David Duguid Portrait

David Duguid

Conservative - Banff and Buchan

First elected: 8th June 2017


Procurement Bill [HL]
25th Jan 2023 - 21st Feb 2023
Carer’s Leave Bill
2nd Nov 2022 - 9th Nov 2022
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)
20th Sep 2022 - 27th Oct 2022
Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Bill
7th Sep 2022 - 9th Oct 2022
Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill
22nd Jun 2022 - 7th Jul 2022
Assistant Whip
21st Apr 2021 - 16th Sep 2021
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)
2nd Jun 2020 - 16th Sep 2021
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
2nd Jun 2020 - 21st Apr 2021
Scottish Affairs Committee
4th May 2020 - 15th Jun 2020
Scottish Affairs Committee
11th Sep 2017 - 6th Nov 2019


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, David Duguid has voted in 882 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
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Debates during the 2019 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Greg Hands (Conservative)
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
(17 debate interactions)
Alister Jack (Conservative)
Secretary of State for Scotland
(15 debate interactions)
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Department Debates
Scotland Office
(88 debate contributions)
Cabinet Office
(73 debate contributions)
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Legislation Debates
Energy Act 2023
(2,037 words contributed)
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View all David Duguid's debates

Banff and Buchan Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

David Duguid has not participated in any petition debates

Latest EDMs signed by David Duguid

David Duguid has not signed any Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by David Duguid, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.


David Duguid has not been granted any Urgent Questions

David Duguid has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

1 Bill introduced by David Duguid


A Bill to require the Secretary of State to conduct a review into DiGeorge (22q11 deletion) syndrome; to require the National Health Service to publish a strategy after the review is complete; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Tuesday 5th June 2018
(Read Debate)

1 Bill co-sponsored by David Duguid

First-Aid (Mental Health) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Dean Russell (Con)


Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
10th Feb 2020
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the timetable is for the conclusion of the Infected Blood Inquiry.

The timetable for the Infected Blood Inquiry is a matter for the Chair of the independent statutory Inquiry, Sir Brian Langstaff. Sir Brian has publicly recognised the need to achieve a proper balance between speed and the need for thoroughness, and has made clear that the Inquiry will complete its work as quickly as a thorough examination of the facts allows.

Oliver Dowden
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
10th Jan 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of potential future trends in the level of demand for oil and gas.

As set out in our Net Zero Strategy demand pathway, in 2035, demand for oil and gas may be just over half of 2022 levels.

Whilst our domestic production is expected to decline by 7% year-on-year, new licensing will limit our import dependency to around 60% instead of 70% by 2035.

By 2050, oil use will concentrate in aviation. Gas will be used with CCUS abatement, generating cleaner electricity and hydrogen.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
27th Nov 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps her Department is taking to encourage investment in the (a) offshore oil and gas industry and (b) renewables sector.

The Government has been clear in its support for the upstream oil and gas sector. The recent announcement of the first 27 licences from the 33rd Offshore Oil and Gas Licensing Round and our new Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill, requiring annual licensing, support this.

Since 2010, the UK has seen £198 billion of investment into low carbon energy. The Government recently announced that its flagship scheme for supporting renewable electricity projects, the Contracts for Differences scheme, would see significant uplifts to the maximum price for offshore wind projects and other renewables in next year's auction.

Andrew Bowie
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
7th Nov 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether she is taking steps with Cabinet colleagues to help attract investment in offshore wind manufacturing.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero works closely with the Department for Business and Trade and other relevant Government departments to attract investment in offshore wind manufacturing.

The UK remains an attractive market for offshore wind investment. SeAH Wind’s new monopile factory and JDR Cables’ subsea cable facility are expected to complete their construction and begin operations by the end of 2024.

The Department is also delivering the Floating Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Scheme (FLOWMIS), worth up to £160 million, to support investment in the port infrastructure needed to deploy large-scale floating offshore wind turbines.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
19th Oct 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of retiring the Renewables Obligation Certificate scheme for landfill gas to energy generation sites by 2027 on methane emissions; and what steps her Department plans to take to increase methane capture rates at landfill sites.

