Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will publish a full list of approved masts included in the Shared Rural Network programme.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The locations of proposed government-funded Total Not Spot masts can be found at https://srn.org.uk/about/srn-tns-site-locations/,however this is due to be updated soon, as we now expect the objectives for this part of the programme to be met with far fewer masts. We are currently in the final stages of following the necessary processes with the mobile network operators to approve the details before they can be shared publicly. Details of the Home Office masts that will be upgraded for the Shared Rural Network are not publicly available as not all Home Office masts will be viable for the programme, but my officials will write to you with details of the sites that will be upgraded in your constituency.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of the (a) notice provided and (b) the prior consultation for the new requirement for Scottish driving instructors to join the PVG scheme.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) takes the safety of learner drivers extremely seriously.
DVSA requires every prospective approved driving instructor (ADI) in Great Britain to apply for an enhanced disclosure and barring (DBS) check before beginning the ADI qualification process. They are also required to repeat the disclosure process every four years when they renew their ADI registration.
The ADI Registrar also has the power to remove an ADI who falls below the standard of fit and proper person.
The process to become an ADI in Northern Ireland is the responsibility of The Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA).
The Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme, which became mandatory 1 April 2025, is administered by Disclosure Scotland on behalf of the Scottish government and will impact the majority of ADIs in Scotland. Anyone providing driving instruction to under 18’s or protected adults (those with a disability) in Scotland must be registered with the scheme.
DVSA are not responsible for this scheme or its introduction, but did have recent discussions with the relevant bodies to clarify that ADIs would need to register with the scheme in addition to the DBS check which they would have already undertaken as part of the current ADI process.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what comparative assessment her Department has made of the differences between the PVG requirement for driving instructors in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales, (c) England and (d) Northern Ireland.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) takes the safety of learner drivers extremely seriously.
DVSA requires every prospective approved driving instructor (ADI) in Great Britain to apply for an enhanced disclosure and barring (DBS) check before beginning the ADI qualification process. They are also required to repeat the disclosure process every four years when they renew their ADI registration.
The ADI Registrar also has the power to remove an ADI who falls below the standard of fit and proper person.
The process to become an ADI in Northern Ireland is the responsibility of The Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA).
The Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme, which became mandatory 1 April 2025, is administered by Disclosure Scotland on behalf of the Scottish government and will impact the majority of ADIs in Scotland. Anyone providing driving instruction to under 18’s or protected adults (those with a disability) in Scotland must be registered with the scheme.
DVSA are not responsible for this scheme or its introduction, but did have recent discussions with the relevant bodies to clarify that ADIs would need to register with the scheme in addition to the DBS check which they would have already undertaken as part of the current ADI process.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of requiring Scottish driving instructors to undergo (a) PVG and (b) DBS checks.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) takes the safety of learner drivers extremely seriously.
DVSA requires every prospective approved driving instructor (ADI) in Great Britain to apply for an enhanced disclosure and barring (DBS) check before beginning the ADI qualification process. They are also required to repeat the disclosure process every four years when they renew their ADI registration.
The ADI Registrar also has the power to remove an ADI who falls below the standard of fit and proper person.
The process to become an ADI in Northern Ireland is the responsibility of The Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA).
The Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme, which became mandatory 1 April 2025, is administered by Disclosure Scotland on behalf of the Scottish government and will impact the majority of ADIs in Scotland. Anyone providing driving instruction to under 18’s or protected adults (those with a disability) in Scotland must be registered with the scheme.
DVSA are not responsible for this scheme or its introduction, but did have recent discussions with the relevant bodies to clarify that ADIs would need to register with the scheme in addition to the DBS check which they would have already undertaken as part of the current ADI process.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of cuts to (a) Personal Independence Payments and (b) the health top-up in Universal Credit on people with (i) moderate and (ii) fluctuating conditions.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
No assessment has been made on the impacts of the reforms on claimants with particular health conditions.
Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper has been published here ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’(opens in a new tab).
The Pathways to Work Green Paper sets out a number of planned improvements to the assessment process for Personal Independence Payment. Our aim is to improve the quality of decision making, including for those whose conditions are fluctuating.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the UK-Colombia Investment treaty on the safety of human rights defenders in Colombia.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The UK continues to support the protection of human rights in Colombia, including by improving access to justice, protecting human rights defenders and promoting media freedom.
The UK-Colombia Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) includes binding investment protection provisions which protect both UK and Colombian investors against unfair and discriminatory treatment, and expropriation without adequate compensation. These commitments do not remove a government’s right to regulate in the public interest, nor its obligations to comply with other commitments, including with respect to human rights.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment his Department has made of the benefits of restoring stronger ties with the European Union.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
We have reset our relations with European partners. The Government is now focused on using our strengthened relations to deliver a new strategic partnership with the EU to grow the economy, boost living standards, protect our borders and keep the UK safe.
The UK-EU Summit on 19 May 2025 will provide an opportunity to make further progress on areas which will deliver tangible benefits for the people of the UK and the EU.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the effectiveness of Personal Independence Payments assessments for people with (i) moderate and (ii) fluctuating health conditions.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment looks at how a long-term health condition or disability impacts on daily life across 12 activities, taking into account fluctuations over a 12-month period. The activities are grouped into two components, daily living and mobility, and within each activity a descriptor must be chosen to score an individual depending on whether an individual can complete the activity, the manner in which they do it, and whether they can complete each activity safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly and in a reasonable time period.
The assessment is designed to reflect the impact of variations in an individual's needs for all health conditions, not only those which more typically fluctuate. Health conditions may be physical, sensory, mental, intellectual or cognitive, or any combination of these, and the assessment is designed to take a comprehensive approach to disability, reflecting the needs arising from the full range of impairments.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if her Department will make promoters of disguised remuneration schemes jointly liable for Loan Charge tax liabilities.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has commissioned an independent review of the Loan Charge. The review has a focused remit, allowing it to report by this summer and the Government will respond by Autumn Budget 2025.
Alongside the review, on 30 October 2024, the Government announced further measures to tackle promoters of marketed tax avoidance. On 26 March 2025 a consultation document was published setting out proposals to tackle these promoters. The Government has also already announced measures to tackle the significant tax avoidance and fraud in the umbrella company market.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions his Department has had with the Scottish Government on the difference in the (a) process and (b) cost of completing a Power of Attorney in Scotland compared to England and Wales.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)
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.