Kirsty Blackman Portrait

Kirsty Blackman

Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North

1,760 (4.2%) majority - 2024 General Election

First elected: 7th May 2015

SNP Chief Whip

(since July 2024)

Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Cabinet Office)
12th Dec 2022 - 30th May 2024
Procedure Committee
12th Sep 2023 - 30th May 2024
Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
12th Sep 2023 - 30th May 2024
European Statutory Instruments Committee
10th Feb 2020 - 30th May 2024
Media Bill
29th Nov 2023 - 12th Dec 2023
Finance (No. 2) Bill
10th May 2023 - 18th May 2023
Procurement Bill [HL]
25th Jan 2023 - 21st Feb 2023
Online Safety (Re-committed Clauses and Schedules) Bill
7th Dec 2022 - 15th Dec 2022
Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Work and Pensions)
29th Mar 2022 - 12th Dec 2022
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
5th Jan 2022 - 8th Nov 2022
Online Safety Bill
18th May 2022 - 28th Jun 2022
Procedure Committee
2nd Mar 2020 - 5th Jan 2022
Nuclear Energy (Financing) Bill
9th Nov 2021 - 25th Nov 2021
Subsidy Control Bill
20th Oct 2021 - 18th Nov 2021
SNP Deputy Westminster Leader
20th Jun 2017 - 1st Jul 2020
Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Economy)
20th Jun 2017 - 7th Jan 2020
European Statutory Instruments Committee
18th Jul 2018 - 6th Nov 2019
Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
12th Sep 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
31st Oct 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
European Statutory Instruments
18th Jul 2018 - 6th Nov 2019
Procedure Committee
24th Jun 2019 - 6th Nov 2019
Shadow SNP Spokesperson (House of Lords)
20th May 2015 - 20th Jun 2017
Scottish Affairs Committee
6th Jul 2015 - 5th Sep 2016


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Kirsty Blackman has voted in 77 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
View All Kirsty Blackman Division Votes

Debates during the 2024 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Liz Kendall (Labour)
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
(10 debate interactions)
Andrew Western (Labour)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
(7 debate interactions)
Ian Murray (Labour)
Secretary of State for Scotland
(7 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Department for Work and Pensions
(27 debate contributions)
Scotland Office
(10 debate contributions)
Cabinet Office
(8 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
View all Kirsty Blackman's debates

Aberdeen North Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

Kirsty Blackman has not participated in any petition debates

Latest EDMs signed by Kirsty Blackman

24th March 2025
Kirsty Blackman signed this EDM on Monday 12th May 2025

Ensuring stability for Ukrainian refugees in the UK

Tabled by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
That this House believes that Ukrainian refugees fleeing war must be treated with compassion in the UK; recognises that the war in Ukraine still wages on, more than three years after Putin first invaded; notes with concern recent reports that some Ukrainian refugees have faced losing their homes and jobs …
98 signatures
(Most recent: 16 May 2025)
Signatures by party:
Liberal Democrat: 59
Labour: 21
Scottish National Party: 7
Plaid Cymru: 4
Green Party: 3
Democratic Unionist Party: 2
Social Democratic & Labour Party: 2
Conservative: 1
Ulster Unionist Party: 1
1st April 2025
Kirsty Blackman signed this EDM as the primary signatory on Tuesday 1st April 2025

Tackling child poverty

Tabled by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
That this House believes that every child has the right to a childhood free of poverty; recognises the essential work of child poverty charities who step up to support children where the UK Government is failing them; acknowledges that such charities do so in a context of deepening and spreading …
18 signatures
(Most recent: 22 Apr 2025)
Signatures by party:
Scottish National Party: 9
Plaid Cymru: 4
Independent: 2
Green Party: 2
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
View All Kirsty Blackman's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Kirsty Blackman, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.


Kirsty Blackman has not been granted any Urgent Questions

Kirsty Blackman has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

1 Bill introduced by Kirsty Blackman


The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Wednesday 20th March 2019
(Read Debate)

Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
3 Other Department Questions
1st May 2025
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the EHCR's Interim update on the practical implications of the UK Supreme Court judgment published on 25 April 2025, what guidance her Department has provided to (a) workplaces and (b) hospitality venues on access to single sex facilities.