The Government does not intend to extend the Renewables Obligation scheme beyond the end dates for support in 2027 and 2037, depending on when the generating station was accredited. However, finding efficient ways to re-use existing stations that otherwise might decommission could be important for reducing methane emissions, as recognised in the Biomass Strategy. The Government is exploring the most appropriate revenue support mechanism for repowering existing stations across all technology types where this delivers value to the consumer.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
19th Oct 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will extend the Renewables Obligation Certificate scheme beyond 2027 for existing landfill gas to energy generation sites.

The Government does not intend to extend the Renewables Obligation scheme beyond the end dates for support in 2027 and 2037, depending on when the generating station was accredited. However, finding efficient ways to re-use existing stations that otherwise might decommission could be important for reducing methane emissions, as recognised in the Biomass Strategy. The Government is exploring the most appropriate revenue support mechanism for repowering existing stations across all technology types where this delivers value to the consumer.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
19th Oct 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the implications for her Department's policies of the Climate Change Committee's recommendations on (a) methane capture and (b) oxidation rates at landfill sites in its Sixth Carbon Budget Waste Report, published 4 December 2020; and if she will make a statement.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
19th Oct 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of retiring the Renewables Obligation Certificate scheme for landfill gas to energy generation sites by 2027 on the UK's energy security.

The Government does not intend to extend the Renewables Obligation scheme beyond the end dates for support in 2027 and 2037, depending on when the generating station was accredited. However, finding efficient ways to re-use existing stations that otherwise might decommission could be important for reducing methane emissions, as recognised in the Biomass Strategy. The Government is exploring the most appropriate revenue support mechanism for repowering existing stations across all technology types where this delivers value to the consumer.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
18th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to reach 7-9 GW of Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage power by 2030.

Power generation with Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage (CCUS) will be crucial to provide the flexible low carbon power generation required to decarbonise securely the power sector by 2035.

In March, the Government entered negotiations to deliver the UK’s first power CCUS project through the CCUS Cluster Sequencing Process, with the aim of reaching Final Investment Decisions in 2024.

This is not the extent of the Government's ambition: in March, the Department announced that it will launch a process this year to enable further expansion of the Track-1 CCUS clusters, and in July, it commenced engagement and due diligence with future CO2 storage sites to deliver two additional clusters by 2030 through Track-2.

This will enable further power CCUS deployment, alongside other CCUS-enabled technologies, and put the UK on the pathway to meeting its power sector decarbonisation ambitions, which Government analysis suggest could require as much as 10GW of power CCUS by 2035.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
18th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent steps her Department has taken to increase the rate of installation of (a) carbon capture and storage, (b) hydrogen and (c) other (i) low-carbon and (ii) flexible backup electricity power technologies.

The £20 billion announced in the Budget sets up the UK to deliver four Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage (CCUS) clusters by 2030. The Government will publish a vision for the CCUS sector in 2023. The Government's ambition is for up to 2GW of low-carbon hydrogen capacity to be in operation or construction by 2025. Government aims to complete the first Hydrogen Allocation Round by the end of 2023.

The Government is working with Ofgem and industry to implement the actions of the Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan to achieve a more flexible energy system.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
18th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of pumped hydro storage on base load requirements in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK.

In 2021 we commissioned external analysis from AFRY,[1] to understand the role that long-duration energy storage could play in the system across Great Britain, how much may be required over different periods of time and the benefits of different technologies including pumped hydro storage. The analysis highlighted that storage technologies were able to effectively address the increasingly seasonal balancing requirements that emerge in a weather-driven electricity system.

[1] Benefits of long-duration electricity storage (2022), BEIS. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefits-of-long-duration-electricity-storage

Andrew Bowie
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
7th Mar 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his department is taking to ensure that Alternative Fuel Payments are reaching customers and are not held back by electricity companies.

The former Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy published a Direction signed by the then Minister of State for Energy and Climate which legally requires that domestic electricity suppliers provide an Alternative Fuel Payment to all their eligible customers, and electricity suppliers had until the end of February to do this.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
13th Jul 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to improve rural connectivity.

