Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with organisers of the Scottish Rally Championship regarding the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 establishes a tiered approach to requirements, with those responsible for premises and events in scope required to fulfil different requirements according to the number of individuals it is reasonable to expect may be present at the premises or event at the same time. The requirements are intended to be proportionate and relevant to the premises and events in scope. The responsible person must ensure that the procedures or measures in place are appropriate and reasonably practicable.
The ‘standard tier’ comprises of smaller premises where 200 – 799 individuals may be present.
The ‘enhanced tier’ refers to larger premises and qualifying events where 800 or more individuals may be present.
The Act’s Impact Assessment was undertaken in 2024 to assess costs to premises and events in scope. It estimated that over a 10-year period the cost to standard tier premises is £330 per year, and £5,210 per year to enhanced tier premises. This cost will vary by the type and size of premises and events, who will need to determine what is appropriate and reasonably practicable in terms of required procedures and measures, for their individual circumstances.
The Government is putting a place a robust monitoring and evaluation plan to measure the Act’s effectiveness following implementation.
Whilst those that fall within scope of the Act may wish to begin considering the requirements, they should note that there will be no legal requirement to comply until the legislation comes into force.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of compliance with the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 on the Scottish Rally Championship.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 establishes a tiered approach to requirements, with those responsible for premises and events in scope required to fulfil different requirements according to the number of individuals it is reasonable to expect may be present at the premises or event at the same time. The requirements are intended to be proportionate and relevant to the premises and events in scope. The responsible person must ensure that the procedures or measures in place are appropriate and reasonably practicable.
The ‘standard tier’ comprises of smaller premises where 200 – 799 individuals may be present.
The ‘enhanced tier’ refers to larger premises and qualifying events where 800 or more individuals may be present.
The Act’s Impact Assessment was undertaken in 2024 to assess costs to premises and events in scope. It estimated that over a 10-year period the cost to standard tier premises is £330 per year, and £5,210 per year to enhanced tier premises. This cost will vary by the type and size of premises and events, who will need to determine what is appropriate and reasonably practicable in terms of required procedures and measures, for their individual circumstances.
The Government is putting a place a robust monitoring and evaluation plan to measure the Act’s effectiveness following implementation.
Whilst those that fall within scope of the Act may wish to begin considering the requirements, they should note that there will be no legal requirement to comply until the legislation comes into force.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with Fife Council on the Heart of Dunfermline feasibility study for the city.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)
Scotland Office Ministers and officials regularly engage with Fife Council on a wide range of regional economic development priorities, and will continue to do so.
Planning, and cultural heritage projects are devolved matters, and specific operational discussions regarding the Heart of Dunfermline feasibility study therefore rest with Fife Council and the Scottish Government.
However, the UK Government remains fully committed to supporting the long-term prosperity of Scotland’s newest city. We continue to work closely with local authorities across Scotland, including Fife Council, through investment frameworks like the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal, Local Growth Fund, and the Defence Growth Deal to unlock growth and boost the regional economy.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when he expects to publish the outcome of the consultation entitled Gas system in transition: security of supply, published on 26 November 2025.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The department welcomes engagement on such an important issue and is making an assessment of all the evidence submitted, a response will be published in due course.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Scotland on the Heart of Dunfermline feasibility study for the city.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
We know that our national heritage remains a core attraction for international and domestic visitors, and I am pleased Dunfermline is exploring how its heritage assets and visitor attractions can work together to boost footfall as well as benefit the local community.
Heritage and Tourism are devolved matters, and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has had no discussions with the Secretary of State for Scotland, or with Fife Council, on the Heart of Dunfermline feasibility study for the city. We welcome, however, the engagement of the National Lottery Heritage Fund in discussions on the plans.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with Fife Council on the Heart of Dunfermline feasibility study for the city.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
We know that our national heritage remains a core attraction for international and domestic visitors, and I am pleased Dunfermline is exploring how its heritage assets and visitor attractions can work together to boost footfall as well as benefit the local community.
Heritage and Tourism are devolved matters, and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has had no discussions with the Secretary of State for Scotland, or with Fife Council, on the Heart of Dunfermline feasibility study for the city. We welcome, however, the engagement of the National Lottery Heritage Fund in discussions on the plans.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the National Energy System Operator has considered the potential for new nuclear development in Scotland as part of its Strategic Spatial Energy Plan.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The National Energy System Operator has been commissioned by the UK, Scottish and Welsh governments to produce the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) on a three-yearly basis. As per Scottish Government policy, the first SSEP will not be able to consider the potential for new nuclear in Scotland.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of whether Torness could host (a) Small Modular Reactors and (b) large-scale nuclear development.
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, whilst the government has also tasked GBE-N with identifying suitable sites that could host a potential large-scale new nuclear project.
GBE-N will report to Ministers by Autumn 2026 on potential sites to inform future decisions in the next Spending Review and beyond.
Areas of Scotland such as Torness, which have previously hosted nuclear power stations, will have positive attributes for new nuclear.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the Heart of Dunfermline feasibility study.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)
Scotland Office Ministers and officials regularly engage with our colleagues in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on a range of issues pertinent to Scotland.
Planning, and cultural heritage projects are devolved matters, and specific operational discussions regarding the Heart of Dunfermline feasibility study therefore rest with Fife Council and the Scottish Government.
However, the UK Government remains fully committed to supporting the long-term prosperity of Scotland’s newest city. The UK Government works closely to deliver for Scotland, including Fife Council, through investment frameworks like the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal, Local Growth Fund, and the Defence Growth Deal to unlock growth and boost the regional economy.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he has had discussions with Fife Council on the Heart of Dunfermline feasibility study.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)
Scotland Office Ministers and officials regularly engage with Fife Council on a wide range of regional economic development priorities, and will continue to do so.
Planning, and cultural heritage projects are devolved matters, and specific operational discussions regarding the Heart of Dunfermline feasibility study therefore rest with Fife Council and the Scottish Government.
However, the UK Government remains fully committed to supporting the long-term prosperity of Scotland’s newest city. We continue to work closely with local authorities across Scotland, including Fife Council, through investment frameworks like the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal, Local Growth Fund, and the Defence Growth Deal to unlock growth and boost the regional economy.