The Government has set out our expectation that organisations follow the clarity the ruling provides. The EHRC’s interim update provides a perspective on how the judgment and Equality Act are practically applied in some areas. The EHRC has already committed to supporting organisations, including workplaces, with its updated statutory Code of Practice following consultation; we will engage them as necessary as they progress this work.

Nia Griffith
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Wales Office)
23rd Apr 2025
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will issue guidance on (a) what a single sex space is, (b) whether toilets should be considered single sex spaces and (c) whether any toilets should be excluded from this designation.

The Supreme Court’s ruling has brought clarity and confidence for women and single-sex services providers. The Government will work closely with the EHRC as they develop definitive guidance. All government departments should follow the clarity the ruling provides.

Nia Griffith
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Wales Office)
7th Jan 2025
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps her Department is taking to measure links between differences in pay and the socioeconomic background of employees.

We are committed to delivering better life chances for all - breaking the link between background and success.

At the Budget, the Chancellor announced increases to both the National Minimum Wage (16.3% for those aged 18-20) and the National Living Wage (6.7% for those 21 and over), as well as a £240 million Get Britain Working package to improve support for people who want to develop their careers (as well as for those who are economically inactive or unemployed).Through our Mission-driven Government, we will build the skills people need for opportunity and growth.

The Government will continue to draw on the work of the Office for National Statistics and others, such as the independent Social Mobility Commission, to understand the links between pay and socio-economic background.

25th Apr 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many posts there are for (a) press, (b) media and (c) other communications staff in his Department; and what the salary band is for each post.

In the central Cabinet Office communications team, there are a total of 37 Full Time Equivalent Government Communication Service professionals.

Of this total, 14 are in the media discipline which covers press and media responsibilities.

This is the latest available data from June 2024.


Information on Cabinet Office salary bands can be found in the Statistical tables - Civil Service Statistics: 2024 found here.

Georgia Gould
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
22nd Apr 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he has to update guidance for Government statistics on working age to reflect changes in the State Pension age.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

Georgia Gould
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
21st Jan 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the transparency data entitled Data on responses to correspondence from MPs and Peers in 2023, published on 23 May 2024, how his Department obtained the raw data on correspondence received from MPs by Government (a) Department and (b) agency.

The Cabinet Office commissions each Government department and agency individually to request data to be included in the reports titled ‘Data on responses to correspondence from MPs and Peers’ that are published on GOV.UK.

Abena Oppong-Asare
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
20th Jan 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 14 January 2025 to Question 22905 on State Retirement Pensions: Women and with reference to page 11 of his Department's guidance entitled Guide to Handling Correspondence, updated on 6 September 2024, whether the Department for Work and Pensions complies with reporting and data requests from his Department.

The Department for Work and Pensions complies with correspondence reporting and data requests from the Cabinet Office. The data on responses to correspondence from MPs and Peers 2023 includes performance when responding to correspondence from members of devolved Parliaments and Assemblies. This information has not been separated out in this or previous reports. Correspondence performance data for 2024 will be published in due course.

Abena Oppong-Asare
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
20th Jan 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's guidance entitled Guide to Handling Correspondence, updated on 6 September 2024, and with reference to his Department's transparency data entitled Data on responses to correspondence from MPs and peers, 2023, updated on 23 May 2024, whether his Department (a) produces and (b) publishes correspondence performance data on responses to correspondence from Members of devolved (i) Parliaments and (ii) Assemblies.

The Department for Work and Pensions complies with correspondence reporting and data requests from the Cabinet Office. The data on responses to correspondence from MPs and Peers 2023 includes performance when responding to correspondence from members of devolved Parliaments and Assemblies. This information has not been separated out in this or previous reports. Correspondence performance data for 2024 will be published in due course.

Abena Oppong-Asare
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
9th Jan 2025
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 8 January 2025 to Question 21320 on written representations to the Department of Work and Pensions, whether there have been changes to the directions to Government departments on the logging of enquiries from (a) MPs and (b) Members of the devolved Parliaments and Assemblies.

