Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department's renewable energy targets that developers in the north of Scotland face higher transmission charges than those in southern England, in the context of the region possessing some of Europe's greatest renewable energy resources.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Electricity transmission charging arrangements are a matter for Ofgem as the independent regulator. Transmission charges are designed to be cost‑reflective, meaning they reflect the costs imposed on the network by generators connecting in different locations. Generators located further from centres of demand, and which drive higher levels of network investment, therefore face higher charges.
Our Reformed National Pricing (RNP) programme will deliver the necessary market reforms to ensure that planning and price signals work together, so that new energy sources are built in the best places and the grid develops in line with future need.
Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what target timescales his Department has set for the determination of offshore wind and grid connection planning applications; and what steps he is taking to reduce delays in consenting for nationally significant energy infrastructure.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In England and Wales, the Planning Act 2008 sets statutory deadlines for the Examining Authority and the deciding Secretary of State. These do not differ by infrastructure type.
The Government is taking multiple actions to speed up the planning process including in the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025, and in its response to the Nuclear Regulatory Review in March 2026.
Planning applications relating to the grid in Scotland are a matter for Scottish Ministers.
Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Foreign Permanent Establishment Exemption on the number of jobs.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
These reforms will ensure that profit attributable to UK activities is effectively taxed in the UK.
They are expected to raise hundreds of millions of pounds per year - helping to fund a package of economic support for households and businesses – while at the same time maintaining a highly competitive UK tax regime for UK companies operating overseas.
The government will undertake a technical consultation to ensure stakeholders have the opportunity to engage and to allow for further consideration of impacts.
Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Foreign Permanent Establishment Exemption on the economy.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
These reforms will ensure that profit attributable to UK activities is effectively taxed in the UK.
They are expected to raise hundreds of millions of pounds per year - helping to fund a package of economic support for households and businesses – while at the same time maintaining a highly competitive UK tax regime for UK companies operating overseas.
The government will undertake a technical consultation to ensure stakeholders have the opportunity to engage and to allow for further consideration of impacts.
Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to reform TNUoS charging arrangements ahead of CfD Allocation Round 8.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
By law, transmission charging arrangements are a matter for Ofgem as the independent regulator. Ofgem are currently reviewing the arrangements and are holding a call for input. Government is supporting Ofgem closely on the review, as part of our wider Reformed National Pricing programme and our delivery of the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan. We will ensure that transmission charging is reformed as soon as possible.
Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when she plans to write to the Science and Technology Committee in response to questions 50-52, on Science and Discovery Centres, in the oral evidence session of 3 December 2025.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government recognises the contribution of Science and Discovery Centres to inspiring young people to pursue STEM interests and careers. Where they carry out research, Science Discovery Centres are eligible to apply for funding through UK Research and Innovation or other funders. Science and Discovery Centres are mainly cultural institutions and visitor attractions. Eligibility for, and access to, central Government funding streams for arts, culture and heritage infrastructure is a matter for the department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
DSIT is engaging with DCMS to consider how best to support Science and Discovery Centres and will write to the Science and Technology Committee, responding to questions 50–52, in due course.
Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that Science and Discovery Centres have access to central Government funding streams, including eligibility for Department for Culture, Media and Sport funding for arts and heritage infrastructure.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government recognises the contribution of Science and Discovery Centres to inspiring young people to pursue STEM interests and careers. Where they carry out research, Science Discovery Centres are eligible to apply for funding through UK Research and Innovation or other funders. Science and Discovery Centres are mainly cultural institutions and visitor attractions. Eligibility for, and access to, central Government funding streams for arts, culture and heritage infrastructure is a matter for the department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
DSIT is engaging with DCMS to consider how best to support Science and Discovery Centres and will write to the Science and Technology Committee, responding to questions 50–52, in due course.
Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what funding in real terms was allocated from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to organisations providing support for victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse in Scotland in (a) 2023–24, (b) 2024–25 (c) 2025–26 and (d) 2026-27.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) has a light-touch delegated delivery model, empowering lead local authorities to make decisions on how funding is allocated in their area. As a result, MHCLG does not hold annual project level data.
However, lead local authorities have reported investment in five discrete projects supporting victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse in Scotland over the period April 2022 to March 2026, to the value of £307,714 (actual cost). We anticipate that other projects will also have supported victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse as part of their work, but this information is not held by the department.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is ending in March 2026. No new funding has been allocated for the period 2026-27.
Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, (a) how many policy staff job posts there are in his Department and (b) what the salary band is for each post.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)
The Scotland Office has 30 policy posts which are spread across the following salary bands:
Salary Band | Number of Posts |
SCS1 | 2 |
Grade 6 | 3 |
Grade 7 | 7 |
Senior Executive Officer | 9 |
Higher Executive Officer | 9 |
Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Making Tax Digital on the number of childminders.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Childminders make a significant contribution to children’s development, learning, and wellbeing. The Government has eased rules on working from schools and community centres and increased early years funding rates above 2023 average fees. These increases reflect increased costs, and from April 2026, local authorities must pass at least 97 per cent of funding to providers.
Only a small proportion of childminders with qualifying income over £50,000 will be mandated into Making Tax Digital (MTD) for income tax from April 2026. Childminders moving to MTD for income tax can continue to claim tax relief for household costs, wear and tear of household items and furniture, and food and drink, by deducting actual business costs. This ensures childminders receive tax relief for all of the costs that they incur in relation to their childminding business.
HMRC engaged with stakeholders including Coram PACEY ahead of Budget 2025. The Government will monitor the impact of MTD for income tax on childminders and other home-based childcare providers in the same way as it will for all sole traders moving to MTD for income tax.