We have already announced twelve Project Gigabit contracts, to extend gigabit-capable networks in rural and hard-to-reach areas of the UK. More contracts are set to be awarded in the coming months.

Support is also available through the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme, which provides a subsidy of up to £4,500 for residents and businesses towards the cost of installing gigabit-capable broadband through local community broadband projects.

Through the Shared Rural Network, we are also jointly investing over £1 billion to increase 4G mobile coverage throughout the UK.

27th Jun 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to implement resilience recommendations 3 and 4 within the Storm Arwen electricity distribution disruption review, published on 9 June 2022.

The Energy Emergencies Executive Committee (E3C), of which the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is a member, is responsible for implementing actions set out in the Storm Arwen Review Final Report. This follows successful practice following previous reviews with cooperation with industry partners, as appropriate.

Oversight by officials of BEIS will be achieved through a newly established Storm Arwen Implementation Steering Group to ensure timely and effective delivery of these actions.

Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
27th Jan 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to support companies to facilitate the creation of new civil nuclear power in Scotland.

The Government’s goal is to have a domestic nuclear market that maximises commercial opportunities in all parts of the UK including Scotland. The Government is committed to ensuring that all of the UK supply chain has the opportunity to compete for high-value contracts, that new nuclear developers share supply chain information with industry early, and to creating the right environment for UK companies to prepare to bid for these opportunities including Scotland. Companies from across the UK have an integral role to play in the creation of new nuclear power and the Government is focussed on supporting them to do so. Scotland has an excellent civil nuclear tradition, and the Government wants to see that continue.

Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
27th Jan 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what funding the Government (a) has provided and (b) is planning to allocate to offshore wind projects in Scotland.

The UK is a world leader in the deployment of offshore wind and development in Scottish waters, as supported through the Contracts for Difference Scheme and the Renewables Obligation Certificate. The Crown Estate Scotland’s recently announced “ScotWind” seabed leasing round, which released almost 25GW of additional capacity in Scottish waters, including 15GW of floating offshore wind. This places Scotland in a good position to continue benefitting from the growth of offshore wind into the 2030s and beyond.

To continue to capitalise on this booming sector, the Government is investing up to £160 million for new large-scale floating offshore wind ports and factories. This funding, boosted by private sector investment, will develop industrial capacity capable of mass-producing floating offshore wind turbines and installing them out at sea, creating thousands of new jobs in the UK’s industrial heartlands. This investment also presents huge opportunities for Scotland’s coastal communities as well as communities up and down the UK, and will build on Scotland's lead as a technology hub for offshore wind.

Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
13th Dec 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to increase network resiliency in response to Storm Arwen.

My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has commissioned a post-incident review into Storm Arwen to identify lessons and best practice for system resilience, consumer protection and additional response support. The terms of reference are available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/storm-arwen-electricity-distribution-disruption-review.

Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
13th Dec 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions his Department has had with the devolved Administrations on electricity network infrastructure in response to Storm Arwen.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy engaged with the Scottish and Welsh Government throughout Storm Arwen.

The Scottish and Welsh Governments, as members of the Energy Emergencies Executive Committee, will be engaged in the post-incident review of Storm Arwen that has been commissioned by my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
8th Nov 2021
4G
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 26 October 2021 to Question 58990, on Broadband: Banff and Buchan, what estimate her Department has made of the geographical coverage of 4G mobile data across (a) Scotland and (b) the UK; and what estimate her Department has made of the average 4G coverage in each parliamentary constituency.

Ofcom is responsible for measuring 4G coverage and provides data at constituency level. Ofcom’s Connected Nations summer update report, shows that 44% of the Scottish landmass had 4G geographic coverage from all four mobile network operators (MNOs), with 81% from at least one operator. Comparatively, the UK has 69% coverage from all four MNOs, and 92% from at least one operator.

Scotland will benefit significantly from the £1 billion Shared Rural Network which will see 4G geographic coverage from all four operators rise to a minimum of 74% and coverage from at least one operator increase to 91%. On 29 June we released further details of how this world leading programme will benefit both the people who live and work in Scotland, and at a regional level across the UK.

Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
19th Oct 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate her Department has made of the geographical coverage of (a) 4G and (b) 5G mobile data in Banff and Buchan constituency.

Ofcom is responsible for measuring 4G coverage and it does not currently report on 5G coverage. In Ofcom’s Connected Nations summer update report, published on 9 September 2021, 87% of the Banff and Buchan constituency had 4G geographic coverage from all four mobile network operators, and 99.4% of the constituency had 4G coverage from at least one.

Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
19th Oct 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many premises in Banff and Buchan constituency are not connected to superfast broadband.

According to data from the latest Ofcom Connected Nations report (Summer 2021), there are 6,753 premises that are unable to access superfast broadband speeds of 30Mbps in the constituency of Banff and Buchan. The latest data from Thinkbroadband shows that 85% of premises in Banff and Buchan can access superfast broadband (>30Mbps), up from 74% in October 2016.

Superfast broadband coverage across Scotland will be extended further through the ‘Reaching 100%’ (R100) programme. The first funding commitment from the UK Government’s £5 billion Project Gigabit was announced in the summer to enable upgrades to gigabit speeds for over 5,000 premises which were within scope for superfast coverage via R100. The government will continue to work with the Scottish Government to extend gigabit coverage as far as possible through Project Gigabit.

Communities and businesses in rural areas not in line for commercial coverage or government-funded projects to provide gigabit coverage are also eligible for immediate help with the costs of installing gigabit through the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme as part of Project Gigabit.

Those premises unable to access speeds of at least 10Mbps are likely to be eligible for support via the Universal Service Obligation, which gives every eligible premises the legal right to request a decent, affordable broadband connection, providing download speeds of at least 10 Mbps and upload speeds of 1Mbps.

Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
10th Feb 2020
To ask the Minister of State, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what progress the Department has made on the roll-out of (a) superfast broadband and (b) mobile data connectivity in Banff and Buchan constituency.

The government has invested heavily in the Rest of Scotland project area, where the Banff and Buchan constituency sits, with £50 million of central government funding allocated. Superfast coverage in the constituency stands at 84.8%, up from 1.1% in 2012

Today, there is 84.8% 4G geographic coverage from all four mobile network operators in the Banff and Buchan constituency, with 99.3% from at least one mobile network operator.

7th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support the sustainability of the fisheries sector.

We are supporting the long-term future of the UK’s fishing fleet, by developing Fisheries Management Plans, and investing through the £100 million UK Seafood Fund – including £3 million for the Scottish Seafood Centre of Excellence in Fraserburgh. Scotland will also benefit from an increase in fishing opportunities this year compared to 2023, as Scottish fisheries continue to see the benefits of our post-Brexit deal for fishing.

Mark Spencer
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
19th Oct 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has had discussions with the Scottish Government on its proposals to prohibit biodegradable municipal waste from being sent to landfill sites by 2025; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of these proposals on landfill sites in England.

My officials regularly engage with counterparts in the Devolved Administrations, including the Scottish Government, to discuss policy developments and interactions. Earlier this summer we issued a Call for Evidence relating to the near elimination of biodegradable waste disposal in landfill in England from 2028. As part of this Call for Evidence we included two questions related to the inter-UK disposal of biodegradable waste in landfill.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
31st Jan 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent progress he has made on securing the ability of the UK to export seed potatoes to the EU.

This issue was discussed with the EU at the Trade Specialised Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, formed as part of the new Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the UK and EU, in September 2021. The conclusion was to hold technical talks on the EU’s prohibition, which are expected to take place during February. Given that our regime already aligns substantially with the EU’s, we will continue to challenge the European Commission to reconsider its position in line with its own regulations.

Victoria Prentis
Attorney General
10th Feb 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the UK can enforce its fishing rights after the end of the transition period.

The Government has taken significant steps to ensure the UK can enforce its fishing rights. These include, with respect to England via the Marine Management Organisation, increasing the number of frontline warranted officers by 50% (35 people) for 2019/2020; putting in place a framework to increase aerial surveillance by a maximum of two surveillance aircraft as risk and intelligence demands; and chartering two additional commercial vessels to enable an increase in routine sea-based inspections to supplement provision from the Royal Navy Fisheries Protection Squadron.