The Guide to Handling Correspondence, owned by the Cabinet Office and published on GOV.UK, sets out the guidance for Government departments to follow when handling correspondence from MPs and Members of the devolved Parliaments and Assemblies. The guidance was last updated in 2021.

Abena Oppong-Asare
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
25th Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many posts there are for (a) press, (b) media and (c) other communications staff in his Department; and what the salary band is for each post.

In the central Department for Business and Trade communications team, there are a total of 115 Full Time Equivalent Government Communication Service professionals.

Of this total, 22 work in the media discipline which covers press and media responsibilities. This is the latest available data from June 2024.

Justin Madders
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
7th Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of mandating socioeconomic background reporting for all employers with over 250 employees.

The Department has not undertaken any such assessment. Companies are already required to disclose employee matters and can choose to include socioeconomic aspects where relevant to their business. For example, all large companies in the UK must include information on employees as part of their Annual Report’s Section 172(1) Statement. This should detail how employees are consulted, and their views considered, in decision making, ensuring employees of all backgrounds feel involved in how the company is run. It is a matter of good practice to collect data on employee background that the company can choose to communicate its workforce inclusivity.

Justin Madders
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
24th Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many (a) press, (b) media and (c) other communications posts there are in his Department; and what the salary band is for each post.

In the central Communications team of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, there are a total of 86 Full Time Equivalent Government Communications Service posts.

Of this 24 work in media relations.

This is the latest available data from March 2025.

Michael Shanks
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
30th Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to ensure that Aberdeen’s skilled North Sea oil and gas workforce is supported to transition into jobs in (a) carbon capture and storage and (b) hydrogen in the Scottish Cluster.

The Office for Clean Energy Jobs is supporting the delivery of an industry-led Energy Skills Passport as part of a fair, orderly and prosperous transition. This is an important step to help workers transition from carbon-intensive industries to new clean energy sectors as part of the Government's clean energy mission 2030.

The government is working with the Scottish government, Renewable UK and Offshore Energies UK, to identify how to expand the passport in the future, offering strategic direction based on policy ambition such as the Clean Power 2030 target, which could include incorporating clean energy sectors like CCUS and hydrogen.

Great British Energy will be headquartered in Aberdeen, Scotland, recognising the expertise, skilled workforce, and diversity of projects already in place.

Michael Shanks
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
30th Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when Scottish industries will be able to decarbonise operations using the Scottish Cluster.

We are committed to supporting UK industry to decarbonise, enabling the country to take advantage of new opportunities that can promote growth and wealth creation, and protecting thousands of jobs in regions and industries across the UK. The Scottish Cluster Acorn has received £40 million in development funding in recent years, and officials continue to engage with the cluster to understand their plans. Following the announcement in October 2024 of funding for the initial Track 1 cluster configurations, further decisions for continued CCUS deployment, including for Track 2 clusters, will be taken in due course.

Sarah Jones
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
30th Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to ensure that Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage is deployed in Scotland.

We are committed to supporting UK industry to decarbonise, enabling the country to take advantage of new opportunities that can promote growth and wealth creation, and protecting thousands of jobs in regions and industries across the UK. The Scottish Cluster Acorn has received £40 million in development funding in recent years, and officials continue to engage with the cluster to understand their plans. Following the announcement in October 2024 of funding for the initial Track 1 cluster configurations, further decisions for continued CCUS deployment, including for Track 2 clusters, will be taken in due course.

Sarah Jones
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
30th Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to help prevent North Sea oil and gas workers leaving the UK.

The Government’s priority is a fair, orderly and prosperous transition in the North Sea in line with our climate and legal obligations, which drives towards our clean energy future of energy security, lower bills, and good, long-term jobs, with no community left behind.

The Office for Clean Energy Jobs is supporting the delivery of an industry-led Energy Skills Passport as part of this transition. It is an important step to help workers transition from carbon-intensive industries to new clean energy sectors as part of the Government's Clean Power 2030 mission.

Great British Energy will be headquartered in Aberdeen, Scotland, recognising the expertise, skilled workforce, and diversity of projects already in place.

Michael Shanks
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
23rd Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what the evidential basis is to determine the number of employees required by Ofcom’s Online Safety directorate to provide an evidence-based high level of service to fulfil its duties under the Online Safety Act 2023.

