Scotland Office

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.

No. There are not any requirements for civil servants to book a desk in advance in order to attend the office in person in our Department's office workplaces.

I can confirm the UK Government’s in-principle agreement to proceed with a Scotland Act Order Civil Partnerships, and will write to the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary on this matter.

I engage regularly with my colleague, the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on a variety of issues.

My Ministerial colleagues and I continue to engage regularly with all parts of the energy sector in Scotland.

The UK Government is committed to delivering our Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, which will require investment in and expansion of our transmission network. We will work with all interested parties to deliver our plan, which will guarantee energy security, lower bills, and good jobs across the UK.

My Ministerial colleagues and I continue to engage regularly with all parts of the energy sector in Scotland.

The UK Government is committed to delivering our Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, which will require investment in and expansion of our transmission network. We will work with all interested parties to deliver our plan, which will guarantee energy security, lower bills, and good jobs across the UK.

The UK Government is committed to delivering our Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, which will require investment in and expansion of our transmission network. We will work with all interested parties to deliver our plan, which will guarantee energy security, lower bills, and good jobs across the UK.

My Ministerial colleagues and I continue to engage regularly with all parts of the energy sector in Scotland.

The UK Government is committed to delivering our Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, which will require investment in and expansion of our transmission network. We will work with all interested parties to deliver our plan, which will guarantee energy security, lower bills, and good jobs across the UK.

My Ministerial colleagues and I continue to engage regularly with local authorities in Scotland across a wide range of issues.

The UK Government is committed to delivering our Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, which will require investment in and expansion of our transmission network. We will work with all interested parties to deliver our plan, which will guarantee energy security, lower bills, and good jobs across the UK.

I engage regularly with my colleague, the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on a variety of issues.

My Ministerial colleagues and I continue to engage regularly with all parts of the energy sector in Scotland.

The UK Government is committed to delivering our Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, which will require investment in and expansion of our transmission network. We will work with all interested parties to deliver our plan, which will guarantee energy security, lower bills, and good jobs across the UK.

My officials work closely with colleagues in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to ensure the needs of Scottish people are represented in policy development.

My Ministerial colleagues and I continue to engage regularly with all parts of the energy sector in Scotland.

The UK Government is committed to delivering our Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, which will require investment in and expansion of our transmission network. We will work with all interested parties to deliver our plan, which will guarantee energy security, lower bills, and good jobs across the UK.

I engage regularly with my counterparts in the Scottish Government on a variety of issues.

My Ministerial colleagues and I continue to engage regularly with all parts of the energy sector in Scotland.

The UK Government is committed to delivering our Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, which will require investment in and expansion of our transmission network. We will work with all interested parties to deliver our plan, which will guarantee energy security, lower bills, and create good jobs across the UK. We will ensure that these changes are made in partnership with communities across Scotland.

There is of course currently no direct road or rail travel link between Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Air routes between Northern Ireland and Scotland are a commercial matter, however the UK Government recognises the importance of strong intra-UK travel routes and is committed to working with all parties as appropriate.

The Scottish Government, via Transport Scotland, holds policy responsibility for direct sea travel between Northern Ireland and Scotland. The UK Government respects devolution and is supporting the Scottish Government to deliver, with a record block grant of £47.7bn for 2025/2026 - with a further £3.4bn via the Barnett formula, the largest settlement in real terms since devolution began.

My Department engages regularly with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on a range of issues.

Scottish shipyards play a key role in fulfilling Royal Navy procurement contracts. The commitments set out in the National Shipbuilding Strategy have enabled MoD investment in Scotland’s yards both at Rosyth and on the Clyde.

BAE Systems in Glasgow is constructing eight Type 26 frigates, which will form the Anti-Submarine Warfare backbone of the future Royal Navy surface fleet into the 2060s.

Simultaneously, Babcock in Rosyth is building five Type 31 frigates to replace the Navy’s Type 23 general purpose frigates. This investment ensures Rosyth’s shipbuilding capability and capacity can be optimised to support further opportunities.

In late 2024, I had the pleasure of visiting both BAE Systems in Govan and Babcock’s Rosyth dockyard to witness the progress of these two key UK Government defence programmes. I also recently hosted a defence industry roundtable to discuss sector priorities and opportunities, including regional economic development and employment.

I have regular discussions with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on supporting Scotland's defence sector, which makes a vital contribution to the economies of both Scotland and the UK.

In 2022/23, the MoD supported 11,200 direct jobs in Scotland through expenditure with industry, and supported 25,600 civilian and military jobs. Under the new Defence Industrial Strategy, UK-based defence firms, including those in Scotland, will be prioritised for government investment.

