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, if her Department will provide an update on the surplus sharing arrangements of the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government and Trustees have had constructive engagement on surplus sharing arrangements, and resolving this issue remains a priority for the Government. I will provide an update on the outcome in due course.
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, if her Department will provide an update on the surplus sharing arrangements of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government and Trustees have had constructive engagement on surplus sharing arrangements, and resolving this issue remains a priority for the Government. I will provide an update on the outcome in due course.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress she has made on alignment and integration between the SAF mandate and European Trading Scheme.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The UK and EU are currently in negotiations to pursue the linking of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) and the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). We are working to negotiate a good deal in line with UK interests as quickly as possible. Separately, on 23 March 2026, the UK ETS Authority launched a consultation on the treatment of SAF in the UK ETS, considering the introduction of, and interactions with, the SAF Mandate. This consultation closed on 15 June 2026, and we are considering the responses alongside the UK-EU ETS linking negotiations.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she expects to publish the outcome of the review of the SAF mandate.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Call for Evidence on SAF supply and industry certainty closed on 28 July. Officials are currently reviewing the evidence and we will provide a government response in due course.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether K3 Scout Surveillance drones are equipped with an Internet of Things module.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
There is no dedicated Internet of Things module fitted to the Kraken K3 Scout. The platform does contain a number of network-connected systems necessary for its operation, which are managed and protected through secure network architecture, segmentation, routing controls and encrypted communications. The Royal Navy has robust cyber security procedures to identify and secure vulnerabilities of all systems; the Kraken K3 Scout is subjected to the same procedures as all of our units and we have full confidence in the security of these systems.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to ensure UK military assistance to Ukraine adapts to the increasing use of guided aerial bombs against frontline cities.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The UK is stepping up air defence supplies to Ukraine to help protect its civilians, urban centres and critical national infrastructure.
At the latest UDCG on 8 September the UK announced we will contribute a further £100 million towards NATO’s Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), which will support the delivery of Patriot missiles and other air defence equipment before the winter.
Prior to this at the previous UDCG meeting on 18 June, the UK announced the delivery of more than 350 air defence missiles and radars. In addition to this, twenty remotely guided counter-drone turrets, acquired from Estonia, have now been delivered, which are designed specifically to defeat Shahed-style attack drones.
In addition, we continue to regularly deliver hundreds of UK produced Lightweight Multi-Role Missile (LMM) air defence missiles to Ukraine.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with Gatwick Airport on the cost resulting from drones near the airport in 2018.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
My Department regularly engages with AirportsUK, individual airports and other partners on the risk that drone incursions pose to airport security and resilience. We also work closely with Home Office on the role of advanced counter-drone technologies in detecting and deterring unauthorised drone activity around sensitive sites and critical infrastructure such as airports.
Since the disruption at Gatwick in 2018, government and industry have worked together to strengthen preparedness for drone incursions. As part of this work, we are commissioning guidance to support airports in understanding drone-related risks and appropriate mitigations.
My Department has not undertaken a formal assessment of the cost of drone incursions as specified, and does not hold estimates for such costs.
This Government is also taking action to improve compliance and reduce the risk of drone misuse. Last year, we concluded a review of UK drone regulations, and are now implementing the recommendations, including measures to increase awareness and understanding of the rules as well as new requirements relating to geo-awareness. Together, these measures are intended to reduce the risk of inadvertent drone activity in restricted airspace, including around airports.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate her department has made of the cost to (i) airports, (ii) airlines and (iii) the economy of drone incursions at civilian airports in each of the past five years.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
My Department regularly engages with AirportsUK, individual airports and other partners on the risk that drone incursions pose to airport security and resilience. We also work closely with Home Office on the role of advanced counter-drone technologies in detecting and deterring unauthorised drone activity around sensitive sites and critical infrastructure such as airports.
Since the disruption at Gatwick in 2018, government and industry have worked together to strengthen preparedness for drone incursions. As part of this work, we are commissioning guidance to support airports in understanding drone-related risks and appropriate mitigations.
My Department has not undertaken a formal assessment of the cost of drone incursions as specified, and does not hold estimates for such costs.
This Government is also taking action to improve compliance and reduce the risk of drone misuse. Last year, we concluded a review of UK drone regulations, and are now implementing the recommendations, including measures to increase awareness and understanding of the rules as well as new requirements relating to geo-awareness. Together, these measures are intended to reduce the risk of inadvertent drone activity in restricted airspace, including around airports.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with AirportsUK regarding the cost of drone incursions near UK civilian airports.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
My Department regularly engages with AirportsUK, individual airports and other partners on the risk that drone incursions pose to airport security and resilience. We also work closely with Home Office on the role of advanced counter-drone technologies in detecting and deterring unauthorised drone activity around sensitive sites and critical infrastructure such as airports.
Since the disruption at Gatwick in 2018, government and industry have worked together to strengthen preparedness for drone incursions. As part of this work, we are commissioning guidance to support airports in understanding drone-related risks and appropriate mitigations.
My Department has not undertaken a formal assessment of the cost of drone incursions as specified, and does not hold estimates for such costs.
This Government is also taking action to improve compliance and reduce the risk of drone misuse. Last year, we concluded a review of UK drone regulations, and are now implementing the recommendations, including measures to increase awareness and understanding of the rules as well as new requirements relating to geo-awareness. Together, these measures are intended to reduce the risk of inadvertent drone activity in restricted airspace, including around airports.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the cost of drone incursions near airports in the last five years for (i) airports and (ii) the economy.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
My Department regularly engages with AirportsUK, individual airports and other partners on the risk that drone incursions pose to airport security and resilience. We also work closely with Home Office on the role of advanced counter-drone technologies in detecting and deterring unauthorised drone activity around sensitive sites and critical infrastructure such as airports.
Since the disruption at Gatwick in 2018, government and industry have worked together to strengthen preparedness for drone incursions. As part of this work, we are commissioning guidance to support airports in understanding drone-related risks and appropriate mitigations.
My Department has not undertaken a formal assessment of the cost of drone incursions as specified, and does not hold estimates for such costs.
This Government is also taking action to improve compliance and reduce the risk of drone misuse. Last year, we concluded a review of UK drone regulations, and are now implementing the recommendations, including measures to increase awareness and understanding of the rules as well as new requirements relating to geo-awareness. Together, these measures are intended to reduce the risk of inadvertent drone activity in restricted airspace, including around airports.