Fisheries control and enforcement is a devolved matter. As such, it will continue to be for each Devolved Administration to decide how best to control and enforce its waters, and what new arrangements may be needed. We continue to work closely with the Devolved Administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to ensure a coordinated approach to fisheries control and enforcement across UK waters.

4th Jan 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what specific measures she has secured in the trade agreement with Australia to protect British agricultural interests from unfair trading practices.

The Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) includes various instruments to protect British agricultural interests. Quotas on products such as beef set a maximum level for tariff-free imports for up to 10 years. Product specific safeguards for beef and lamb allow the UK to impose higher tariffs when imports exceed a certain threshold in years 10 to 15. On lamb, quota and safeguard volumes can be periodically reduced by 25% when fill rates are high. Additionally, a general bilateral safeguard mechanism allows for the temporary withdrawal of tariff preferences which will protect industry.

Penny Mordaunt
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
4th Jan 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps her Department plans to take to support the growth of British agriculture (a) at home and (b) in the Australian market.

Our support for exporters is underpinning jobs and economic growth in the agriculture sector at this critical time. In November we launched a refreshed Export Strategy. The strategy is focused on tackling trade barriers, opening new markets, providing the services exporters need to compete in global markets and helping businesses maximise the opportunities generated by new free trade agreements. We support businesses through all stages of their export journey to Australia and other markets, including through our GREAT.gov.uk platform, our Export Academy, our new Export Support Service. We have dedicated agriculture, food and drink trade advisers in the UK and overseas in markets such as Australia to support businesses in taking up these services.

Penny Mordaunt
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
19th Oct 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what estimate she has made of the economic value of the lifting of the ban on British lamb imports to the US for (a) Scotland and (b) Banff and Buchan.

We are pleased that US Department of Agriculture is looking to remove their import restrictions on sheep meat. Restoring access to the US will provide a great opportunity for British producers, including those in Banff and Buchan, to export their high-quality product to a valuable new market that will increase in value as trade becomes more established.

7th Nov 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to help increase the uptake of Pension Credit.

Our communications campaign has been running since April 2022 and Pension Credit applications were up by around 75% in the 12 months to May.

We continue advertising through national TV, newspapers and broadcast radio, on social media and digital information screens in Post Offices and GP surgeries across GB.

Guy Opperman
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
16th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will add 22q11.2 Syndromes to the standard blood screen test for new-borns.

There are no plans to add 22q11.2 syndromes to the new-born blood spot screening programme. Proposals to expand screening for new-born blood spot screening must be submitted to the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) for assessment against its criteria to ensure screening is introduced where the benefit clearly outweighs the harm.

The UK NSC runs an annual call for topics in September where members of the pubic and stakeholders can submit new topics to be considered. The UK NSC carried out a review for 22q11.2 Syndrome in 2018 following an annual call submission and recommended that at the time the evidence was insufficient to recommend a screening programme.

16th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to add to the guidance accompanying the Down Syndrome Act 2022 to address 22q11.2 Syndromes and other chromosomal disorders.

We recognise that there are overlaps between the services that support people with Down syndrome and those that support people with other genetic conditions and/or a learning disability. The Down Syndrome Act guidance will focus on the unique support needs of people with Down syndrome. We will, however, highlight where best practice in service delivery would also be applicable to those with another genetic condition and/or a learning disability, including DiGeorge syndrome (22q11.2 deletion syndrome). There will be a full public consultation on the guidance once a draft has been produced.

Maria Caulfield
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
10th Feb 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his Department’s policy is on short-term financial support for people affected by the contaminated blood scandal before the conclusion of the Infected Blood Inquiry.

Since 1988, successive Governments have voluntarily provided ex-gratia financial and non-financial support for people affected by HIV and/or hepatitis C through historic treatment with National Health Service-supplied blood or blood products in the 1970s and 1980s.

