Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how much (a) has been spent to date and (b) he expects to spend on measures to continue the operation of the Prax Lindsey Oil Refinery.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
As I sent out in my Written Ministerial Statement on 1 July 2025, the Government is providing the Official Receiver with short-term funding to cover the essential operating costs of the refinery as a result of the unexpected insolvency of the company. The final operating cost will depend on market conditions and the strategy adopted by the Official Receiver, and this will be subject to close scrutiny and governance by the Government and the insolvency office holders. This funding is necessary to provide the Official Receiver with the necessary tools to fulfil their statutory duties and to avoid an immediate, unsafe shutdown of the refinery.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the accessibility of the new Companies House identity verification system; who pays for the third-party ID verification service connected to that system; and what the annual cost is for that system.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Companies House identity verification (IDV) system is provided by GOV.UK One Login (‘the service’) delivered by the Government Digital Service (GDS).
Inclusivity and accessibility is a top priority. The service offers simple online content, in-person IDV at the Post Office where appropriate and contact centre assistance. Regular user research and testing with people from various backgrounds and needs ensures the service works for as many people as possible.
Some parts of the service are provided by third-parties. The service is centrally funded to provide IDV across central government, including Companies House
As an alternative, Companies House accepts IDV via Authorised Corporate Service Providers.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Mildenhall-based KC-135s were deployed in support of the US Operation Midnight Hammer.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence does not comment on the operational activity of other nations, including third party use of UK bases. The UK was not involved in Operation Midnight Hammer.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the £9.3 million community energy funding for devolved governments announced on 21 March 2025 is funding from GB Energy.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Great British Energy is committed to working with the Devolved Governments to help enhance community energy across the UK, whilst respecting the devolution settlements. £9.3 million is being provided to the devolved governments to support clean energy projects and may be combined with existing or new funding from the three governments to support specific clean energy projects in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. This funding is part of the £100m announced in October 2024 to kick-start GBE’s work investing in clean energy project development.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how much GB Energy has invested in renewable energy projects in each of the nations of the UK.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Great British Energy (GBE) has announced £300 million to invest in offshore wind supply chains, and £700 million to help build manufacturing facilities in the UK. That totals £1 billion in funding, available across all four nations.
GBE is also providing £4.85 million for Scotland, £2.88 million for Wales, and £1.62 million for Northern Ireland to support clean energy projects. This may be combined with existing or new funding from the three governments, which host their own community energy schemes.
In England, GBE is providing £90 million for solar panels on schools and hospitals. A further £10 million is committed for the Mayor Renewables Fund.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the delay to HS2 on devolved capital budgets.
Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The UK Government is responsible for heavy rail infrastructure across England and Wales so spends money on this in Wales rather than funding the Welsh Government to do so. There is therefore no direct link between HS2 and the Welsh Government’s capital budgets.
Conversely, heavy rail infrastructure is devolved in Scotland and Northern Ireland, so the Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive receive Barnett consequentials for HS2 funding. Delays in delivery have no direct impact on the capital budgets of devolved governments as the Barnett formula applies only when department budgets formally change, not when departments announce how they are spending their budgets.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
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 Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of the proposed changes in the White Paper entitled Restoring control over the immigration system, published on 12 May 2025, on health and social care recruitment in Scotland.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Health and Social Care are devolved. Regional partnerships are working with devolved administrations to support international care workers access vacancies in the devolved nations. In England, domestic recruitment is being boosted through Fair Pay Agreements, new career structures, and £12m for training. The SNP’s 2021 manifesto promised to have a National Care Service, instead their chaotic and damaging approach was condemned by stakeholders, and a stripped-down Bill has cost £30m and is still to pass through Holyrood.Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she met Sir Jim Radcliffe in April 2025.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Departments publish a quarterly register detailing Ministers’ meetings with external individuals and organisations. These returns - including the Chancellor’s Quarter 2 return - will be made available on GOV.UK in line with the usual publication schedule.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the current travel arrangements are for British professional golfers travelling to Europe.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Travel requirements can differ for British golfers and other professional sportspeople across Europe. For instance, as UK nationals, British golfers are able to travel visa-free to the Schengen Area for short-term visits (up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period) to compete in events.
Professional golfers undertaking paid work in any country they are visiting should check the entry requirements and rules for that country, in case they need to apply for a visa, work permit, or provide other documentation.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what funding his Department plans to allocate to support people with long covid.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England has invested £314 million since the start of the pandemic to provide care and support for people with long COVID. This includes establishing specialist clinics throughout England to assess children and young people who are experiencing long-term effects of COVID-19 infection. A further £86.7 million of funding was included in integrated care board (ICB) core allocations for 2024/25, and specific regional funding was also allocated for assurance and system support.
As of 1 April 2024, there were over 90 adult post-COVID services across England, along with an additional 10 children and young people’s hubs. Since April 2024, commissioning of long COVID services has been the responsibility of local ICBs following the closure of the national programme.
The Government has also invested over £57 million into long COVID research. The projects aim to improve our understanding of the diagnosis and underlying mechanisms of the disease and the effectiveness of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies and interventions, and to evaluate clinical care.