Scott Arthur MP: written questions
167 published records · newest first.
Written questions
BreastfeedingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64843More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to (a) encourage breastfeeding and (b) support mothers who choose to breastfeed.
Answer: The Government is committed to raising the healthiest generation of children ever and giving every child the best start in life. We know breastfeeding has significant health benefits for babies and for their mothers. Through the Family Hubs and Start for ...
Answered 11 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordVeterans First Point: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 1 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64374More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had discussions with the Scottish Government on the withdraw funding for Veterans First Point Lothian.
Answer: I engage regularly with the Scottish Government and with the Scottish Veterans' Commissioner on issues affecting veterans who live in Scotland. Health is a devolved matter, so it is for the Scottish Government to decide on funding allocations.
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordPensioners: Poverty and Social Security BenefitsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 1 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64354More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to (a) reduce pensioner poverty and (b) increase pension benefit uptake.
Answer: The Government is committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the financial security and dignity they deserve. The State Pension is the foundation of support for older people and together with the private and workplace pensions system provides for ...
Answered 9 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordCancer: Alcoholic DrinksDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63912More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce alcohol related cancers.
Answer: The National Cancer Plan will build on the shift from sickness to prevention set out by the 10-Year Health Plan, and will seek to reduce risk factors. The plan will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, from referral and diagnosis to treatment and ong...
Answered 28 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: EdinburghDepartment for TransportTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63826More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what is the average waiting time for a driving test in Currie; and when she expects the backlog to be cleared.
Answer: The year-to-date average waiting time for a driving test at Edinburgh (Currie) driving test centre (DTC) is 24 weeks.The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practi...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordCinemas: Government AssistanceDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63806More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she is taking steps to support independent cinemas.
Answer: We are supporting cinemas through permanently lower business rates multipliers for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure premises with rateable values under £500,000 from 2026/27.Our Plan for Neighbourhoods will provide £1.5 billion to 75 towns across the UK ov...
Answered 8 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployment: WomenDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63795More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to support unemployed women back in to work.
Answer: Tackling child poverty and reaching an 80% employment rate are key Government objectives. The Get Britain Working White Paper outlines plans to transform the jobs and careers service into a more inclusive, skills-focused system that helps people find and ...
Answered 8 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: Young PeopleDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63100More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure that under-25s are adequately supported by the benefits system.
Answer: Subject to Parliamentary approval, the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill legislates for the first sustained above inflation rise in the basic rate of Universal Credit since it was introduced. This increase will be for new and existin...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordUniversal Credit: DisqualificationDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63099More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the (a) efficacy of Universal Credit sanctions and (b) potential impact of those sanctions on claimants.
Answer: The most relevant work was published by DWP on 6th April 2023 and can be found here: Impact of Benefit Sanctions on Employment Outcomes: draft report. It is right that there should be conditions and consequences to labour market support. We will continue ...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: ReformDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63098More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to (a) simplify the benefits system and (b) increase its accessibility for claimants.
Answer: Our wide-ranging package of reforms to health and disability benefits, set out in the Pathways to Work Green Paper, will improve experiences of the system for those who need it. We are simplifying the system by abolishing the WCA and instead using the PIP...
Answered 4 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordFreeportsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63096More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure that Green Freeports have the (a) authority and (b) mechanisms to hold businesses accountable in relation to their commitments on (i) fair work
Answer: As detailed in guidance, Green Freeports are required to implement robust tax site management strategies that ensure investments align with the overarching vision and policy objectives. Green Freeports must ensure that their partners deliver on the commit...
Answered 3 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordGaza: Overseas StudentsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63069More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure the safe passage of scholars from Gaza who hold offers of admission at UK universities.
Answer: We are aware of the students and are considering the request for support. The issues arising from the current situation in Gaza are complex.
Answered 4 Aug 2025
Original Parliament recordDomestic Abuse: Family ProceedingsMinistry of JusticeTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62043More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will make it her policy to implement all recommendations made in the Ministry of Justice report entitled Assessing Risk of Harm to Children and Parents in Private Law Children Cases, published in June 2020
Answer: The Government was elected with a mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade. As part of this we are committed to ensuring everyone involved in private law children cases in the family courts is protected from harm and that the welfare ...
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordTaxationTreasuryTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62026More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to reduce the tax gap.
Answer: A key part of restoring economic stability and fiscal responsibility is closing the tax gap. Unpaid tax deprives UK public services of vital funding and puts businesses who pay the right tax at a competitive disadvantage.At the Budget last autumn, the Gov...
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordIsrael: F-35 AircraftForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 20 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61655More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with pursuant to the Answer of 19 June 2025 to Question 58444 on Israel: F-35 Aircraft, whether international allies who are not F-35 Partners have raised concerns with him o
Answer: Our conversations with international allies on Gaza have focused on the need for an immediate ceasefire, including release of hostages, a surge of aid into Gaza and a path towards permanent peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians based on a two-s...
Answered 2 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: VeteransDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61401More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure that the reintroduction of face-to-face benefit assessments does not negatively impact veterans with (a) PTSD and (b) mobility impairments.
Answer: We already undertake a number of face-to-face benefit assessments. However, as announced in Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, we intend to do more while preserving alternative health assessment channels t...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployment Schemes: VeteransDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61400More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, what steps she is planning to take to ensure that the £1 billion investment in employment support specifically caters to the needs
Answer: We are providing tailored support to help people get into and on at work, including the biggest investment in employment support for disabled people and those with health conditions in at least a generation - £1 billion a year by the end of the scorecard....
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: VeteransDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61399More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with the (a) the Secretary of State for Defence and (b) Office for Veterans’ Affairs on the potential impact of welfare reform on former service personnel.
Answer: This Government is committed to championing the rights of disabled people and people with long-term health conditions and our mission-driven approach relies on regular cross-government collaboration. We are working across government to further consider th...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: 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 record
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