Scotland Office

Our Plan for Change recognises the importance of ensuring people across Scotland have access to the fastest broadband networks on the market to level the playing field and realise our mission to boost economic growth and improve living standards.

Earlier in May, we announced the largest single UK Government Project Gigabit contract to date with Openreach: £157 million to bring gigabit-capable internet to 65,000 homes and businesses across the Highlands, Outer Hebrides and other hard-to-reach areas across Scotland.

In February, the Hon Member for Rhondda and Ogmore announced the first Project Gigabit contract signed in Scotland. 11,000 homes and businesses in the Scottish Borders and East Lothian will benefit from the Scotland-wide roll out with further contracts planned for other parts of Scotland this year.

As at 31 March 2025, the Scotland Office had 47 civil servants based at Queen Elizabeth House, Edinburgh and 38 civil servants based at Dover House, Whitehall, London. The Office does not have civil servants based at any other locations.

The Scotland Office and I meet regularly with Scottish universities on a wide range of issues and this Government utterly condemns antisemitism in the strongest possible terms. We are committed to ensuring a safe learning environment for all students while upholding freedom of speech and academic freedom on campus.

We remain committed to supporting the use of apprenticeships across the civil service to break down barriers to opportunity. This includes initiatives like supporting the Government’s commitment to 2,000 digital apprenticeships through its TechTrack scheme by 2030 to improve digital skills and drive improvements and efficiency in public services.

Additionally, there is a new cross-Government Level 3 apprenticeship programme in Business Administration, the ‘Civil Service Career Launch Apprenticeship’ (CLA), which will see new apprentices kickstart their careers, across various departments, starting from January 2026.

There are 37 Government MPs representing Scottish Constituencies. On Sunday 30 November, many will be in their homes and constituencies in Scotland engaged in a variety of activities to mark the day.

Tartan Week in New York is the most significant annual event celebrating Scottish-US links across business and culture. This year, the Scotland Office engaged in a significantly expanded programme of business and investor engagement in New York, focusing on economic growth in Scotland.

Given the success of the Scotland Office’s participation in 2023 and 2024, which I saw first hand in my previous capacity as the Shadow Secretary of State, our goal was to expand our footprint in 2025 and take full advantage of the opportunities available in New York to grow Scotland’s economy. This was subsequently enabled by HMT’s decision to approve the Scotland Office’s Brand Scotland Business Case. This programme, a manifesto commitment announced at Autumn Budget 2024, provides the Scotland Office with a specific budget to expand its international trade and business engagement and take steps across the world to secure economic growth.

In New York, Scotland Office officials and I attended a total of 16 events over three days-most of which were planned and delivered by the Scotland Office under the Brand Scotland programme and fully paid for from the Brand Scotland budget. The US is Scotland’s second largest trading partner, playing a vital role in driving our economic growth. Strengthening this relationship will boost exports in key sectors such as food and drink, renewable energy, technology, and financial services - bringing high quality jobs, and delivering long-term benefits for communities across Scotland.

In 2023, one Minister, one Special Adviser and four Officials from the Scotland Office attended New York Tartan Week. In 2024, one Minister, no Special Advisers and five Officials attended. In 2025, one Minister, two special advisers and five officials attended.

The total costs of flights and accommodation for the Scotland Office’s ministerial delegation to New York Tartan Week in 2023 was £13,803.60, in 2024 it was £5,704.54 and in 2025 it was £17,710.11.

Local subsistence costs for each individual member of each respective delegation are not included. The time it would take to retrieve this information for 2023 and 2024 exceeds the time available to answer the Honourable Member’s questions.

Tartan Week in New York is the most significant annual event celebrating Scottish-US links across business and culture. This year, the Scotland Office engaged in a significantly expanded programme of business and investor engagement in New York, focusing on economic growth in Scotland.

Given the success of the Scotland Office’s participation in 2023 and 2024, which I saw first hand in my previous capacity as the Shadow Secretary of State, our goal was to expand our footprint in 2025 and take full advantage of the opportunities available in New York to grow Scotland’s economy. This was subsequently enabled by HMT’s decision to approve the Scotland Office’s Brand Scotland Business Case. This programme, a manifesto commitment announced at Autumn Budget 2024, provides the Scotland Office with a specific budget to expand its international trade and business engagement and take steps across the world to secure economic growth.

In New York, Scotland Office officials and I attended a total of 16 events over three days-most of which were planned and delivered by the Scotland Office under the Brand Scotland programme and fully paid for from the Brand Scotland budget. The US is Scotland’s second largest trading partner, playing a vital role in driving our economic growth. Strengthening this relationship will boost exports in key sectors such as food and drink, renewable energy, technology, and financial services - bringing high quality jobs, and delivering long-term benefits for communities across Scotland.

In 2023, one Minister, one Special Adviser and four Officials from the Scotland Office attended New York Tartan Week. In 2024, one Minister, no Special Advisers and five Officials attended. In 2025, one Minister, two special advisers and five officials attended.

