Asked by: Kirsteen Sullivan (Labour (Co-op) - Bathgate and Linlithgow)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of trends in the cost of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) since January 2025 on the aviation sector’s (a) competitiveness and (b) progress towards increasing SAF production in the UK.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
When setting SAF policy, we have to carefully balance a range of factors including potential cost impacts on airlines and passengers and the need to drive decarbonisation across the transport sector.
We continue to monitor trends in the SAF market and will review our assumptions where necessary when developing policies such as the revenue certainty mechanism which aims to support SAF production in the UK.
Asked by: Kirsteen Sullivan (Labour (Co-op) - Bathgate and Linlithgow)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she has consider the potential merits of introducing a specific offence group classification for thefts involving high value goods from (a) haulage and (b) freight vehicles.
Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Government recognises the distress felt by those who are victims of theft, and such matters should be reported, investigated and, where appropriate, taken through the courts to provide justice. Theft of goods, regardless of value, is a criminal offence under the Theft Act 1968 and the maximum penalty is seven years’ imprisonment. The sentencing guidelines for theft acknowledge that, where the items stolen were of substantial value to the victim, then regardless of their monetary worth and consequential financial harm to victims and others, this will indicate a higher level of harm, and the offender should be sentenced accordingly.
The government does not intend to introduce a specific offence of theft involving high value goods from haulage or freight vehicles.
Asked by: Kirsteen Sullivan (Labour (Co-op) - Bathgate and Linlithgow)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to repurpose national infrastructure originally used in the fossil fuel sector for new green technology sectors.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Repurposing existing offshore and onshore infrastructure could make a significant contribution to the UK’s drive to net-zero. In 2022, analysis by the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) identified more than 100 pipelines which could be suitable for CCS or hydrogen projects.
The NSTA supports government and others to identify opportunities for repurposing, including for carbon dioxide or offshore hydrogen transportation and storage projects.
We are already seeing this in practice. HyNet will be served by a combination of new and existing infrastructure, with more than 90 miles of offshore and onshore pipeline being repurposed.
Asked by: Kirsteen Sullivan (Labour (Co-op) - Bathgate and Linlithgow)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of applying VAT to deposits in the Deposit Return Scheme on (a) return rates and (b) levels of (i) litter and (ii) recycling.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government remains committed to successful implementation of the Deposit Return Scheme, which is a critical step in moving towards a circular economy that delivers sustainable growth and produces less waste, rubbish, and litter.
The Government is keen to ensure that VAT is not a barrier to effective operation of the Deposit Return Scheme. The Government is considering how best to achieve this while maintaining the integrity of the tax, and this work is being supported by engagement with industry representatives, including the British Soft Drinks Association.
Asked by: Kirsteen Sullivan (Labour (Co-op) - Bathgate and Linlithgow)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help ensure that there (a) are new jobs and (b) is growth of the sustainable aviation fuel industry in Scotland.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We are supporting the UK SAF industry in a range of ways. We are building demand for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) through the SAF Mandate, introduced in January this year. We have introduced legislation to deliver a revenue certainty mechanism to support potential SAF producers across the UK. We also run a grant funding scheme, the Advanced Fuels Fund, for which £63m of funding is available in 2025/26 for the producers of SAF.
Together, these measures will give investors the confidence to support the commercial scale production of SAF in the UK, creating green jobs and developing skills.
Asked by: Kirsteen Sullivan (Labour (Co-op) - Bathgate and Linlithgow)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to take steps to prevent aviation fuel suppliers from charging compliance risk premiums to mandated volumes of sustainable aviation fuel.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We recognise that SAF is more expensive than jet fuel. This is why the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Mandate has been designed to protect against excessive costs. The SAF Mandate also has a built-in review process so the Government can take action to change scheme parameters if necessary. The pricing of SAF are commercial decisions for the market though we are working to further understand interactions between the SAF Mandate and SAF pricing. We are engaging with relevant stakeholders – including airports, airlines, fuel suppliers and trade associations to do this.
Asked by: Kirsteen Sullivan (Labour (Co-op) - Bathgate and Linlithgow)
Question
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, when she expects the Equality and Human Rights Commission to publish the final version of its Code of Practice for services, public functions and associations, following the Supreme Court’s judgment of 16 April 2025 in For Women Scotland v Scottish Ministers.
Answered by Bridget Phillipson - Minister for Women and Equalities
On 20 May, the EHRC opened its consultation on the changes made to the draft updated statutory Code of Practice following the Supreme Court ruling. This consultation is open until 30 June.
We will consider the EHRC's final draft Code of Practice once it has been submitted and engage with them to ensure it provides the clarity service providers need, in line with the Supreme Court ruling.
Once the final draft is agreed, we will follow the correct parliamentary process.
Asked by: Kirsteen Sullivan (Labour (Co-op) - Bathgate and Linlithgow)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to ensure the effective (a) cataloguing and (b) use of the holdings of the Russian Military Studies Centre in national security considerations.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The holdings in the Russian Military Studies Centre are an under-utilised resource. These holdings are currently being catalogued with their future provision, and access to them, subject to review.
Asked by: Kirsteen Sullivan (Labour (Co-op) - Bathgate and Linlithgow)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Youth Guarantee will be delivered in Scotland (a) directly by DWP, (b) in partnership with devolved bodies including councils and (c) directly by devolved bodies.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Skills and education policy are devolved in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, whereas employment policy is not devolved, except for in the Northern Ireland Assembly.
DWP in Scotland provides extensive support to young people. This includes flexible provision driven by local need using DWP Flexible Support Fund, and support delivered by specialist youth work coaches based in Jobcentres and through 16 Youth Hubs. Strategic engagement with Scottish Government is fundamental in developing the additional employment support available through their No One Left Behind Policy which is delivered by Local Authorities via Local Employability Partnerships (LEPs). This support is agreed and designed based on local need, with input from DWP and other Stakeholders.
Asked by: Kirsteen Sullivan (Labour (Co-op) - Bathgate and Linlithgow)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of allocating dedicated radio spectrum access to energy (a) distribution and (b) transmission networks on (i) the resilience and (ii) decarbonisation of those networks.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The government is considering how it can support the development of telecommunications infrastructure for a decarbonised energy system, and whether spectrum access would be appropriate. As part of this, my officials are in regular discussion with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ofgem and Ofcom on energy system telecommunications needs.