In 2017, country specific support schemes were set up in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, responsibility for these is devolved to the four nations.

We are working with our partners in the devolved nations and other relevant Government departments to improve parity of support across the United Kingdom.

9th Jan 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent progress has been made in the inquiry into the contaminated blood scandal; and if he will make a statement.

The Infected Blood Inquiry chaired by Sir Brian Langstaff (a retired High Court Judge) and sponsored by Cabinet Office has been sitting since September 2018. So far, the inquiry has heard written and oral evidence from hundreds of those ‘infected and affected’.

The next session of the Inquiry will begin in February 2020, when it will hear from its own expert panel on the ‘psycho-social impact’ of infection and what followed for individuals. Evidence from ‘institutional’ witnesses such as from Government and the National Health Service is expected to be sought later this year.

27th Nov 2023
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of windfall taxes on the level of investment in offshore energy production.

The Energy Profits Levy (EPL) was introduced on 26 May 2022 to respond to exceptionally high prices that meant oil and gas companies were benefiting from unexpectedly high profits. While the EPL is in place, companies can claim around 91p in tax relief for every £1 they invest in the UK. This relief increases to £1.09 for every £1 for money invested towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the production of oil and gas. At Autumn Statement 2023, the Government confirmed the technical details of the EPL’s price floor, the Energy Security Investment Mechanism (ESIM), which was introduced in June 2023 to give the sector the certainty to invest. The Government are committed to ending the EPL by March 2028 at the latest, or earlier if oil and gas prices return to historically normal levels due to the ESIM.

The Electricity Generator Levy (EGL) is a time-limited tax on the extraordinary returns of electricity generators. The levy is not payable on renewable generation produced under Contracts for Difference, which will account for most new large renewable generation coming online in future years. To further support new renewables investment, at Autumn Statement 2023 the Chancellor announced an exemption from the EGL for new generation projects.

Gareth Davies
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
9th Jun 2022
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will bring forward further fiscal measures to help tackle recent increases in fuel costs.

At Spring Statement 2022 in response to fuel prices reaching record levels, the government announced a temporary 12-month cut to duty on petrol and diesel of 5p per litre.

This is the largest cash-terms cut across all fuel duty rates at once, ever, and is only the second time in 20 years that main rates of petrol and diesel have been cut. This cut represents savings for households and businesses worth around £2.4 billion in 2022-23.

All taxes, including fuel duty, remain under review.

Helen Whately
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
11th Jan 2022
VAT
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of increasing the £150,000 threshold to the VAT Flat Rate Scheme in the context of increased costs faced by businesses during the recovery from the covid-19 pandemic.

The VAT Flat Rate Scheme was introduced in 2002 as an administrative simplification scheme for small businesses. All taxes are kept under review, but there are no current plans to change the entry threshold for the Flat Rate Scheme.

The Government has made a comprehensive package of support available, worth billions, to a wide range of businesses that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes extensions to the reduced rate of VAT for tourism and hospitality, the furlough scheme, extensions to the COVID-19 loan schemes, grant support, a business rates holiday for all retail, hospitality, and leisure business properties, mortgage holidays, enhanced Time to Pay for taxes, and VAT deferrals.

Lucy Frazer
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
21st Oct 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to freeze or lower excise duties on whisky.

As announced at Autumn Budget 2021, the duty rates on beer, cider, wine and spirits will be frozen for another year, saving consumers £3 billion over the next five years and supporting the hospitality industry and its suppliers as they recover from the pandemic. Due to the continued freeze on alcohol duty, Scotch whisky is also facing the lowest real-terms tax rate since 1918.

Helen Whately
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
20th Oct 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to support small independent breweries in Scotland.

The Treasury has acted through its unprecedented coronavirus response to support small breweries, including through furlough, grants and allowing breweries to remain open throughout the Covid-19 lockdown.

The Treasury committed to reform Small Brewers Relief (SBR) to ensure it continued to support growth. Our review is ongoing, and we will publish our response to our technical consultation in due course.