The total costs of flights and accommodation for the Scotland Office’s ministerial delegation to New York Tartan Week in 2023 was £13,803.60, in 2024 it was £5,704.54 and in 2025 it was £17,710.11.

Local subsistence costs for each individual member of each respective delegation are not included. The time it would take to retrieve this information for 2023 and 2024 exceeds the time available to answer the Honourable Member’s questions.

In the Scotland Office communications team, there are a total of 16 Full Time Equivalent Government Communication Service professionals.

Of this total, 5 work in the media discipline which covers press and media responsibilities.

I am in contact with Scottish Power on a range of issues relating to the UK’s transition to Net Zero. I last met with them in March, at a stakeholder forum hosted by my department, where the topic of clean energy jobs was discussed. The representative from Scottish Power did not raise the future of the former generating station at Longannet but my door is always open to the energy sector in Scotland.

I recently hosted a Scotland-Malawi Partnership delegation as part of the wider events marking six decades of Malawian independence. The roundtable looked at ways of strengthening the already deep relationship between Scotland and Malawi.

As you will know, the UK Government remains committed to creating a world free from poverty on a liveable planet, working in partnership with international partners such as Malawi to support their development. As the UK transitions to an Official Development Assistance budget of 0.3 per cent of gross national income globally, we will continue to prioritise aid effectiveness and targeting assistance where it can have the greatest impact.

One of my priorities is promoting Scotland on the global stage. This includes supporting more Scottish businesses to export and attract inward investment.

The Scotland Office is looking at a potential trade mission to Southern Africa within the next two years where we can highlight the positive role Scottish industry can play in driving both economic growth at home and development overseas.

In its latest economic outlook, the OBR expects the level of overall exports to recover in 2025 and return to growth over the period 2026 to 2029. The European Union is an important trade partner for the UK, with total trade in goods and services of £813 billion in 2024.

A closer, more co-operative relationship with the EU is in the UK’s national interests and the Prime Minister and President of the European Commission have agreed to strengthen the relationship between the UK and EU.

The UK-EU Summit on 19 May will provide an opportunity to make further progress on areas which will deliver tangible benefits working with the EU to identify areas where we can strengthen cooperation for mutual benefit, such as trade and the economy.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

The Lord Chancellor has received a letter from the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs seeking to discuss a number of issues across the justice system and will respond in due course.

Crown Immunity within the Scottish Prison Service is a complex issue, and any change would interact with both devolved and reserved competencies. It is right therefore that the UK Government fully considers its next steps accordingly.

The government has now published the independent review of data, statistics and research on sex and gender commissioned by the previous government.

We are considering the findings in light of ongoing policy work in this area.

Officials and Ministers engage frequently with Scottish Government counterparts on a range of issues that matter to the people of Scotland.

The process and costs associated with Power of Attorney vary between legal jurisdictions within the UK due to the distinct legal frameworks in place. The processes and costs are a matter for the Scottish Government.

I am fully aware of the well documented financial situation with the University of Dundee and share concern that any job losses are regrettable, however the University is a key partner in the Tay Cities Region Deal and remains fully committed to delivering its objectives. Economic Growth is one of this Government’s key missions and I am absolutely committed to working alongside the Scottish Government to realise our shared ambitions for growth in Scotland. My officials will continue to collaborate with all of the Tay Cities Region Deal partners to ensure the maximum benefits for the region can be realised.

Secondments is one way of bringing talent and experience into the civil service for short periods of time and has been used by successive governments. Secondments are arranged at a business unit level and data is held at business unit level.

No officials in the Scotland Office have been seconded from Hakluyt since July 2024.

Scotland Office Ministers and officials regularly engage with counterparts in the Scottish Government on issues that matter to the people of Scotland.

We are aware that all aspects of weddings, including first cousin marriage, are important issues. The Scottish Parliament has power to legislate in relation to marriages in Scotland.

No officials in the Scotland Office have been seconded from the Institute for Economic Affairs, the Policy Exchange, the Adam Smith Institute or Labour Together since July 2024.

The Department does not operate any catering outlets. It holds a small number of official functions for which food is served. Catering for these is provided by third parties, who source and procure all supplies. The Department does not hold any data about the origin of any of the food procured or served by those third parties.

The Department hosts trade promotional events supporting Brand Scotland, where Scottish food producers and suppliers serve their products to invited guests.

Scotland Office Ministers regularly engage with a range of stakeholders from the sector. I spoke at a Seafood Scotland event in the House of Commons on 26 February. That same day, Minister McNeill met the Scottish Fisherman’s Federation as a follow up from a joint visit organised between her and Home Office Minister Seema Malhotra on 3 February, where they met a number of industry representatives and discussed issues such as access to labour at length.

My department remains committed to continuing to engage with both the wild caught and aquaculture sectors to support the seafood industry in Scotland, and I continue to promote the sector around the world through my Brand Scotland work.

Supporting Scottish farmers and crofters is a priority for this Government and my department regularly engages with the industry at Ministerial and official levels. Most recently, Minister McNeill delivered a keynote speech at the National Farmers’ Union Scotland annual conference, where she announced that the Scotland Office would host a Food and Farming roundtable soon. Preparations for it are ongoing, in collaboration with the Scottish Government.

