Oral Answers to Questions

Douglas McAllister Excerpts

Thursday 22nd October 2026 Commons Chamber

[Emma Hardy]

My hon. Friend raises an important point. I remember that flood. I commend her now, as I did then, on the compassionate, caring and supportive way in which she went out there to help her constituents, and I know how much the events affected her. She is right to talk about catchment-based flood management, looking upstream and using more nature-based solutions. I know the Environment Agency is working well with its Welsh counterparts to see what more can be done in this area.

[Douglas McAllister (West Dunbartonshire) (Lab)]

10. What assessment she made of the potential impact of the definition of single malt included in the English whisky geographical indication on Scotch whisky’s protected status.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Stephen Morgan)]

Scotch whisky is a national treasure and I am pleased to inform my hon. Friend that its protected status and production requirements remain unchanged following the registration of English whisky geographical indication.

[Douglas McAllister]

The Department has recently confirmed that English producers who do not comply with the English whisky GI can still call their products single malt, leading to the possibility of three single malts, with three differing production processes, being on the shelves as a result of that decision. How does that align with the Minister’s previous statement, asserting that the definition of single malt whisky will not be watered down?

[Stephen Morgan]

The English whisky GI has no effect on single malt Scotch whisky, which retains its own definition, as set out in the Scotch whisky product specification and Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009. Other whisky definitions, including Welsh, Irish and EU definitions, already co-exist with the Scotch whisky definition without affecting its protected status.

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[Kevin Bonavia (Stevenage) (Lab)]

2. What recent discussions the Commissioners have had with the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on the second round of applications for the places of worship renewal fund.

[Douglas McAllister (West Dunbartonshire) (Lab)]

9. What recent discussions the commissioners have had with the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on the second round of applications for the places of worship renewal Fund.

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thank my hon. Friends for their continued support for our historic churches on both sides of the border. As I noted in my previous answer, the Church remains in regular contact with DCMS regarding the operation of the places of worship renewal fund, and continues to relay the concerns and experiences of clergy and parishes.

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I am delighted to hear that St Andrew and St George was successful in its application, and I know that my hon. Friend has raised this matter before. I understand that the grant will enable the church to remain open for worship, and the community to use the facilities and museum for many years to come. I will ask that my hon. Friend is sent a copy of the Historic England advisory note, which contains details of other funding sources for any other parishes in his constituency that may not have been successful in receiving grant money.

[Douglas McAllister]

Can the Church Commissioners confirm with the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money has flowed to the Scottish Government in Barnett consequentials as a result of the new places of worship renewal fund and, now that we are on the second round, how much is anticipated will be passed to Scotland over the four years to reflect the £92 million total allocation to the renewal fund in England?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

Hon. Members will remember that the current scheme applies only in England, as heritage policy is a devolved matter. The Church of England welcomes the decision of the Scottish Government to continue providing a VAT rebate scheme, which means that places of worship in Scotland benefit from support that is not available in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. The Government have confirmed twice in written answers —to my hon. Friend the Member for Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch (Katrina Murray) on 9 March, and to the hon. Member for Edinburgh West (Christine Jardine) on 12 March—that Barnett consequentials were not separately identified as a dedicated Budget line, but form part of the wider funding given to the Scottish Government.

Oral Answers to Questions

Douglas McAllister Excerpts

Thursday 19th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Emma Hardy]

I will be happy to look into the matter and get back to the right hon. Gentleman in writing.

[Douglas McAllister (West Dunbartonshire) (Lab)]

The organisation Surfers Against Sewage has just published its investigation of illegal dry spills by water companies in 2025. There were over 204,000 hours of illegal sewage spills in England last year. The situation in Scotland is no better: Scottish Water faces little accountability, with just 30% of overflows monitored and 70% unreported. Will the Government take tougher action to ensure that water companies are held properly to account?

[Emma Hardy]

In England we are absolutely holding those companies to account by banning bonuses, abolishing Ofwat, and introducing over 10,000 inspections for water companies. Sadly, our power does not extend to Scotland. I can only hope that the SNP continues to follow our lead.

Independent Water Commission

Douglas McAllister Excerpts

Monday 21st July 2025 Commons Chamber

[Steve Reed]

I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend and share his sentiment that the payment is outrageous. It was possible as part of a scheme that was permitted under the regulatory regime allowed by the previous Government. We have changed the law; it will not happen again.

[Douglas McAllister (West Dunbartonshire) (Lab)]

I commend the Secretary of State on the action in his statement to hold water companies to account, not least with the new regulator and ombudsman. Scotland’s widespread water pollution challenges are far greater than England’s, particularly the sewage-related pollution in our rivers and on our beaches. Scottish Water is publicly owned, but Scottish Ministers are failing to take the problem seriously, with inadequate monitoring. Does the Secretary of State agree that Scotland needs to take similar urgent action, which only a new direction under Scottish Labour can deliver?

[Steve Reed]

I agree with my hon. Friend. We had an example earlier of the complacency with which the SNP treats these kinds of issues. There is only one chance now in Scotland for a reset: the election of a Scottish Labour Government in Holyrood to work to clean up pollution from our rivers, lakes and seas, as we are doing.