I maintain regular dialogue with Scotland's defence, aerospace, and security sectors and recently hosted a defence industry roundtable to discuss sector priorities and opportunities, including regional economic development and employment.

Additionally, as part of Brand Scotland, I have been promoting the Scottish defence industry in Norway and in South-East Asia, where I visited HMS Spey, constructed by BAE Systems on the Clyde.

The first duty of the Government is to keep the country secure and our communities safe - a duty all my Cabinet colleagues take very seriously. This is why the Prime Minister launched the Strategic Defence Review to ensure that we are prepared for the challenges of the future, part of which Scottish-based defence industries will play a key role in.

Scottish-based defence industries are crucial to the UK's national security. I regularly engage with the defence, aerospace, and security sectors in Scotland to understand the current landscape of their work and how it contributes to the UK’s broader national security picture. I recently hosted a defence industry roundtable to discuss sector priorities and opportunities, including regional economic development and employment.

Scotland’s military personnel and our strategic bases, including HMNB Clyde and RAF Lossiemouth, play a crucial role in defending the whole of the UK and our NATO Allies. Scotland hosts 17 regular Armed Forces sites, 7 Royal Navy operated sites and two key RAF bases, representing a significant portion of the UK’s defence estate.

I engage regularly with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on a range of issues and my department has a close, positive relationship with the UK Armed Forces in Scotland. I recently hosted a defence industry roundtable, together with senior members of the Armed Forces, to discuss sector priorities and opportunities, including regional economic development and employment.

Last year, the Prime Minister commissioned a Strategic Defence Review to examine the strategic and operational context for the UK’s defence. As part of that Review, I wrote to the Defence Secretary to highlight Scotland’s important and ongoing role in the UK’s defence capabilities, including the importance of our key military bases. The continued presence of the Armed Forces in Scotland will continue to be important to our overall security and defence.

The Scottish Ambulance Service provides a vital, lifesaving service to the people of Scotland.

Health is a devolved matter, and the Scottish Government funds and oversees the work of the Scottish Ambulance Service. The UK Government engages regularly with the Scottish Government on overall matters of security and multi-agency collaboration across Scotland and the UK, including the work of rescue service agencies.

The UK Government is committed to working closely with the Scottish Government and other agencies to ensure that the safety, health and wellbeing of the people of Scotland is protected and prioritised.

The Scottish Fire & Rescue Service provides a vital service to the people of Scotland.

The Scottish Government funds and oversees the work of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. The UK Government engages regularly with the Scottish Government on overall matters of security and multi-agency collaboration across Scotland and the UK, including the work of rescue service agencies.

The key responsibility of any government is to ensure the safety of its citizens. The UK Government is committed to working closely with the Scottish Government to ensure that the people of Scotland are supported by the emergency services available to them.

I meet regularly with Chief Constable Jo Farrell and discuss with her the wide range of issues facing Police Scotland, as well as sharing our mutual priorities and helping to develop understanding of how the UK Government can support the organisation.

One of the Prime Minister’s Missions is to halve serious violent crime and raise confidence in the police and criminal justice system. While Crime and Justice is devolved to Scotland, I share this ambition for Scotland and want to support Police Scotland however possible.

My last meeting with the Chief Constable took place in December 2024 and the next is scheduled for April 2025.

Scotland’s aerospace, defence, security, and space sectors contribute significantly to both the Scottish and UK economies, contributing £3.2 billion in 2023 as well as directly employing 33,500 people and 1,500 apprentices.

Latest figures show that the Ministry of Defence's expenditure with Scottish industry was £2,140 million in 2023/24. Defence spending in Scotland, including military shipbuilding, generates and maintains high-skilled jobs, creates opportunities for inward investment and drives exports, benefiting both Scotland and the wider UK economy.

I recently hosted a defence industry roundtable to discuss sector priorities and opportunities, including regional economic development and employment.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is in the process of establishing GB Energy, which will drive our clean energy mission. The company will employ staff in its Headquarters in Aberdeen and in additional sites in Edinburgh and Glasgow, making the most of the local skills and expertise available across Scotland.

GB Energy will install thousands of clean power projects across the country, crowding in investment for next-generation technologies, and providing vital support to accelerate large-scale projects; in turn, this will create thousands of good jobs, with good wages, across the country.

The latest official statistics, published on 29 January 2025, show that Scotland’s exports to the rest of the UK was worth over £60.5 billion in 2023, and valued at over £47.7 billion during the first three quarters of 2024. The rest of the UK includes England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Scotland Office Ministers meet with a variety of stakeholders on a regular basis, including from the environmental sector, as required.