Earlier that same week, Minister McNeill accompanied Home Office Minister Seema Malhotra on a visit to a farm in Aberdeenshire, accompanied by NFUS representatives. Prior to that she met with crofters' representatives in Stornoway.

The Prime Minister has made it clear that we must strengthen our defence capabilities, which is why this Government has committed to increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027.

Scotland’s world-class defence industry is well-positioned to meet the growing demands for national security. This increase in defence spending will support highly skilled jobs and apprenticeships across the UK, including in Scotland.

The new UK Government support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will include specific SME spending targets for defence.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting JFD, a Scottish SME and world leader in underwater capabilities. This visit underscored our commitment to ensuring that these businesses benefit from the historic increase in defence spending. I am proud of Scotland's defence sector and will continue to advocate for the industry and its workforce.

The UK Government is working closely with devolved governments and existing support schemes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Minister for the Cabinet Office met the Scottish Minister for Public Health on 3 March 2025 to discuss compensation payments for victims of the infected blood scandal, and he is committed to engaging further with the Scottish Government as we progress this work.

Animal health and traceability policy is devolved. The Scottish Government has announced that it plans to adopt Ultra-High Frequency electronic identification (EID) in cattle. The UK and Welsh Governments have yet to make a decision on technology, whereas Northern Ireland would be required to use Low Frequency technology if the Northern Ireland Executive chooses to introduce EID, in accordance with the Windsor Framework.

Work between Defra officials and counterparts in the devolved governments is ongoing to understand the potential impacts of divergence, including the impacts on industry, the internal market and international trade. The issue was discussed at the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 27 January 2025.

I meet regularly with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues.

I understand that DCMS, as the lead department, are currently seeking to understand how people receive their television and radio services now and in the next decade. As part of this process, DCMS has established a stakeholder forum which will take views on this topic from a range of broadcasters active in Scotland, including STV, the BBC and ITV.

The Scotland Office operates 6 social media accounts across X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn and Threads. It does not have any paid social media subscriptions.

The amount spent on advertisements on each social media platform in each of the last three years was:

It was John Swinney himself who said education was the “defining mission” of the SNP government. Yet just last week, we got the news that standards of attainment in Scotland's schools are declining across the board and, shamefully, outcomes for young working-class Scots are getting worse, compared to those from wealthier backgrounds. Scotland’s teachers, parents, and children all deserve a better standard in our schools.

Scotland’s largest city has a huge role to play in delivering growth. Glasgow was selected as one of four UK areas for the National Wealth Funds Strategic Growth Partnerships.

The Glasgow City Region Investment Zone will be backed by £160 million to promote investment opportunities and create new jobs.

And we recently opened the Govan-Patrick bridge, reconnecting my Honourable Friend’s constituency with the Member for Glasgow South West’s.

The Scotland Office also led the way in securing the Commonwealth Games in 2026, helping showcase the city to the world once again.

There are few issues which better encapsulate the incompetence and arrogance of the SNP government than their long-running ferry fiasco.

Scotland’s island communities have been let down time and time again, from Nicola Sturgeon pretending to launch a ferry with the windows painted on, to the recent reports that the Glen Rosa may not be delivered until 2026 - eight years behind schedule.

John Swinney and the SNP have left Scotland’s islands with no functioning ferry network. Our island communities deserve better, they deserve a new direction.

The Radio Teleswitching Service (RTS) will continue until the end of June this year.

My colleagues in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero are in close contact with the regulator and suppliers to make the transition as smooth as possible.

Smart meters are an opportunity to upgrade people’s homes, and critically, for them to access smart tariffs that will give them greater control and reduce bills.

The Government is taking steps to protect consumers by consulting on an expansion to the Warm Homes Discount. This proposal will help an additional 200,000 households in Scotland with £150 off their energy bills.

However, the way to bring down bills for good is to deliver our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower - with GB energy, based in Aberdeen, playing a key role in this.

Brand Scotland, the Scotland Office’s programme of international trade and investment promotion, is about selling Scotland to the world.

I have already visited Norway, Singapore and Malaysia, to promote our food and drink, energy, and defence sectors. Next month, I will be in Washington D.C and New York for the famous Tartan Week.

Closer to home, I was delighted to meet my Honourable Friend last week to discuss how Brand Scotland can support some of his constituents’ finest products - Harris tweed and Scottish seafood - and I commend his outstanding work in this area.

The Scotland Office does not employ any staff directly. All staff that join, do so on an assignment, loan or secondment from other government departments, principally the Ministry of Justice and the Scottish Government, who remain the employers.

They remain on the terms and conditions of their parent department and can access all schemes and assistance that are available through those departments.

Tourism is a key industry for Scotland, and I am promoting the country around the world as part of my Brand Scotland work. However, visitor levies are becoming increasingly common around Europe.

Tourism is a devolved area and in this case a matter for Edinburgh Council.