Support for the Scotch Whisky Industry

Douglas McAllister Excerpts

Wednesday 12th February 2025 Westminster Hall

[Richard Baker (Glenrothes and Mid Fife) (Lab)]

rose—

[Douglas McAllister (West Dunbartonshire) (Lab)]

rose—

[Graham Leadbitter]

I will give way first to the hon. Member for Glenrothes and Mid Fife (Richard Baker).

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[Graham Leadbitter]

I totally agree with the hon. Member. It is really interesting that the industry is diversifying into new brands, new products and new styles of whisky being produced in traditional distilleries.

[Douglas McAllister]

The hon. Member will be aware that 90% of Scotch whisky is exported. Does he welcome this Government’s decision to give Scotch whisky protected status? Following on from that, Brazil granting special status to Scotch whisky is set to give the industry a boost of at least £25 million. Does the hon. Member agree that the UK Government are removing trade barriers and unlocking global markets, and does he welcome selling Scotland to the world, rather than just selling Scotland to itself?

[Graham Leadbitter]

Absolutely. As I have mentioned, 43 bottles of whisky are exported every second—that will be 75,000 bottles of whisky by the time we have finished this debate. That is a phenomenal export contribution not just to Scotland’s economy, but to the wider UK economy at the moment. I welcome the efforts made by the UK Government in the area of trade; the question is whether more can be done, and whether those efforts can be made more quickly.

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[The Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs (Daniel Zeichner)]

It is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Dame Siobhain. I thank the hon. Member for Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey (Graham Leadbitter) for securing the debate and providing such an excellent and thorough introduction. I commend my hon. Friends the Members for Paisley and Renfrewshire North (Alison Taylor) and for Livingston (Gregor Poynton) on their contributions. I am sure that they will all be delighted to hear how much I enjoyed my visit in the summer to the Glendronach distillery in Aberdeenshire.

The Government recognise and celebrate the global success of the Scotch whisky industry, which is of historical and cultural significance and plays a huge role in the UK’s economy and balance of trade. In 2023, exports of Scotch reached almost £6 billion in value. That success comes from the industry’s well-earned reputation for quality and high standards, and we are committed to working with the industry to champion and protect that reputation.

[Douglas McAllister]

The Scotch whisky industry supports 41,000 jobs across Scotland, many thousands of which are in my West Dunbartonshire constituency, including at Chivas Brothers in Dumbarton and Auchentoshan in Clydebank. The October Budget backed Scottish whisky, introducing measures called for by the industry, and I welcome the Government’s move to address long-running discrepancies in the treatment of the Scotch whisky industry by ending duty stamps, and to reduce and deliver parity in the fees for the spirit drinks verification scheme. Can the Minister share when details of that very positive announcement on reduced fees will be confirmed?

[Daniel Zeichner]

I will come to the Budget measures in a moment, but first I endorse my hon. Friend’s point about the number of jobs the industry supports—41,000 in Scotland and a further 25,000 across the rest of the UK, many in rural areas.

Collectively, whisky distilleries are now Scotland’s most visited tourist attraction, bringing in thousands of domestic and international tourists every year, largely to rural areas, and creating many opportunities for employment. Whisky is also a hugely important trade good. In 2023, the equivalent of 53 bottles of Scotch every second were sold overseas. That is important to delivering growth at home, which is why we are committed to supporting the Scotch whisky industry to export its fine products to overseas markets. We do that by leveraging free trade agreements and removing barriers to market access across the world. We are currently working on no fewer than 29 markets.

Oral Answers to Questions

Douglas McAllister Excerpts

Thursday 6th February 2025 Commons Chamber

The Solicitor General was asked—

[Douglas McAllister (West Dunbartonshire) (Lab)]

1. What steps she is taking to ensure adequate numbers of Crown Prosecution Service prosecutors.

[The Solicitor General (Lucy Rigby)]

I would like to start by congratulating US Attorney General Pam Bondi on her confirmation yesterday. The Attorney General and I look forward to working closely with her on our long list of shared priorities.

CPS prosecutors perform vital work to serve the public and deliver justice for victims. We have taken steps to strengthen the CPS workforce, including by boosting staff numbers in specialist rape and serious sexual assault units, as well as by being tough on crime, supporting victims and restoring confidence in the criminal justice system. All these things are part of this Government’s mission to make our streets safe, and the CPS has a key role to play in that mission.

[Douglas McAllister]

Will the Solicitor General join me in welcoming this Government’s increased funding of the Crown Prosecution Service for specialist sexual offence prosecution units? Does she agree that we must continue to tackle violence against women and girls across our nation, and will she join me in paying tribute to the dedication of our prosecutors and police on the front line who are confronting these crimes?

[The Solicitor General]

Absolutely; I am delighted to join my hon. Friend in paying tribute to police and prosecutors not only in his constituency, but right across the United Kingdom. He is right to welcome the increased funding that we have secured for the CPS. Our recently agreed settlement will ensure that the CPS can recruit more specialist prosecutors, delivering that vital work and putting those who commit these abhorrent crimes behind bars.