In 2023/24, Ofcom had 189 full-time equivalent posts in the Online Safety Group. This does not include staff who work on online safety in other groups such as legal, enforcement and research. Ofcom’s latest staff numbers will be available as part the Annual Report and Accounts for 2024/25, which will be presented to Parliament.

The government has ensured Ofcom has the funding it needs to deliver online safety regulation effectively, with £72.6 million allocated for online safety spend in 2025/26. This decision followed a business case process that included Ofcom submitting its requirements.

Feryal Clark
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
23rd Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many people work for Ofcom’s Online Safety directorate as of 5 April 2025.

In 2023/24, Ofcom had 189 full-time equivalent posts in the Online Safety Group. This does not include staff who work on online safety in other groups such as legal, enforcement and research. Ofcom’s latest staff numbers will be available as part the Annual Report and Accounts for 2024/25, which will be presented to Parliament.

The government has ensured Ofcom has the funding it needs to deliver online safety regulation effectively, with £72.6 million allocated for online safety spend in 2025/26. This decision followed a business case process that included Ofcom submitting its requirements.

Feryal Clark
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
28th Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many posts there are for (a) press, (b) media and (c) other communications staff in her Department; and what the salary band is for each post.

In the central Department for Culture, Media & Sport communications team, there are a total of 43.54 Full Time Equivalent Government Communication Service professionals.

Of this total, 13 work in the media discipline which covers press and media responsibilities.

This is the latest available data from June 2024.

Stephanie Peacock
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
28th Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many posts there are for (a) press, (b) media and (c) other communications staff in her Department; and what the salary band is for each post.

In the central Department for Transport communications team, there are a total of 91.01 Full Time Equivalent Government Communication Service professionals.

Of this total, 31.82 work in the media discipline which covers press and media responsibilities.

This is the latest available data from June 2024.

Mike Kane
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
7th Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has a strategy for tackling violence against women and girls on trains after the passage of the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill.

Tackling violence against women and girls is a priority for the Government. We have set the ambitious target to halve this figure in the next decade using every lever available to us. The Department is working closely with the central mission delivery unit in the Cabinet Office to achieve the aims set out in the Government’s Safer Streets mission.

The British Transport Police will continue to police the rail network following the transition of passenger services into public ownership to prevent and investigate crime, and in particular to tackle violence against women and girls.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
7th Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the impact of the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill on safety on trains.

The Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act 2024 makes no changes to existing roles and responsibilities regarding safety or tackling crime and anti-social behaviour. As such, there is no reason to expect any adverse impacts. The Government expects publicly owned train operators to focus relentlessly on the interests of passengers rather than shareholders, resulting in better outcomes for passengers across a range of areas, which will include personal security on trains.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
7th Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of lighting on trains on the levels of violence against women and girls travelling on the network.

The National Travel Attitudes Survey on perceptions of safety when walking, cycling and using public transport, found that a ‘poorly lit vehicle or carriage’ was the joint seventh most popular reason for feeling unsafe when travelling on a public transport vehicle. The Rail Safety and Standards Board sets requirements around lighting for new rolling stock. We continue to work with the rail industry including the Rail Delivery Group and the British Transport Police to ensure the rail network remains a safe environment for the travelling public.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
7th Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department will have responsibility for safety on trains following passage of the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership Bill).

The Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act 2024 makes no changes to existing roles and responsibilities regarding safety or tackling crime and anti-social behaviour. Tackling crime is the responsibility of the British Transport Police, who will continue to police the rail network following the transition of passenger services into public ownership. Safety regulation will remain the responsibility of the independent regulator, the Office of Rail and Road.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
12th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she plans to respond to the letter of 9 April 2025 from the hon. Member for Aberdeen North, reference ZA32718, case CMPT12025/33740.

We aim to investigate issues raised by complainants, and MPs on their behalf, within 15 working days, but where the case is complex, we may need to take longer.

We acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 9th April 2025 and will provide a reply shortly.

Andrew Western
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
30th Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many waiver requests from overpayment recovery of Universal Credit were (a) recorded and (b) granted (i) in full and (ii) partially for (A) each of the last two calendar years and (B) the current calendar year to date.

