Asked by: Alan Gemmell (Labour - Central Ayrshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions she has had with the Scottish Government on the role of nuclear energy in Scotland's future energy mix.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Nuclear has an important role to play in a secure and decarbonised electricity system, providing firm baseload capacity alongside renewables and other low-carbon technologies.
Great British Energy - Nuclear’s study of Scotland's potential for new nuclear, published on 30 June, indicates that Scotland has land areas with high potential for new nuclear development in the future.
New nuclear projects can deliver billions of pounds of investment and thousands of high-quality jobs to a region. UK Ministers remain open to discussions with the Scottish Government on deploying new nuclear technologies in Scotland.
Asked by: Alan Gemmell (Labour - Central Ayrshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of new nuclear development at Hunterston on (a) employment in Ayrshire and (b) the Scottish economy.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Great British Energy - Nuclear’s study of Scotland's potential for new nuclear, published on 30 June, indicates that Scotland has land areas with high potential for new nuclear development in the future. The study identified technical potential in the area around Hunterston in Ayrshire.
New nuclear projects can deliver billions of pounds of investment and thousands of high-quality jobs to a region.
Asked by: Alan Gemmell (Labour - Central Ayrshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions she has had with the Scottish Government on the potential development of new nuclear capacity at Hunterston in Ayrshire.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Great British Energy - Nuclear’s study of Scotland's potential for new nuclear, published on 30 June, indicates that Scotland has land areas with high potential for new nuclear development in the future. The study identified technical potential in the area around Hunterston in Ayrshire.
New nuclear projects can deliver billions of pounds of investment and thousands of high-quality jobs to a region. I regularly discuss the importance of new nuclear in Scotland and UK Ministers remain open to further discussions with the Scottish Government on deploying new nuclear technologies in Scotland.
Asked by: Alan Gemmell (Labour - Central Ayrshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the implications for Scotland's electricity grid of the planned closure of Torness nuclear power station.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
EDF announced that the operational lifetime of Torness would be extended by two years to March 2030. This has supported Scotland’s energy resilience by continuing to provide around 20% of its overall energy needs and securing high-quality jobs and specialist skills in the area.
We continue to engage with EDF and the Office for Nuclear Regulation to consider the future of Torness and remain open to discussions on new nuclear deployment in Scotland.
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 Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of funding for the UK's Science and Technology Network Overseas; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure that network supports international cooperation on emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
The UK's Science and Technology Network (STN) is jointly led and funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade. In advance of the 2025 Spending Review, an assessment was undertaken to ensure the STN is adequately resourced securing the right capacity, capability and funding to deliver high impact outcomes for the UK.
The previously titled SIN was relaunched in February 2025 as the Science and Technology Network (STN) to reflect the rising focus on technologies including Artificial Intelligence. STN priorities are revisited annually to ensure the network is strategically aligned.
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 HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has considered the potential merits of extending the transferability of Personal Allowances for partners of disabled people.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events, and does not routinely comment on proposals.
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.