Scott Arthur MP: written questions
346 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Social Media: ChildrenDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 30 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14664More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential risks of age verification methods involving facial or biometric data to enforce a social media ban for under-16s.
Answer: I have asked Ofcom to rapidly assess what constitutes highly effective age assurance for establishing whether someone is over 16, prioritising data privacy and security, and considering how it can work for all users.The ICO’s age-appropriate design code a...
Answered 8 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordInternet: EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 30 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14663More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a Digital Citizenship Qualification to educate children on interaction with the online world.
Answer: Following the final report of the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, the government is focused on delivering the reforms set out in its response to the Review, which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/curriculum-and-ass...
Answered 2 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: EdinburghDepartment for TransportTabled 29 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14234More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the answer to Question UIN 63826 on driving test waiting times in Currie, what the average waiting time is for a practical driving test at the Currie Driving Test Centre; and by what date she
Answer: The average waiting time for a car practical driving test at Currie driving test centre in May was 24 weeks.DVSA is taking sustained action to increase testing capacity and reduce waiting times as quickly as possible, including recruiting and training mor...
Answered 1 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDelivery Services: RobotsDepartment for TransportTabled 29 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14225More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment the Department has made of the level of need for further regulation of autonomous delivery robots operating on public pavements and highways; and whether the Department plans to publish addition
Answer: The Government has committed to pursuing legislative reform for micromobility vehicles when parliamentary time allows by creating a ‘Low-speed Zero Emission Vehicle’ category. This could be used to regulate pavement robots in future. Any new regulations w...
Answered 1 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordProsecutions: CostsMinistry of JusticeTabled 29 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14181More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to launch a consultation on proposed regulations relating to costs orders under Section 17 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985.
Answer: The Victims and Court Act 2026 introduces an enabling power for the Lord Chancellor to set the rates at which private prosecutors can recover costs from central funds under section 17 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985. The Government will consult in...
Answered 6 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordMusculoskeletal Disorders: ResearchDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14180More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to incentivise research into Inclusion Body Myositis and other rare progressive muscle disorders.
Answer: The Department funds research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR funds clinical, public health, and social care research and works in partnership with the National Health Service, universities, local government, o...
Answered 3 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordMusculoskeletal DisordersDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14179More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase awareness of Inclusion Body Myositis and other rare progressive muscle disorders.
Answer: The Government remains committed to improving outcomes for people living with rare diseases, including inclusion body myositis and other rare progressive muscle disorders, through the UK Rare Diseases Framework and successive England Rare Diseases Action ...
Answered 8 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordCancer: GenomicsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 26 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 13678More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he will undertake a horizon-scanning review to identify emerging actionable gene mutations for timely inclusion in the National Genomic Test Directory, prioritising pancreatic cancer and ot
Answer: Genomic testing in the National Health Service in England is provided through the NHS Genomic Medicine Service and delivered by a national genomic testing network of seven NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs (GLHs). The NHS GLHs deliver testing as directed by the...
Answered 3 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordPancreatic Cancer: GenomicsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 26 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 13677More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the barriers to genomic testing for pancreatic cancer patients and how he plans to increase uptake nationally.
Answer: Genomic testing in the National Health Service in England is provided through the NHS Genomic Medicine Service (NHS GMS) and delivered by a national genomic testing network of seven NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs (GLHs). The NHS GLHs deliver testing as direc...
Answered 3 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDriverless Vehicles: AccidentsDepartment for TransportTabled 19 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 11583More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles is exploring the adequacy of compensation arrangements for victims of accidents involving uninsured vehicles in the context of the Automated Vehicles Act
Answer: Through the Automated Vehicles Act Implementation Programme, officials from the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles are working with the Motor Insurers' Bureau on insurance for automated vehicles. This includes assessing the adequacy of the insur...
Answered 25 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordUK 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 record
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