The positive reset of relations with the Scottish Government and, as appropriate, its agencies, is a priority for this Government. While the majority of environmental policy is devolved, we work with the Scottish Government on matters that fall within the scope of both of our administrations. We also meet their Ministers regularly at the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs where matters relating to the environment are often discussed.

This government’s priority is a fair, orderly and prosperous transition in the North Sea in line with our climate and legal obligations, which drives towards a future of clean energy security, lower bills, and good, skilled jobs.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is in the process of establishing GB Energy, which will drive our clean energy mission. The company will employ staff in its Headquarters in Aberdeen and in additional sites in Edinburgh and Glasgow, making the most of the local skills and expertise available across Scotland.

The North East of Scotland is at the forefront of the UK becoming a clean energy superpower by 2030, the Secretary of State and I are in contact with a range of interested parties across the private sector on GB Energy’s potential to attract investment and create thousands of jobs in Scotland and across the UK.

This government’s priority is a fair, orderly and prosperous transition in the North Sea in line with our climate and legal obligations, which drives towards a future of clean energy security, lower bills, and good, skilled jobs.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is in the process of establishing GB Energy, which will drive our clean energy mission. The company will employ staff in its Headquarters in Aberdeen and in additional sites in Edinburgh and Glasgow, making the most of the local skills and expertise available across Scotland.

The North East of Scotland is at the forefront of the UK becoming a clean energy superpower by 2030, the Secretary of State and I are in contact with a range of interested parties across the private sector on GB Energy’s potential to attract investment and create thousands of jobs in Scotland and across the UK.

This government’s priority is a fair, orderly and prosperous transition in the North Sea in line with our climate and legal obligations, which drives towards a future of clean energy security, lower bills, and good, skilled jobs.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is in the process of establishing GB Energy, which will drive our clean energy mission. The company will employ staff in its Headquarters in Aberdeen and in additional sites in Edinburgh and Glasgow, making the most of the local skills and expertise available across Scotland.

The North East of Scotland is at the forefront of the UK becoming a clean energy superpower by 2030, the Secretary of State and I are in contact with a range of interested parties across the private sector on GB Energy’s potential to attract investment and create thousands of jobs in Scotland and across the UK.

This government’s priority is a fair, orderly and prosperous transition in the North Sea in line with our climate and legal obligations, which drives towards a future of clean energy security, lower bills, and good, skilled jobs.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is in the process of establishing GB Energy, which will drive our clean energy mission. The company will employ staff in its Headquarters in Aberdeen and in additional sites in Edinburgh and Glasgow, making the most of the local skills and expertise available across Scotland.

The North East of Scotland is at the forefront of the UK becoming a clean energy superpower by 2030, the Secretary of State and I are in contact with a range of interested parties across the private sector on GB Energy’s potential to attract investment and create thousands of jobs in Scotland and across the UK.

Promoting economic growth is one of the Scotland Office’s priorities and I am proud of the contribution of the financial services industry to the Scottish economy, with recent figures showing it is now worth £14.8 billion in GVA while directly supporting 148,000 jobs. Edinburgh makes up a sizeable proportion of Scotland’s overall financial and related professional services industry, employing 57,290 people.

To build on this sectoral success the UK government is developing a long-overdue industrial strategy, with financial services one of the priority sectors. This will ensure that the sector in his constituency is key to attracting investment and help support businesses in Scotland and across the UK.

The Secretary of State meets monthly with the Deputy First Minister to discuss a wide range of shared economic growth priorities.

The Secretary of State and I regularly meet with Scottish energy companies, as well as the relevant business representative organisations, to discuss Scotland's oil and gas sector. We have been clear that North Sea oil and gas will continue to have a role in the UK's energy mix for decades to come.

Oil and gas will be an important part of our energy mix for decades to come, but diversifying the North Sea industries is also key to protecting jobs and industries in the long-term. We have worked at pace to consult on updated environmental guidance so we can provide certainty to industry.

Scotland Office and DESNZ Ministers have been in regular contact regarding the issue and have jointly engaged with the industry on next steps.

The recent decision made in the Court of Session regarding the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas fields is an independent matter for the courts.

The Government has consulted on revised guidance for Environmental Impact Assessments to take account of scope 3 emissions from burning the extracted oil and gas, in anticipation of the outcome of this case

We will respond to this consultation in due course and developers will be able to apply for consents under this revised regime. We continue to engage regularly with all parts of the energy sector in Scotland.

Our priority is a fair, orderly and prosperous transition in the North Sea in line with our climate and legal obligations, which drives towards our clean energy future of energy security, lower bills, and good, long-term jobs.