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Written Question
Scotland Office: ICT
Friday 25th April 2025

Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)

Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many (a) phones, (b) laptops and (c) other electronic devices have been lost by their Department since 5 July 2024.

Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland

No phones, laptops, or other electronic devices have been reported lost in the Scotland Office since 5 July 2024.


Written Question
North Sea Oil
Thursday 24th April 2025

Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)

Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on next steps in relation to the (a) Rosebank and (b) Jackdaw oil fields.

Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland

This Government recognises that oil and gas will continue to play an important role in the UK’s energy security for decades to come. The Government has consulted on revised environmental guidance to take into account emissions from burning extracted oil and gas, and is working towards publication of finalised guidance as soon as possible.

Scotland Office Ministers remain in regular contact with DESNZ Ministers regarding the issue. We also continue to engage with the industry and listen to companies’ specific concerns.


Written Question
Social Security Benefits: Scotland
Wednesday 23rd April 2025

Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)

Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the potential impact of recent changes to welfare provision on families in Scotland.

Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland

Scotland needs both its governments to step up and fix a broken welfare system.

We will ensure the system protects the most vulnerable who can’t work, while supporting people who can into work.

But in Scotland there are people who want to work but can’t because they are stuck on an NHS waiting list, employability services have faced cuts, college places are at a decade low and the equivalent of a large secondary school’s worth of kids leave school every year without qualifications, and there is a declared housing crisis in Scotland - does the hon Member really think that speaks well of the SNP’s record?


Written Question
Employers' Contributions: Job Creation
Wednesday 23rd April 2025

Asked by: Jerome Mayhew (Conservative - Broadland and Fakenham)

Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the increase in employer National Insurance contributions on job creation in Scotland.

Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland

Figures released last week showed that the employment rate and wages in Scotland are up - no thanks to the opposition who crashed our economy, sent mortgages soaring and were ready to do it all over again.

Let us not forget, the £22 billion black hole the opposition left this government. As part of our plan for change, we have fixed the foundations and are beginning to turn things around after 14 years of Tory chaos.


Written Question
Nuclear Power
Wednesday 23rd April 2025

Asked by: Blair McDougall (Labour - East Renfrewshire)

Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to ensure that Scotland benefits from nuclear energy developments in the UK.

Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland

Nuclear energy creates well-paid jobs and develops vital transferable skills. Investment in new nuclear power stations brings billions of pounds into local communities. It is good for the environment and good for national energy security.

So, what do the SNP say to all that? No thank you! But of course, they are happy to accept Scotland’s energy baseload coming from English nuclear power.

Their outdated, ideological opposition is holding Scotland back.


Written Question
Football: Scotland
Wednesday 23rd April 2025

Asked by: Elaine Stewart (Labour - Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock)

Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support grassroots football in Scotland.

Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland

Grassroots sports are the backbone of Scottish communities, and that is why we are investing a further £8.6 million this year in sports facilities across Scotland.

Through this scheme, almost 100 facilities across Scotland, including in our island and rural communities, have been built or upgraded and with this new funding, we can look forward to many more.

This scheme will increase participation, improve health and help people of all ages to enjoy the benefits of sport.


Written Question
Hospitality Industry and Tourism: Scotland
Wednesday 23rd April 2025

Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)

Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he is having with the Scottish Government on support for the hospitality and tourism industry in Scotland.

Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)

Hospitality and tourism play a huge role in the cultural and economic well-being of Scotland. Indeed, the Secretary of State was a publican himself. The Scotland Office has regular engagement with key stakeholders in the sector, such as the Scottish Tourism Alliance and Scottish Hospitality Group.

I continue to engage with counterparts in the Scottish Government on a range of issues, including support for these vital industries, and we remain committed to working collaboratively to ensure the sector can thrive now and in the future.


Written Question
National Wealth Fund: Glasgow
Wednesday 23rd April 2025

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 implementation of the National Wealth Fund's strategic partnership with the Glasgow City Region.

Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)

We meet regularly with the Scottish Government to discuss economic growth, which is this Government’s top priority. To achieve our growth mission, mobilising private investment alongside public sector financing is vital. In January, the Chancellor announced the National Wealth Fund’s Strategic Partnership with Glasgow City Region, which will provide enhanced support to help the region secure long-term investment opportunities.

From 2014 to 2022, the Greater Manchester economy grew by almost 50%.

If the Glasgow City Region had achieved that same level of growth, it would be £7.7 billion larger today. The Glasgow city deal has been a success story, with over £1 billion invested by the UK, Scottish, and local government. But getting devolution right in Manchester has taken it further, and there is much that Scotland’s cities and regions can learn from that model
Written Question
Agriculture: Scotland
Wednesday 23rd April 2025

Asked by: Richard Foord (Liberal Democrat - Honiton and Sidmouth)

Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on support for the farming industry.

Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)

We have been working hard to positively reset relations. Earlier this month, I joined the Scottish Government’s Employment and Investment Minister, at the opening of a dairy innovation centre. This was the first project to be delivered through the joint Borderlands Growth Deal, providing new collaboration opportunities to progress the dairy sector towards a more sustainable and profitable future.

The Secretary of State meets with the Deputy First Minister on a regular basis, and the Inter-Ministerial Group on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs convenes regularly to discuss important issues, including agriculture.

I look forward to meeting with Scottish farming stakeholders alongside Scottish Government and Defra Ministers at the Scotland Office’s upcoming Food and Farming roundtable.


Written Question
Gender Based Violence
Wednesday 23rd April 2025

Asked by: Josh Babarinde (Liberal Democrat - Eastbourne)

Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the Scottish offence of domestic assault in tackling violence against women and girls.

Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)

There can be no place in our society for violence against women and girls - and this Government was elected on a commitment to halve such violence over the next decade.

Tackling domestic abuse is a core part of this mission.

That is why last year the Secretary of State and I signed the “White Ribbon Pledge” to help end these atrocious crimes.