In last year's Annual Report and Accounts (ARA) waivers were included as part of the losses and special payments section on page 258: DWP annual report and accounts 2023 to 2024 (HTML) - GOV.UK.

Information regarding Secretary of State discretion to waive recovery of debt can be found in Chapter 8 of the Benefit Overpayment Recovery Guide which is published on gov.uk. Benefit overpayment recovery guide - GOV.UK

Andrew Western
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
29th Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of proposed changes to disability benefit on demand for NHS services.

No assessment has yet been made.

Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course, and some information was published alongside the Spring Statement. These publications can be found in ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’(opens in a new tab).

A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
29th Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of its proposed changes to disability benefits on demand for local authority social care services.

No assessment has been made.

Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course, and some information was published alongside the Spring Statement. These publications can be found in ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’(opens in a new tab).

A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
29th Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of its proposed disability benefit changes on rates of homelessness.

No assessment has been made.

Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course, and some information was published alongside the Spring Statement. These publications can be found in ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’(opens in a new tab).

A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
29th Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Answer of 13 December 2023 to Question 5974 on Universal Credit: Children, what recent assessment her Department has made of the impact of deductions from Universal Credit payments on trends in the level of (a) relative and (b) absolute child poverty.

Estimating the impact of deductions on trends in poverty is complex as stopping deductions would result in a build-up of arrears of the range of debts a customer has and stop vital obligations such as child maintenance being paid.

The government is committed to a sustainable, long-term approach to drive up opportunity and drive down poverty across the UK. As announced by the Chancellor in the Autumn Budget, a new Fair Repayment Rate has now been introduced from 30 April 2025, reducing the Universal Credit (UC) overall deductions cap from 25% to 15% of a customer’s UC standard allowance. This measure will help approximately 1.2 million of the poorest households benefit by an average of £420 a year.

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
29th Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Public Law Project report entitled From pillar to post: barriers to dealing with deductions from Universal Credit, published on 19 September 2024, what steps her Department is taking to improve the accessibility of (a) waivers, (b) suspensions, (c) reductions in the rate of recovery and (d) other forms of discretionary relief from overpayment recovery.

DWP strives to set affordable and sustainable repayment plans and encourages customers to make contact if they are unable to afford the proposed repayment rate. When a customer makes contact because they are experiencing financial hardship, the rate of repayment can be reduced or, depending on the customer’s financial circumstances, a temporary suspension of repayment can be agreed. In exceptional circumstances a waiver can be considered. Customers are never pressured to pay more than they can afford. DWP has strengthened customer notifications encouraging anyone who cannot afford the proposed rate of repayment to contact the Department to discuss an affordable repayment plan. All appropriate debt notifications also provide signposting to relevant external support.

DWP has also introduced the new Fair Repayment Rate (FRR) which has reduced the Universal Credit (UC) overall deductions cap from 25% to 15% of a customer’s UC standard allowance. This measure will help customers retain more of their UC award.

Andrew Western
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
28th Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many posts there are for (a) press, (b) media and (c) other communications staff in her Department; and what the salary band is for each post.

Our Communications team is responsible for ensuring transparency and informing the public about vital policies and services that support citizens every day. We communicate about our services to over 20 million people, whether that's about paying benefits, pensions or helping people to move into and progress at work.

As one of the largest departments, our Communications team helps 90,000 colleagues deliver their important work by keeping them informed and engaged on our priorities and delivery, and promoting the support available to some of our most vulnerable households.

In the central DWP communications team, there are a total of 142 Government Communication Service professionals.

Of this total, 21 work in the media discipline which covers press and media responsibilities.

This is the latest available data from 30 April 2025.

The salary bands are:

AIO/EO £36,211 - £41,092

IO/HEO £43,589 - £48,672

SIO/SEO £48,405 - £60,482

G7 £57,787 - £74,457

G6 £75,550 - £83,973

The SCS pay scale can be found in the DWP ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2023-24

Andrew Western
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
31st Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which jobcentres in Scotland have seen work coach staffing numbers reduced (a) since 2018-19 and (b) in the year for which the most recent data is available.

