Asked by: Alan Gemmell (Labour - Central Ayrshire)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, when he expects the consultation on the Energy-Intensive Industries Compensation Scheme to be published; whether the time taken to publish the consultation will affect the timetable for implementation; and whether any changes arising from the consultation are expected to be in place by April 2027.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade intends to consult on the Energy-Intensive Industries Compensation Scheme, and all relevant stakeholders are encouraged to engage with the review when the opportunity arises. The Government continues to review the impact of high energy costs and regularly works with industry to consider potential further support beyond what is currently delivered, including the British Industry Supercharger.
Asked by: Alan Gemmell (Labour - Central Ayrshire)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether he has assessed the extent to which the time taken to publish the consultation on the Energy-Intensive Industries Compensation Scheme has affected the competitiveness of UK container and flat glass manufacturers relative to their EU counterparts, which now are eligible for indirect carbon cost compensation.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST) officials are aware of the competitiveness challenges that the glass industry faces, and that EU container and flat glass manufacturers currently receive indirect carbon cost compensation. While no specific assessment has been conducted on the impact of the Energy-Intensive Industries (EII) Compensation Scheme’s consultation publication timeline, the Government encourages the glass industry to engage with the EII Compensation Scheme review when the opportunity arises. BIST officials also regularly engage with the glass sector’s main trade association, British Glass, to explore potential further support for the sector.
Asked by: Alan Gemmell (Labour - Central Ayrshire)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the risks of increasing reliance on overseas facilities rather than maintaining sovereign UK scientific capability.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises the critical importance of maintaining UK sovereign scientific capabilities, including the people, infrastructure, expertise and networks that underpin future research and innovation.
International partnerships enable the UK to develop and operate world-leading facilities no single country could readily provide alone, giving UK researchers access to unique capabilities and creating opportunities for UK businesses, skills and scientific leadership.
UK Research and Innovation prioritises domestic and international research infrastructure investments across its portfolio to support scientific excellence and strategic priorities, deliver value for money and drive growth.
Asked by: Alan Gemmell (Labour - Central Ayrshire)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, if he will (a) publish a full impact assessment of budget reductions to the Science and Technology Facilities Council and (b) make an assessment of the potential impact of those reductions on the Industrial Strategy's priority sectors and the defence investment plan.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) undertook a prioritisation exercise to return its portfolio to a sustainable financial position while protecting key scientific capabilities, major facilities and international partnerships.
The exercise was informed by extensive engagement with the research community and expert advisory structures. Decisions were assessed against factors including scientific excellence, long-term impact, strategic importance, international leadership, value for money and the preservation of hard-to-recreate capabilities.
The Department has no plans to publish a separate impact assessment. The prioritisation exercise considered the potential implications of proposed changes across STFC's portfolio, with the objective of maintaining the capabilities and infrastructure most critical to the UK's research base and strategic priorities.
The Government remains committed to supporting growth and national security through research and innovation. UKRI will invest £9 billion across the Industrial Strategy Sectors over the SR period, including £555 million on national security and defence.
Asked by: Alan Gemmell (Labour - Central Ayrshire)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether he plans to publish a strategic framework for science diplomacy.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
This government is committed to our international science and technology engagements being strategic, evidence-led and aligned with domestic priorities. We have clear objectives set by the Industrial Strategy and the Science and Technology Sector Plan.
It remains this Government’s opinion that the rapid development of new technologies means any fixed strategy would reduce the flexibility we have to respond to new developments.
Asked by: Alan Gemmell (Labour - Central Ayrshire)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of UK trade agreements on Scottish agriculture.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Our trade programme is opening new opportunities for Scottish agrifood. Our FTA with India is expected to grow Scotland’s GVA by around £190 million, underpinned by significant new market access for Scotch whisky, which will in turn support primary agricultural producers in Scotland. Our FTA with the Gulf Cooperation Council will give Scottish agrifood exports a competitive advantage in a net agricultural importing region. This will see the removal of tariffs on Scottish strengths including salmon, baked goods, and confectionary. We continue to seek further opportunities, such as in negotiations with Turkey where, for example, salmon currently faces tariffs of up to 64%.
Asked by: Alan Gemmell (Labour - Central Ayrshire)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the impact of United States tariffs on Scottish whisky exports.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
On 30 April, following successful UK Government engagement and the State Visit, President Trump announced the removal of tariffs on UK produced whisky. Whisky tariffs were lifted on 24th July.
This has been welcomed by industry and is an important win for the Scotch Whisky sector which exports around £1 billion each year to the US.
Discussions on the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal are ongoing. The UK continues to engage with the US Administration at all levels, working to benefit exporters from across the UK, including through Secretary of State holding calls last month with US counterparts, Ambassador Greer and Secretary Lutnick.
Asked by: Alan Gemmell (Labour - Central Ayrshire)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what recent discussions he has held with EU counterparts on reducing trade barriers affecting Scottish exporters.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is committed to supporting UK businesses trading with the European Union. We are working to reduce barriers to trade with our closest partner and biggest export market to help deliver growth in every postcode, including those in Scotland.
Ministers have had constructive conversations with counterparts in the European Commission and EU Member States since taking office in summer. There has also been technical engagement at official level, and good progress on agrifood trade and other negotiations since the 2025 UK-EU Summit.
Ministers and officials will continue to engage with EU counterparts, particularly ahead of the next UK-EU Summit.
Asked by: Alan Gemmell (Labour - Central Ayrshire)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, how many Scottish Ayrshire businesses have received export support from his Department during the last financial year.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In the financial year 2025/26, the Department supported 36 businesses in Ayrshire, Scotland.
The figure includes businesses that engaged with the Department through a range of support activities, including attendance at Department-led events, participation in Business Academy live sessions, viewing on-demand content, and direct one-to-one engagement with department representatives.
Asked by: Alan Gemmell (Labour - Central Ayrshire)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of export growth among Scottish food and drink producers.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In 2025, Scotland exported £7.0 billion worth of food and drink; this was over a quarter (27%) of total UK food and drink exports.
The value of food and drink exports from Scotland has risen 48% in current prices over the last decade (2015-2025), but fallen slightly (1.6%) compared to 2024.
The volume of food and drink exports from Scotland has remained broadly unchanged over the last decade; at 1.7 million tonnes in 2025, up 3% from 2015 and down 3% from 2024.
UK trade data is collected by HMRC at the UK level and allocated to UK nations and regions by linking to the Inter-Departmental Business Register (IDBR) and then apportioning by employment count data.