Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the impact of the cost of landing slots at Heathrow Airport on regional connectivity; and what steps her Department is taking to help ensure (a) regional connectivity and (b) that airlines maintain routes from (i) Scotland and (ii) other UK regions to Heathrow Airport.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The allocation of airport slots, including at Heathrow, is carried out independently by Airport Coordination Limited (ACL). The Government does not determine the allocation of individual slots, or the commercial decisions airlines make about which routes to operate.
The Government continues to support regional connectivity through a range of measures. These include the use of Public Service Obligations, where appropriate, to protect essential domestic air routes. The government is currently reviewing the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS) which provides the policy framework that any application for a third runway at Heathrow would be examined against. This includes reviewing policies related to domestic connectivity.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of Heathrow Airport’s current regulatory model on (a) regional connectivity and (b) passengers traveling from (i) Scotland and (ii) other parts of the UK to access international flights.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department’s assessment of the current regulatory framework is that it does not prevent domestic services being prioritised, including routes serving Scotland and other parts of the UK. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is independently responsible for the economic regulation of Heathrow. The CAA discharges these responsibilities in line with their statutory duties, primarily that the interests of passengers are protected through the control of airport charges and oversight of service quality. In carrying out its functions, the CAA considers the needs of passengers travelling from across the UK who rely on Heathrow to access international connections.
The Government is currently reviewing the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS), which provides the policy framework against which any application for a third runway at Heathrow would be considered. This review has included policies related to domestic connectivity.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to monitor the risk of de-hubbing at Heathrow Airport and its potential consequences for the Scottish economy and international connectivity.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In January 2025, the government confirmed its support for a third runway at Heathrow, recognising Heathrow’s critical role as one of the world’s major hub airports, and in enabling international connectivity for both passengers and freight.
The government is currently reviewing the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS) which provides the policy framework that any application for a third runway at Heathrow would be examined against. This includes reviewing the impact of expansion on domestic and international connectivity. A revised NPS will be consulted on in summer 2026.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when he will publish the results of Great British Energy - Nuclear’s study into potential sites for new nuclear development in Scotland.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In autumn 2025, Great British Energy - Nuclear (GBE-N) was commissioned by Department Ministers to assess Scotland’s potential for new nuclear power, including around areas that have previously hosted nuclear stations, such as Torness and Hunterston.
There is still more to do before Government can share the outcome of GBE-N’s assessment, but we remain open to discussions with the Scottish Government on deploying new nuclear technologies in Scotland.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of Heathrow Airport’s passenger charges on the (a) affordability and (b) viability of regional connectivity for those travelling from (i) Scotland and (ii) other parts of the UK.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government supports regional air connectivity, including from Scotland and other parts of the UK, through a range of measures such as Public Service Obligations. However, the operation of individual air services, including those serving Heathrow, remains primarily a commercial matter for airlines based on market conditions.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has a statutory duty to further the interests of users of air transport services. The CAA takes account of the impact of passenger charges on consumers when setting the regulatory framework for Heathrow, including ensuring that charges are justified and support the range and quality of airport operation services at Heathrow.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations her Department has made to the Civil Aviation Authority to ensure its review of Heathrow's regulatory model addresses the existing model's impact on (a) Scottish passengers and (b) regional connectivity, rather than focusing solely on expansion.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government recognises Heathrow’s role as the UK’s primary hub airport in supporting connectivity between all parts of the UK and the rest of the world, including for passengers travelling from Scotland.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is the independent economic regulator for airports. The CAA is evaluating potential regulatory models for expansion using criteria based on its statutory duties, including its primary duty to further the interests of users of air transport services regarding the range, availability, continuity, cost and quality of airport operations at Heathrow.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment has he made of the potential impact of brewing not being recognised as an energy intensive activity and therefore not eligible for support under the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme is targeted at sectors where it will have the greatest impact on growth, focusing on Industrial Strategy priority sectors, manufacturing activities that are mobile and exposed to international competition, and those with high electricity intensity.
Eligibility will be determined using Standard Industrial Classification codes to assess whether a business operates in an eligible sector that meets the required threshold of electricity intensity, and Harmonised System codes to assess whether it manufactures eligible products.
The Government has not made a specific assessment of brewing as an eligible activity; eligibility depends on whether activities meet the published criteria.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what criteria were used to determine eligible activities under the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme; and what assessment has he made of whether brewing should be recognised as an eligible activity.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme is targeted at sectors where it will have the greatest impact on growth, focusing on Industrial Strategy priority sectors, manufacturing activities that are mobile and exposed to international competition, and those with high electricity intensity.
Eligibility will be determined using Standard Industrial Classification codes to assess whether a business operates in an eligible sector that meets the required threshold of electricity intensity, and Harmonised System codes to assess whether it manufactures eligible products.
The Government has not made a specific assessment of brewing as an eligible activity; eligibility depends on whether activities meet the published criteria.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether the Government recognises brewing as an energy-intensive manufacturing activity for the purposes of accessing industrial electricity cost relief schemes.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government does not currently recognise brewing as an energy-intensive industry for the purposes of eligibility for the British Industry Supercharger. The Supercharger supports businesses by relieving them of certain electricity policy and network costs. The list of eligible sectors is based on European Commission guidelines, since eligibility was established when the UK was an EU Member State. The scheme currently targets businesses in sectors like steel and chemicals who are at the highest risk of carbon leakage and who meet specific trade and electricity intensity thresholds.
The Government intends to review the scheme this year and interested stakeholders can engage with the associated public consultation. Any amendments to the policy are subject to ministerial and UK Parliament approval.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending relief to brewers in recognition of their high energy costs.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government does not currently recognise brewing as an energy-intensive industry for the purposes of eligibility for the British Industry Supercharger. The Supercharger supports businesses by relieving them of certain electricity policy and network costs. The list of eligible sectors is based on European Commission guidelines, since eligibility was established when the UK was an EU Member State. The scheme currently targets businesses in sectors like steel and chemicals who are at the highest risk of carbon leakage and who meet specific trade and electricity intensity thresholds.
The Government intends to review the scheme this year and interested stakeholders can engage with the associated public consultation. Any amendments to the policy are subject to ministerial and UK Parliament approval.