Work Coach staffing numbers for 2018-19 are unavailable. We have therefore compared Work Coach staffing numbers between March 2020 and the latest position (February 2025).

The following Jobcentres in Scotland have seen reductions in Work Coach levels between the two periods of March 2020 and February 2025:

Airdrie Stirling Street

Forfar Service Road

Forres Tytler Street

Fraserburgh South Harbour Road

Glasgow Radnor House

Greenock Dalrymple Street

Leven Waggon Road

Paisley High Street

The following Jobcentres in Scotland have seen reductions in Work Coach levels between the two periods of March 2024 and February 2025:

Annan Murray Street

Ayr Wallacetoun House

Dumfries Irish Street

Forfar Service Road

Fraserburgh South Harbour Road

Glasgow Radnor House

Leven Waggon Road

Paisley High Street

  • Data is correct as at the end of February 2025.
  • Work Coach staffing levels include staff working on Universal Credit and Legacy Benefits.
  • Work Coach staffing levels do not include Work Coach Team Leaders and Disability Employment Advisers.
  • The number of Work Coaches employed in these Jobcentres is unpublished management information, collected and intended for internal departmental use and has not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard. As the Department holds the information, we have released it.
  • It is important to note that, during the Covid-19 Pandemic (20/21), the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) rapidly expanded Jobcentre capacity by opening temporary Jobcentres. This was part of the Rapid Estate Expansion Programme (REEP). The vast majority of REEP sites are no longer in use.
Alison McGovern
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
21st Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions,what the initial results are of the work undertaken in the eight trailblazer areas set out in the Get Britain Working White Paper; and what are the key performance indicators for this work.

As announced in the Get Britain Working White Paper, Trailblazers to test more localised delivery of the Youth Guarantee and support for people who are economically inactive are due to launch starting from April 2025. We are working closely with the Trailblazer delivery areas to develop their plans, which includes evaluation and performance information ahead of rollout.

Alison McGovern
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
21st Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the priorities are of the joint Work and Health Unit.

The Department for Work and Pensions and Department of Health and Social Care Joint Work and Health Directorate (JWHD) (formerly Unit) was set up in 2015 in recognition of the significant link between work and health and to improve employment opportunities for disabled people and people with health conditions.

The goal of the JWHD is to open up opportunities to good work and to support a healthier, more productive and inclusive nation, by helping more disabled people and people with health conditions to: get appropriate work, get on in that work, and to return to work as quickly as possible if they leave it. This supports the Government priority of tackling economic inactivity, set out in the Get Britain Working White Paper.

The JWHD works to join up the health and employment systems, including the addition of employment support in existing care pathways, such as placing Employment Advisors in NHS Talking Therapy services and WorkWell, which is part of the plan to Get Britain Working and enables local areas to lead, design and deliver work and health support that meets the needs of their communities.

It is also recognised that employers play an important role in addressing health and disability. To build on this, JWHD is facilitating “Keep Britain Working”, an independent review of the role of UK employers in reducing health-related inactivity and to promote healthy and inclusive workplaces. The lead reviewer, Sir Charlie Mayfield, is expected to bring forward recommendations in Autumn 2025. Additionally, the JWHD has developed a digital information service for employers, and continues to oversee the Disability Confident Scheme.

Alison McGovern
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
9th Jan 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department records the number of enquiries received from (a) hon. Members and (b) Members of Devolved (i) Parliaments and (ii) Assemblies on a quarterly basis.

The department receives and responds to enquiries from Members of Parliament and Members of devolved Parliaments or Assemblies but does not collate, report or produce statistics on this.

Andrew Western
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
19th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many written representations on compensation for women affected by changes to the state pension age she has received from Labour (a) hon. Members representing Scottish constituencies and (b) Members of the Scottish Parliament since 5 July 2024.

The Department does not keep this information centrally and therefore it is not readily available. Providing the information that the Department does hold would incur disproportionate costs.

Emma Reynolds
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
25th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an estimate of the number of women born in the 1950s affected by State Pension age changes in each constituency in (a) Scotland and (b) Northern Ireland.

