWarrior VehiclesMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55779More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Warrior infantry fighting vehicles (a) his Department has and (b) will be surplus to requirements by 2030; and how many of that he plans to provide to Ukraine.
Answer: As at 1 June 2025, there are 359 Warrior vehicles in service. As the Out of Service date for Warrior is 2027, with all vehicles withdrawn from service by the end of the decade, any that remain held by the Department beyond this will be classed as surplus ...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordGlobal Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria: FinanceForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54492More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to maintain the level of UK funding for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.
Answer: The UK remains committed to tackling global health challenges and will continue to work with all international partners towards the collective goal of a healthier, safer and more prosperous world. As part of this, we are proud to be co-hosting the 8th rep...
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordGavi, the Vaccine Alliance: FinanceForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54491More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to maintain the level of UK funding for GAVI.
Answer: The UK remains committed to tackling global health challenges and will continue to work with all international partners towards the collective goal of a healthier, safer and more prosperous world. As part of this, we are proud to be co-hosting the 8th rep...
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordVisas: Skilled WorkersHome OfficeTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54490More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of age-related pay for people with Skilled Worker visas on opportunities for exploitation by unscrupulous employers.
Answer: The Immigration White Paper, published on 12 May, sets out the Home Office’s proposals for reform in a number of areas, including exploitation of individuals on worker visas.
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAviation: Skilled WorkersHome OfficeTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54489More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of age-related pay for workers on the Skilled Worker Visa on exploitation in the airline industry.
Answer: The Immigration White Paper, published on 12 May, sets out the Home Office’s proposals for reform in a number of areas, including exploitation of individuals on worker visas.
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordScottish Institute of Theatre, Dance, Film and Television: InsolvencyScotland OfficeTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54488More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he has had discussions with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) the Scottish Government on support for students who where studying at the Scottish Institute of Theatre, Dance, Film and Television when it went
Answer: I was shocked and saddened to hear that the Scottish Institute of Theatre, Dance, Film and Television had gone into administration. My sympathy goes out to the staff that worked there and to the students who are facing considerable uncertainty over the fu...
Answered 4 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordGaza: IsraelForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54177More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether RAF surveillance flights over Gaza have uncovered evidence of breaches of international law.
Answer: The operational mandate for these flights, have been narrowly defined to focus on securing the release of the hostages only. These Royal Air Force surveillance flights are unarmed and do not have a combat role. We will not comment further on detailed inte...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordGaza: IsraelForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54176More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with international partners on the Israeli government's proposals to permanently (a) occupy Gaza and (b) displace its population.
Answer: The Prime Minister has been clear that the UK strongly opposes the expansion of Israel's operations in Gaza. We have repeatedly stated that Palestinian territory must not be reduced in the conduct of this war or subjected to demographic change, and that t...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordIsraeli SettlementsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54175More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help restrict the expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Answer: We are clear that settlements are illegal under international law and undermine the prospects for peace. I have condemned the 22 new settlements announced by Israel on 29 May and we regularly urge Israel to halt settlement expansion in our diplomatic enga...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordGaza: Humanitarian AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54174More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what economic steps he is taking to encourage Israel to allow aid into Gaza.
Answer: On 20 May, the Foreign Secretary announced that we have suspended negotiations with this Israeli Government on a new free trade agreement. We will be reviewing cooperation with them under the 2030 Bilateral Roadmap. On 19 May we issued a statement, with F...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordGaza: Humanitarian SituationForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54173More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Answer: On 28 April, the UK announced a package of support for the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including £101 million for humanitarian aid, support for Palestinian economic development, and strengthening Palestinian Authority governance and reform. As part ...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordGaza: Humanitarian AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54172More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with NGOs on alternative aid routes into Gaza.
Answer: All routes to deliver humanitarian aid into Gaza must be approved by the Government of Israel. The UK regularly engages with the United Nations, humanitarian partners and Non-Governmental Organisations, who provide insights into the challenges facing the ...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordGaza: Humanitarian AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54171More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with UK regional allies on alternative aid routes into Gaza.
Answer: All routes to deliver humanitarian aid into Gaza must be approved by the Government of Israel. The UK has previously collaborated with regional partners on alternative routes, including air drops and a maritime corridor. However, these cannot substitute d...
Answered 4 Jun 2025
Original Parliament record
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