As announced at Autumn Budget 2021, the duty rates on alcohol will be frozen for another year, saving consumers £3 billion over the coming years. This will save beer drinkers £900m and consumers 3p off a pint of beer. Since ending the beer duty escalator in 2013, compared to previous planned rises, consumers have saved 21p off a pint of beer.

Helen Whately
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
10th Feb 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of proposed changes to IR35 rules from April 2020 on trends in the level of employment in the oil and gas sector in Scotland.

The off-payroll working rules (commonly known as IR35) are designed to ensure that an individual who works like an employee, but through their own limited company, pays broadly the same Income Tax and National Insurance contributions as other employees. The rules do not apply to the self-employed or stop anyone working through their own company.

The Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) published in July 2019 sets out HMRC’s assessment that the reform to the off-payroll working rules is expected to affect 170,000 individuals; this is a UK-wide figure. The TIIN can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rules-for-off-payroll-working-from-april-2020/rules-for-off-payroll-working-from-april-2020.

9th Jan 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to provide financial relief to Equitable Life policyholders.

In 2010 the government allocated up to £1.5 billon, tax free, for payment to affected policyholders. More detail on the history of the action taken on this issue can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/equitable-life-payment-scheme-final-report.

John Glen
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
27th Jan 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much and what proportion of defence procurement on services and equipment was from firms operating or based in Banff and Buchan constituency.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) regularly publishes expenditure with UK industry, broken down by both UK region and industry group.

The latest bulletin on MOD regional expenditure can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/mod-regional-expenditure-with-uk-industry-and-supported-employment-202021/mod-regional-expenditure-with-uk-industry-and-commerce-and-supported-employment-202021

The MOD does not report on expenditure data by constituency, as the data is of insufficient quality to produce accurate estimates at this level.

17th Jan 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of deploying armed forces personnel to support NHS Grampian in January 2022.

For January 2022, the charge for Defence support to NHS Grampian is estimated to be approximately £180,000. Defence personnel are currently deployed to NHS Grampian where they are providing acute medical support.

15th Nov 2021
What steps his Department is taking to support defence jobs throughout the UK.

Last year the Ministry of Defence invested over £20 billion in industry and commerce across the UK directly and indirectly supporting many thousands of jobs.

19th Oct 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost of deploying of military personnel to assist the Scottish Health and Scottish Ambulance Service during the covid-19 outbreak.

Since 22 March 2020, the estimated cost of assisting the Scottish Government in support of Op RESCRIPT (MoD's COVID-19 response) is £15 million.

19th Oct 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many military personnel deployments there have been in Scotland to assist the Scottish Health and Scottish Ambulance Services, by local authority area.

From 1 March 2020 to 20 October 2021, there have been 32 military personnel deployments to support the Scottish Health and Scottish Ambulance Services through Military Aid to the Civil Authority (MACA) requests. These MACA tasks ranged from supporting the COVID-19 vaccination and testing programme in Scotland, providing Service personnel to drive ambulances, as well as the use of defence estate and military planners.

The table below shows the number of military deployments broken down by local authority area. The total exceeds 32 as some tasks spanned over several local authority areas.

Location

Number of MACA tasks

Aberdeen

2

Borders

1

Central Belt

2

Dumfries

1

Edinburgh

8

Fife

2

Glasgow

7

Highlands & Islands

1

Kinloss

1

Lanarkshire

2

Lothian

1

Rosyth

1

Nationwide (Scotland)

8

13th Dec 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps his Department has taken to level up coastal areas in north-east Scotland to date.

The UK Government is committed to levelling up areas across the UK including north east Scotland. Aberdeen City Council has been awarded £20 million from the Levelling Up Fund. Projects in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire have also been allocated funding exceeding £1 million from the UK Community Renewal Fund.

16th Jan 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on support for the seafood sector in Scotland.

This Government is committed to supporting our seafood sector, which as my hon Friend knows first hand, is at the heart of many rural communities in Scotland.

We have recently concluded successful quota negotiations for 2024; delivered a two-year extension to visa exemptions for Salmon well-boat crew; consulted on changes to medical certification for those already working at sea; and are supporting the industry following changes to immigration policy.

John Lamont
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)