Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to review (a) tax and (b) energy cost burdens facing small quarrying businesses in rural constituencies.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government keeps all tax under review as part of the policy making process.
The government is bearing down on business energy prices more widely by reducing Great Britain’s reliance on volatile international gas prices, and through a new framework to scrutinise energy levies, ensuring they are affordable and value-for-money.
Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support the continued availability of British natural stone for heritage restoration projects.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department for Business and Trade does not offer any specific support for British natural stone for heritage restoration projects.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport supports heritage restoration projects with several grant schemes, including those covering VAT for repairs through the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme and the Memorial Grant Scheme. Additional funds, such as the Heritage At Risk Capital Fund and the Heritage Revival Fund, provide financial support in England for repairing endangered heritage sites and repurposing neglected historic buildings for community and economic benefit.
Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
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 potential impact of (a) international trade practices and (b) foreign subsidies on the competitiveness of UK natural stone SMEs.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) is the UK’s investigatory body that exists to defend the UK against unfair international trade practices, including foreign subsidies.
I encourage UK industry to engage directly with the TRA if they believe they are being injured by unfair trading practices as it will be for the TRA to decide whether evidentiary thresholds to initiate a trade remedies investigation are met.
The Department remains vigilant to any reports of potential injury to industries from unfair trading practices and regularly engages with the natural stone sector.
Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Government plans to ensure that local authorities recognise natural stone as a low-carbon material in planning guidance and local plan development.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
National design guidance, which supports the National Planning Policy Framework, states that well-designed places should be responsive to local history, culture and heritage. The guidance highlights the role of resources, including the careful selection of materials and construction techniques, to minimise any environmental impacts.
A local design code can introduce requirements on the use of materials for new development, if appropriate.
Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the BBC on the level of legal fees that may be incurred in connection with the dispute with President Trump.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
This is a matter for the BBC, whose lawyers are now dealing with the issue. The BBC is independent of the UK government and so it is a matter for them and the US President.
Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the BBC on legal fees incurred in connection with President Trump.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
This is a matter for the BBC, whose lawyers are now dealing with the issue. The BBC is independent of the UK government and so it is a matter for them and the US President.
Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that national security is prioritised in discussions on the future of the Eskdalemuir Seismological Array.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to safeguarding the Eskdalemuir Seismic Array, recognising its critical role in national and global security.
MOD officials regularly engage with the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and the Scottish Government to ensure that the Array’s capabilities are not affected by future wind energy deployment in the 50km zone of interest.
As a member of the DESNZ-chaired Eskdalemuir Working Group, the MOD continues to advocate for the protection of the Array, with all stakeholders aligned on its importance and the need for its safeguarding.
Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) discussions and (b) meetings officials in his Department have had with the Eskdalemuir Working Group on the Eskdalemuir Seismological Array.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Eskdalemuir Working Group (EWG) members include the Ministry of Defence (MOD), the Scottish Government, and representatives from local planning authorities and the wind industry.
The EWG meets regularly, with the last meeting taking place on 3 September 2025.
Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) discussions and (b) meetings officials in his Department have had with Xi Engineering on the Eskdalemuir Seismological Array.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) engages with Xi Engineering through the Eskdalemuir Working Group (EWG), chaired by the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero, which includes the MOD, Scottish Government, local planning authorities and the wind industry.
Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the Eskdalemuir Working Group will prioritise (a) the maintenance of national security and (b) international defence obligations when considering any new (i) regime and (ii) methodology for measuring seismic interference within the safety zone around the Eskdalemuir Seismological Array.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We recognise and are aware of the interference that onshore wind turbines can cause to seismological monitoring stations, and the subsequent safeguarding concerns that operators of seismological arrays can have. We are working closely with the Ministry of Defence to bring forward a resolution to this issue, via the Eskdalemuir Working Group. We are clear that the Eskdalemuir Seismic Array is a key piece of defence infrastructure that is part of international monitoring networks and that any updated approach to managing onshore wind deployment near the Array will not compromise its detection capabilities.