Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an estimate of the number of women there are who were born after 6 April 1950 in (a) Dunfermline and Dollar constituency and (b) Fife.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The department does not hold the information required to answer this request. Please see below a link to a publication from the National Records of Scotland that holds data pertaining to this request.

UK Parliamentary Constituency Population Estimates (2011Data Zone based) | National Records of Scotland (nrscotland.gov.uk)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the status is of the contract for six new landing and assault craft for the Royal Marines; and when he expects those craft to enter service.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Multi-Role Support Ship Programme is currently in its concept phase. The Royal Navy and Defence Equipment and Support Teams are currently conducting detailed work on requirements, design, and procurement strategy, informed by early industry engagement. The focus is on setting the programme up for success with work ongoing to ensure affordability.

The Multi-Role Support Ship is anticipated to be in service in the early 2030s. It is too early to confirm details such as the precise in-service dates.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether funding through the Shared Prosperity Scheme will continue after March 2025.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government is committed to structural or economic development funding and we will provide further details regarding funding beyond March 2025 at the next Spending Review.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when the provisional levelling-up cultural funding awarded to Dunfermline will be delivered; and whether there will be changes to the (a) process and (b) criteria for spending.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Local places will rightly be seeking clarity on existing funding commitments. The Government is giving full consideration to this matter, including the hard work undertaken on projects to date, and will continue dialogue with local leaders.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the membership will be for the review of Mineworkers' Pension Scheme.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

As of 30 September, there were 119,244 members of the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to have discussions with Scottish Power on the future potential of the site of the former Longannet Generating station near Kincardine, Fife.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

While I have not yet had any discussion on this matter, I welcome news of any plans that Scottish Power may have for developing projects that could help in the transition to clean power, including hydrogen production. Low carbon hydrogen can play a key role in our 2030 Clean Power Mission, as well as creating good jobs in our industrial heartlands, delivering a just transition, and achieving net zero.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the General Dental Council on steps to reduce the time take for Ukrainian nationals to take the overseas registration exam to allow them to practice in the UK.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

My Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has not had any discussions with the General Dental Council (GDC) regarding the length of time it takes for Ukrainian nationals to take the Overseas Registration Exam (ORE).

The Department does not collect or hold information about the number of dentists that have completed the GDC’s ORE, the number of Ukrainian dentists who have completed their ORE, or the average waiting time to sit the ORE exam.

With regards Ukrainian refugees’ applications to register as dental professionals in the United Kingdom, the GDC understands that refugees may face difficulties in providing original documentation and, if that is the case, encourages applicants to contact the GDC’s examinations team, who will help them to consider how they might go about meeting the requirements. More information for refugee dental professionals can be found on the GDC’s website, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gdc-uk.org/registration/join-the-register/information-for-refugee-dental-professionals

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care how many Ukrainian dentists have completed the Overseas Registration Examination in each of the last three years.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

My Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has not had any discussions with the General Dental Council (GDC) regarding the length of time it takes for Ukrainian nationals to take the Overseas Registration Exam (ORE).

The Department does not collect or hold information about the number of dentists that have completed the GDC’s ORE, the number of Ukrainian dentists who have completed their ORE, or the average waiting time to sit the ORE exam.

With regards Ukrainian refugees’ applications to register as dental professionals in the United Kingdom, the GDC understands that refugees may face difficulties in providing original documentation and, if that is the case, encourages applicants to contact the GDC’s examinations team, who will help them to consider how they might go about meeting the requirements. More information for refugee dental professionals can be found on the GDC’s website, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gdc-uk.org/registration/join-the-register/information-for-refugee-dental-professionals

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many dentists have completed the Dental Overseas Registration Examination in each of the last five years.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

My Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has not had any discussions with the General Dental Council (GDC) regarding the length of time it takes for Ukrainian nationals to take the Overseas Registration Exam (ORE).

The Department does not collect or hold information about the number of dentists that have completed the GDC’s ORE, the number of Ukrainian dentists who have completed their ORE, or the average waiting time to sit the ORE exam.

With regards Ukrainian refugees’ applications to register as dental professionals in the United Kingdom, the GDC understands that refugees may face difficulties in providing original documentation and, if that is the case, encourages applicants to contact the GDC’s examinations team, who will help them to consider how they might go about meeting the requirements. More information for refugee dental professionals can be found on the GDC’s website, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gdc-uk.org/registration/join-the-register/information-for-refugee-dental-professionals

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average waiting time is for dentists to sit the Overseas Registration Exam.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

My Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has not had any discussions with the General Dental Council (GDC) regarding the length of time it takes for Ukrainian nationals to take the Overseas Registration Exam (ORE).

The Department does not collect or hold information about the number of dentists that have completed the GDC’s ORE, the number of Ukrainian dentists who have completed their ORE, or the average waiting time to sit the ORE exam.

With regards Ukrainian refugees’ applications to register as dental professionals in the United Kingdom, the GDC understands that refugees may face difficulties in providing original documentation and, if that is the case, encourages applicants to contact the GDC’s examinations team, who will help them to consider how they might go about meeting the requirements. More information for refugee dental professionals can be found on the GDC’s website, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gdc-uk.org/registration/join-the-register/information-for-refugee-dental-professionals

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will have discussions with his EU counterparts on the ease of pet transportation between the UK and EU member states.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra applied to the European Commission in February 2020 for the United Kingdom (UK) and Crown Dependencies to be listed as a ‘Part 1’ third country for the purposes of the EU pet travel scheme having met all of the EU’s stated conditions to be granted this. However, the EU formally ‘listed’ the UK as a ‘Part 2’ third country, meaning pet owners can no longer use pet passports issued in Great Britain (GB) for travel to the EU and instead need a single use Animal Health Certificate (AHC).

The Government wants to reset our relationship with the EU and will meet with European partners over the coming months to discuss how we might deepen cooperation. However, it is too early to speculate on the scope or outcome of these discussions, including in relation to pet travel.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with EU representatives on the potential reintroduction of pet passports.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra applied to the European Commission in February 2020 for the United Kingdom (UK) and Crown Dependencies to be listed as a ‘Part 1’ third country for the purposes of the EU pet travel scheme having met all of the EU’s stated conditions to be granted this. However, the EU formally ‘listed’ the UK as a ‘Part 2’ third country, meaning pet owners can no longer use pet passports issued in Great Britain (GB) for travel to the EU and instead need a single use Animal Health Certificate (AHC).

The Government wants to reset our relationship with the EU and will meet with European partners over the coming months to discuss how we might deepen cooperation. However, it is too early to speculate on the scope or outcome of these discussions, including in relation to pet travel.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the average annual cost to pet owners of obtaining an animal health certificates for travel to an EU country.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Animal Health Certificates are obtained from an official veterinarian. All fees are set by veterinary surgeons or veterinary practices and are a private matter between individual practices and their clients.

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