In Scotland, as of the 2022 census there were the following numbers of 1950s-born women in each Scottish constituency:

Constituency

Females aged 63 to 72 in 2022

East Renfrewshire

6,086

Na h-Eileanan an Iar

1,914

Midlothian

5,569

North Ayrshire and Arran

6,866

Orkney and Shetland

2,901

Aberdeen North

6,079

Aberdeen South

5,144

Aberdeenshire North and Moray East

6,279

Airdrie and Shotts

5,342

Alloa and Grangemouth

5,716

Angus and Perthshire Glens

7,146

Arbroath and Broughty Ferry

6,507

Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber

7,029

Bathgate and Linlithgow

5,286

Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross

6,977

Coatbridge and Bellshill

5,540

Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy

5,976

Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch

5,585

Dumfries and Galloway

7,212

Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale

6,432

Dundee Central

5,094

Dunfermline and Dollar

5,543

East Kilbride and Strathaven

5,921

Edinburgh East and Musselburgh

4,895

Edinburgh North and Leith

4,363

Edinburgh South

5,203

Edinburgh South West

4,699

Edinburgh West

5,847

Falkirk

5,732

Glasgow East

4,516

Glasgow North

3,995

Glasgow North East

4,823

Glasgow South

4,754

Glasgow South West

4,648

Glasgow West

4,880

Glenrothes and Mid Fife

5,958

Gordon and Buchan

5,696

Hamilton and Clyde Valley

5,982

Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West

6,209

Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire

6,686

Livingston

5,600

Lothian East

6,023

Mid Dunbartonshire

6,639

Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey

6,736

Motherwell, Wishaw and Carluke

5,589

North East Fife

6,248

Paisley and Renfrewshire North

5,749

Paisley and Renfrewshire South

5,439

Perth and Kinross-shire

6,664

Rutherglen

6,004

Stirling and Strathallan

5,965

West Dunbartonshire

5,905

Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock

6,619

Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk

7,240

Central Ayrshire

6,245

Kilmarnock and Loudoun

6,100

West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine

6,004

The relevant Scottish census data is available here in table UV102a, broken down by United Kingdom Parliamentary Constituency 2024: SuperWEB2(tm) - Table View.

In Northern Ireland, as of the 2021 census there were the following numbers of 1950s-born women in each Northern Irish constituency:

Constituency

Females aged 62 to 71 in 2021

Belfast East

4,825

Belfast North

5,116

Belfast South and Mid Down

5,343

Belfast West

5,081

East Antrim

5,633

East Londonderry

5,771

Fermanagh and South Tyrone

5,701

Foyle

5,087

Lagan Valley

5,528

Mid Ulster

4,845

Newry and Armagh

5,439

North Antrim

5,656

North Down

6,181

South Antrim

5,286

South Down

5,441

Strangford

5,917

Upper Bann

5,796

West Tyrone

5,234

The relevant Northern Irish census data is available in this table: Get data for Single year of age and sex (MS-A09) | NISRA Flexible Table Builder

Emma Reynolds
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
24th Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) press, (b) media and (c) other communications posts there are in his Department; and what the salary band is for each post.

At the end of March 2025, the Department had 90 staff working in the Communications Directorate. Staff in Communications cover a broad range of roles including media relations, marketing and branding, public health and prevention campaigns, internal communications and external publishing on GOV.UK.

The below sets out the salary bands for delegated grades across all locations, effective 1 August 2024:

Grade

Lowest Salary

Highest Salary

Executive Officer

£28,433

£33,880

Higher Executive Officer

£33,476

£40,559

Senior Executive Officer

£41,026

£49,264

Grade 7

£54,444

£66,054

Grade 6

£68,503

£79,972

Senior Civil Service salaries are determined by the Senior Salaries Review Board; further information about current Senior Civil Service pay bands is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-the-senior-civil-service-pay-award-202425/practitioner-guidance-on-the-2024-25-senior-civil-service-pay-framework-html

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
17th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the sales Finasteride medications through telehealth companies on an increase in the level of cases of Post-Finasteride Syndrome in the past 12 months.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (MHRA) role is to continually monitor the safety of medicines during their use. We have robust, safety monitoring and surveillance systems in place for all healthcare products, including finasteride. As part of our monitoring and surveillance activities, we take into account any changes in the usage of a particular medicine.

