Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether his Department has used artificial intelligence to assist with drafting (a) legislation and (b) policy in the last 12 months.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)
(a) The drafting of legislation is the responsibility of a large number of officials across government departments.
A range of tools can be used to assist with this drafting, including AI which is most commonly used to check, critique, and otherwise interrogate drafts. Work is continuously underway to identify ways of improving the efficiency of this work, including collaboration between departments to share ideas and emerging practices.
While AI can be used to assist with the drafting of legislation, the production of the draft remains the responsibility of human drafters to meet the high standards expected of Government legislation. The Scotland Office has not led primary legislation in the last 12 months.
It is Parliament’s responsibility to scrutinise legislation as it sees necessary.
(b) The drafting of policy documents and advice is the responsibility of a large number of officials across government departments. Scotland Office officials work closely with departments in policy development, and in producing advice to Ministers.
While AI can be used to assist with the drafting of policy advice, the production of the draft remains the responsibility of a lead human policy advisor to ensure the advice is factual and meets the high standards expected of Government Ministers.
Asked by: Katrina Murray (Labour - Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether his Department has has discussions with Scottish Government on levels of availability of accredited training providers for skilled trades.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)
The Scotland Office and the Department for Work and Pensions maintain regular engagement with the Scottish Government on issues relating to Scotland’s skills development. While decisions on the provision and accreditation of training providers are a matter for the Scottish Government, the UK Government continues to work constructively with the devolved governments to support skills development and economic growth across the UK.
Asked by: Katrina Murray (Labour - Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what engagement his department has had with the Department for Education regarding accessing apprenticeship training through English providers where there is no alternative provider in Scotland.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)
The responsibility for skills policy, and the provision of apprenticeship training in Scotland, lies with the Scottish Government as a devolved matter. Funding for apprenticeships and providers in Scotland are a devolved responsibility. UK Government officials, including those from DWP responsible for apprenticeships, regularly meet their counterparts in the devolved administrations to discuss issues, including eligibility.
Apprenticeship schemes in England are available to eligible learners working most of their time in England, including those who live in other parts of the UK. Due to devolved funding arrangements, learners based in Scotland who do not work in England are not eligible for funding for an English apprenticeship, even in cases where a comparable training provider does not exist in Scotland.
Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much of the funding allocated to the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal remains to be spent.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)
The UK Government has committed £65 million to the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal. Across Scottish and UK Government investment into the deal, around 6% of Government funding has been drawn down by Deal partners so far.
The slow start to spending is a result of supply chain issues, inflationary and other pressures driven by external factors such as the Covid pandemic or cost increases of raw material.
To boost delivery progress, the UK and Scottish Government approved a reset of the Deal in March - confirming a more affordable and deliverable financial profile for projects.
As a result of this, drawdown will significantly accelerate this financial year.
All of this means the Borderlands Growth Deal is now well placed to deliver an additional 5,500 jobs and attract over 4 million new visitors to the region.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of a sanitary and phytosanitary agreement with the EU on Scotland's fishing sector.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)
The UK Government remains steadfast in our commitment to maintaining world-leading food safety and animal health standards. All food and drink products imported into the UK must comply with our regulatory standards.
But we want to limit red tape for our exporters as much as possible. As my Right Honourable Friend the Chancellor advised the House on 24 March, we aim to conclude negotiations with the EU this year on the sanitary and phytosanitary agreement. This will positively impact food prices in our shops and make it easier to trade with our biggest market. This is good news for Scottish exporters in seafood and many other sectors.
Asked by: Lincoln Jopp (Conservative - Spelthorne)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of a sanitary and phytosanitary agreement with the EU on Scotland's fishing sector.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)
The UK Government remains steadfast in our commitment to maintaining world-leading food safety and animal health standards. All food and drink products imported into the UK must comply with our regulatory standards.
But we want to limit red tape for our exporters as much as possible. As my Right Honourable Friend the Chancellor advised the House on 24 March, we aim to conclude negotiations with the EU this year on the sanitary and phytosanitary agreement. This will positively impact food prices in our shops and make it easier to trade with our biggest market. This is good news for Scottish exporters in seafood and many other sectors.
Asked by: Martin Rhodes (Labour - Glasgow North)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the adequacy of levels of UK Government funding for the Glasgow City Region.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)
This UK Government has committed more than £870 million to deliver long term economic growth across the Glasgow City Region, including investing more than £350 million over the next three years.
Furthermore, the region will be up to £15m better off under our new pride in place and local growth investments than if the UK Shared Prosperity Fund had been continued.
Since the election in 2024, the UK Labour Government has also provided the Scottish Government with £12 billion of additional funding to spend on devolved priorities.
I am sure my Honourable Friend will agree with me that there is no excuse for the SNP Scottish Government's cuts to Scottish local authority budgets.
Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of the Defence Growth Deal on Scotland.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
The UK Government’s £50 million Scottish Defence Growth Deal is a step-change for Scotland’s industrial base. It will support skills, high-skilled jobs, innovation and regional growth.
It will include £10 million for innovation facilities both on the Clyde and in Rosyth, and £10 million for two Defence Technical Excellence Colleges. Located to support Scotland’s defence clusters in the East and West, these will strengthen talent pipelines and support long-term sector growth. I urge the Scottish Government to match our investment in Scotland’s defence skills sector.
Asked by: Peter Bedford (Conservative - Mid Leicestershire)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the effectiveness of the welfare system in Scotland.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
I meet regularly with Cabinet colleagues to discuss matters of government policy. This Government is committed to fixing our broken welfare system, ensuring that it is pro-work and provides strong support for disabled claimants to start or stay in work.
We are working in partnership with the Scottish Government, through forums such as the Joint Ministerial Working Group for Welfare, to help more people into work, to grow our economy, and raise living standards for all.
Asked by: Peter Bedford (Conservative - Mid Leicestershire)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many departmental employees were on performance management plans in (a) 2023, (b) 2024 and (c) 2025.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)
The Scotland Office is committed to thorough performance management and has in place robust processes to ensure that those who fall below the expected standards are supported to improve in a timely manner.
No employees have been placed on a Performance Improvement Plan in 2023/24, 2024/25, or 2025/26.
Those who cannot improve their performance, despite this additional support, may be dismissed.