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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she had discussions with the Scottish Government before announcing the decision to agree to the English Whisky Guild application for a Geographical Indication for English Whisky.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra officials worked closely with counterparts from all the Devolved Governments of the UK, including the Scottish Government, to assess whether the application for registration of ‘English Whisky’ as a PGI met the requirements of the regulations. The assessment process concluded that the requirements of the regulations had been met.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of her decision to agree to the English Whisky Guild application for a Geographical Indication for English Whisky on distilleries in Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey constituency.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

This Government supports whisky producers across the UK. The UK is home to world class whisky production, and English Whisky joins Scotch, Welsh and Irish whiskies as recognised and protected products. Scotch Whisky's protected status and strong reputation are unchanged, and this Government is confident that the Scotch Whisky industry will continue to thrive.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an impact assessment of the decision to agree to the English Whisky Guild application for a Geographical Indication for English Whisky on the Scotch Whisky sector and the Single Malt Scotch Whisky category.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

This Government supports whisky producers across the UK. The UK is home to world class whisky production, and English Whisky joins Scotch, Welsh and Irish whiskies as recognised and protected products. Scotch Whisky's protected status and strong reputation are unchanged, and this Government is confident that the Scotch Whisky industry will continue to thrive.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment her Department has made on whether and the extent to which transmission-connected generators have experienced unexpected financial gains or losses as a result of changes to Transmission Network Use of System charges compared with the assumptions that they reasonably would have expected at the time of the relevant Government allocation round and/or their Final Investment Decision.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Department has not undertaken a general ex post assessment of the TNUoS assumptions that private companies utilised when developing their own commercial business cases, and whether these had upward or downward pressure on their financial returns.

The Government is committed to reforms that deliver greater predictability and stability for transmission charges, and will support Ofgem to work with industry to reduce year-to-year volatility and improve forward visibility for investors.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department is considering legislation regarding the regulation of fraudulent adverts on social media.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Services in Online Safety Act scope must tackle illegal content, including user-generated fraudulent adverts. Social media services designated as Category 1 have additional duties to tackle paid-for fraudulent advertising. Ofcom’s consultation on these additional duties closed on 2 October. We expect Ofcom’s final guidance and codes to be published in 2027.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to ADE’s report entitled "No Home Left Behind", what assessment she has made of the potential merits of using heat batteries to reduce noise pollution in dense urban areas where heat pump noise can block installation.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Decarbonising heating in Scotland is largely devolved, allowing the Scottish Government to set its own policies and support schemes, such as the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme.

Industry has taken significant strides to reduce noise emissions from heat pumps. The department commissioned independent research, published in 2023, which found that noise complaints from air source heat pumps are rare and that their sound emissions are perceived as being very quiet.

For the small number of properties for which heat pumps or heat networks may not be suitable, heat batteries may play a role in decarbonising domestic heating.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to ADE’s report entitled "No Home Left Behind", whether she plans to promote heat batteries in rural off-gas homes.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Decarbonising heating in Scotland is largely devolved, allowing the Scottish Government to set its own policies and support schemes. Scottish households can access support through the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme.

Heat pumps, alongside heat networks, will be the primary low-carbon technologies for decarbonising home heating.

However, the UK government recognises there are a small number of properties for which these technologies may not be suitable, and that heat batteries can play a role in decarbonising domestic heating, including in rural off-gas homes.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of policy costs and levies on the electricity bills and competitiveness of businesses in Scotland.

Answered by Katie White - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government recognises the pressure high electricity costs place on businesses. Eligible energy-intensive businesses in Scotland can benefit from the British Industry Supercharger, which provides relief from certain electricity policy costs and network charges. The British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme will also support over 10,000 businesses across Great Britain, reducing electricity costs by up to £40 per megawatt hour—an average discount of around 25%. We are working closely with the Department for Business, Industry, Science and Trade to explore further options to reduce non-domestic electricity costs. In the longer term, delivering clean power will strengthen energy security and reduce exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what action the Government will take to support businesses in Scotland facing rising non-commodity costs on their energy bills.

Answered by Katie White - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government recognises the pressure high electricity costs place on businesses. Eligible energy-intensive businesses in Scotland can benefit from the British Industry Supercharger, which provides relief from certain electricity policy costs and network charges. The British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme will also support over 10,000 businesses across Great Britain, reducing electricity costs by up to £40 per megawatt hour—an average discount of around 25%. We are working closely with the Department for Business, Industry, Science and Trade to explore further options to reduce non-domestic electricity costs. In the longer term, delivering clean power will strengthen energy security and reduce exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to ADE’s recent report entitled "No Home Left Behind", what steps she is taking to ensure heat batteries can access smart, time-of-use tariffs, to enable households to charge when electricity is cheapest.

Answered by Katie White - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Decarbonising heating in Scotland is largely devolved, allowing the Scottish Government to set its own policies and support schemes. Scottish households can access support through the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme.

Heat pumps, alongside heat networks, will be the primary low-carbon technologies for decarbonising home heating.

However, the UK Government recognises there are a small number of properties for which these technologies may not be suitable, and heat batteries can play a role in decarbonising domestic heating. Heat batteries are able to take advantage of time-of-use electricity tariffs, enabling households to charge when electricity is cheapest.

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Jackdaw gas field

Imprisoned Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant workers

Abuse Doesn't Fly campaign

Undercover Policing Inquiry

Contribution of cinemas to local communities

Cancer and access to travel insurance