Finasteride containing medicines are prescription only medicines. This means they must be prescribed by a doctor or other authorised health professional, and must be dispensed from a pharmacy or from another specifically licensed premises.

The MHRA has recently completed an extensive safety review into finasteride, with the subsequent updates to the product information having been implemented, and the development of a patient alert card is underway. We also published a Drug Safety Update to raise awareness amongst healthcare professionals of the adverse psychiatric and sexual side effects. We are aware that the European Medicines Agency has launched a review, and we are monitoring this closely. Further information on the Drug Safety Update is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update/finasteride-reminder-of-the-risk-psychiatric-side-effects-and-of-sexual-side-effects-which-may-persist-after-discontinuation-of-treatment

Please be reassured that the MHRA continuously monitors the safety of finasteride via information from various sources, including the published literature. Information from all sources is carefully screened and may identify unexpected side effects, indicate that certain side effects occur more commonly than previously believed, or that some patients are more susceptible to some effects than others. If a new side effect is identified, information is carefully considered in the context of the overall side effect profile for the medicine. When necessary, the MHRA may take action to ensure that a medicine is used in a way which minimises risk and maximises benefits to the patient.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
11th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the consultation entitled Updating labelling guidance for no and low-alcohol alternatives, published on 28 September 2023, whether his Department plans to take steps to update labelling guidance for no and low-alcohol alternatives.

A consultation published in 2023 considered options for updating labelling guidance for no and low alcohol alternative drinks.

We will continue to consider how alcohol labelling can be improved to support consumers to make informed decisions about the products they are purchasing, whilst also promoting responsible consumption.

11th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to standardise the term alcohol-free at 0.5% ABV for no and low-alcohol alternatives.

A consultation published in 2023 considered options for updating labelling guidance for no and low alcohol alternative drinks.

We will continue to consider how alcohol labelling can be improved to support consumers to make informed decisions about the products they are purchasing, whilst also promoting responsible consumption.

23rd Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many posts there are for (a) press, (b) media and (c) other communications staff in his Department; and what the salary band is for each post.

In the central Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office communications team, there are a total of approximately 135 Full Time Equivalent Government Communication Service professionals.

Of this total, 22 work in the media discipline which covers press and media responsibilities.

This is the latest available data from April 2025.

Catherine West
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
24th Apr 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) press, (b) media and (c) other communications posts there are in her Department; and what the salary band is for each post.

In the central HM Treasury communications team, there are a total of 40.9 Full Time Equivalent Government Communication Service professionals.

Of this total, 19 work in the media discipline which covers press and media responsibilities.

This is the latest available centrally collected data from June 2024.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
29th Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 14 March 2025 to Question 36658 on Home Office: Training, whether the training described is specific to statelessness determination.

All training undertaken by Home Office staff is intended to be relevant for the work tasks they are assigned.

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)
29th Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will list the job titles of staff in her Department's statelessness determination unit.

The statelessness unit job titles include the following:

  • Administrative Support Officers
  • Decision Makers
  • Technical Specialists
  • Team Leaders
  • Senior Caseworkers
  • Senior Operational Managers
  • Deputy Chief Caseworkers
  • Chief Caseworker
  • Assistant Director
Dan Jarvis
Minister of State (Home Office)
29th Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 14 March 2025 to Question 36658 on Home Office: Training, how many technical specialists are employed by her Department to provide training on statelessness determination only.

The statelessness training is not restricted to a single technical specialist and may be delivered by any number of technical leads (who have a wider remit) across the Asylum and Human Rights Operational area.

Dan Jarvis
Minister of State (Home Office)
23rd Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many posts there are for (a) press, (b) media and (c) other communications staff in her Department; and what the salary band is for each post.

In the central Home Office communications team, there are a total of 127 Full Time Equivalent Government Communication Service professionals.

Of this total, 35 work solely in the media discipline which covers press and media responsibilities.

This is the latest available data from June 2024.

Home Office salary bands are published on Gov.UK Home Office: structure and salaries, 2024 - GOV.UK

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)