Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much of the planned £5 million towards the feasibility study for the extension of the Borders Railway to Hawick and Carlisle has been released to Scottish Borders Council.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Earlier this year, the Department reaffirmed its commitment of up to £5m towards feasibility work on the extension of the Borders Railway. As part of this, the Department has allocated c. £130k of funding to support the development of a Strategic Outline Business Case to explore ways to improve public transport across the region.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policy on the triple lock for the State Pensions of the report by the International Monetary Fund entitled United Kingdom: 2025 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for United Kingdom, published on 25 July 2025.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an independent international organisation. The Government engages regularly and constructively with the IMF, including during the annual bilateral surveillance process known as Article IV.

The Government is committed to the triple lock for the duration of this Parliament.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions she has had with the Welsh Government on strengthening the Union.

Answered by Anna McMorrin - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Wales Office)

I have regular discussions with the Welsh Government on how our two governments are delivering, investing in Wales’s future and strengthening our union.

Through a record budget settlement for the Welsh Government, alongside our investment into Welsh rail, Growth Deals, Investment Zones, Freeports, Pride in Place Funds and our Defence Growth Deal for Wales – we are working together to improve public services, support communities, drive jobs, and deliver economic growth.

Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the Eskdalemuir Seismological Array.

Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)

The UK Government sees onshore wind as a key part of our clean energy ambitions. However, we are aware of the interference that onshore wind turbines can cause to seismological arrays, such as the one at Eskdalemuir, and the subsequent security concerns that this can create.

A key commitment of the UK Government’s Onshore Wind Taskforce Strategy, published in July 2025, was to prioritise bringing forward a resolution to this issue. The UK Government has committed to consult on an updated methodology and guidance for the management of seismic interference, and we will also update the policy and regulations to ensure effective delivery. This consultation, which we intend to publish by the end of 2025, will also include consideration of whether legislation is required.

The UK Government is currently working closely with the Scottish Government and Wind Industry developers and supply chain companies to deliver these commitments, via the Eskdalemuir Working Group.

Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the Eskdalemuir Seismological Array.

Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)

The UK Government sees onshore wind as a key part of our clean energy ambitions. However, we are aware of the interference that onshore wind turbines can cause to seismological arrays, such as the one at Eskdalemuir, and the subsequent security concerns that this can create.

A key commitment of the UK Government’s Onshore Wind Taskforce Strategy, published in July 2025, was to prioritise bringing forward a resolution to this issue. The UK Government has committed to consult on an updated methodology and guidance for the management of seismic interference, and we will also update the policy and regulations to ensure effective delivery. This consultation, which we intend to publish by the end of 2025, will also include consideration of whether legislation is required.

The UK Government is currently working closely with the Scottish Government and Wind Industry developers and supply chain companies to deliver these commitments, via the Eskdalemuir Working Group.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has with the Secretary of State for Defence on the Eskdalemuir Seismological Array, in the context of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Ministry of Defence, and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) have worked closely together on how best to unlock the development of up to 3 gigawatts of further onshore wind capability in the Eskdalemuir area. This would contribute up to £2 billion of investment in UK based companies.

Options to unlock this capacity – including through regulations pursuant to powers granted by the Planning and Infrastructure Bill – are subject to joint consultation due to be launched by the DESNZ and the Scottish Government.

Found: Christopher Chope; Mr Lee Dillon; Graeme Downie; Mary Kelly Foy; Tracy Gilbert; Gurinder Singh Josan; John Lamont

Found: Christopher Chope; Mr Lee Dillon; Graeme Downie; Mary Kelly Foy; Tracy Gilbert; Gurinder Singh Josan; John Lamont

Found: Charalambous; Sir Christopher Chope; Mr Lee Dillon; Graeme Downie; Tracy Gilbert; Gurinder Singh Josan; John Lamont

Written Parliamentary Questions (WPQs) are an important tool for Members of Parliament to obtain detailed and targeted information to aid in the scrutiny of Government policy and operations. The long-established purpose of WPQs is to uphold transparency and accountability by ensuring that the Government provides clear and timely information to Parliament, and to the public via their publication.