Joani Reid

Abercrombie House is a Government Property Agency (GPA) run building occupied by the FCDO. The GPA provides all facilities management services through several contracts including the contract with OCS. No individuals taking strike action are directly employed by the government.

The GPA is actively encouraging OCS and the PCS trade union to cooperate to resolve the dispute, including facilitating constructive dialogue between them.

Bedrocan oils are a range of unlicensed cannabis-based products for medicinal use. These products have not been assessed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for safety, quality, or efficacy, or assessed by National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for clinical and cost effectiveness.

Bedrocan, and other unlicensed cannabis-based products for medicinal use, are available from independent providers across the United Kingdom, regulated by the Care Quality Commission. Unlicensed cannabis-based products for medicinal use can only be prescribed by, or under the direction of, a clinician on the General Medical Council Specialist Register. Prescribers of unlicensed medicines have increase medico-legal responsibilities and are responsible for the quality and availability of the medicine prescribed.

These products are not routinely prescribed on the National Health Service, as clinical guidelines from the NICE demonstrate a clear need for further evidence on the safety and effectiveness of unlicensed cannabis-based medicines to support prescribing decisions.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has issued two calls for research proposals and a highlight notice on medicinal cannabis. Manufacturers, including those for Bedrocan oils, are responsible for generating evidence to support the use of these products and to seek regulatory approval. The Government encourages manufacturers to do so and offers scientific and research advice from the MHRA and the NIHR.

The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on grants at initial decision is published in table Asy_D02 of the ‘Asylum applications, initial decisions and resettlement detailed datasets’. The latest data relates to the year ending September 2024. Data on grants of refugee status by location or accommodation type is not published.

For the safety and security of residents and staff at its accommodation sites, the Home Office does not publish detail of each site in use.

However, data on the number of supported asylum seekers in accommodation, by local authority and accommodation type, can be found within the Asy_D11 tab for the most recent stats release: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk.)

For the safety and security of residents and staff at its accommodation sites, the Home Office does not publish detail of each site in use.

However, data on the number of supported asylum seekers in accommodation, by local authority and accommodation type, can be found within the Asy_D11 tab for the most recent stats release: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk.)

For the safety and security of residents and staff at its accommodation sites, the Home Office does not publish detail of each site in use.

However, data on the number of supported asylum seekers in accommodation, by local authority and accommodation type, can be found within the Asy_D11 tab for the most recent stats release: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk.)

Sex trafficking is a truly terrible crime. Those who’ve endured it are some of the bravest people I’ve ever met. Victims of modern slavery in England and Wales receive tailored support, through the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract, to help rebuild their lives, engage with the criminal justice system, and transition back into the wider community.

Supporting victims is a devolved power, so comparable tailored support is provided in Scotland and Northern Ireland by the devolved administrations and their partnering organisations.

Scotland’s defence industry is vital to the UK’s security and economy. The newly published Defence Industrial Strategy is clear that this government will prioritise UK-based defence firms, including those in Scotland.

As part of Brand Scotland, I have been promoting the Scottish defence industry in Norway and in South-East Asia, where I visited HMS Spey, constructed by BAE Systems on the Clyde.

I welcome the announcement by BAE Systems that they will be investing £1 billion in education and skills across the UK, which will lead to more than 200 jobs in Glasgow.