Asked by: Lara Bird (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of reversing the decision to allow the English Single malt geographical indication.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
English Whisky has been registered as a geographical indication as the application met the requirements of the regulation. There are no plans by the department to assess reversing this decision. Appeals against this decision submitted by the deadline will be heard by a First-tier Tribunal.
Asked by: Lara Bird (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of the UK rejoining the EU SAFE access scheme.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
Negotiations with the EU on a bilateral agreement to facilitate UK participation in the EU's Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument concluded last year. The UK entered negotiations in good faith, recognising our mutual strategic interest and commitment to work with the EU on defence. However, this Government has always been clear that we will only sign agreements that are in the national interest. The UK's defence industry continues to have access to SAFE under standard third country terms with the potential to contribute up to 35% of the content of SAFE contracts.
This Government remains committed to pursuing cooperation with the European Union and the Member States on defence and security that aligns with our NATO First policy, supports our defence objectives and delivers for the UK taxpayer.
Asked by: Lara Bird (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the UK Government will take legal action against British citizens living in Occupied Palestine in illegal settlements who commit acts of terrorism and settler violence.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has consistently condemned violence by extremist settlers in the West Bank and remains clear that those responsible should be held accountable. It is important that British nationals are aware of the UK's position on settlements and the rules that will be brought in under new measures announced by the Foreign Secretary on 8 September.
Asked by: Lara Bird (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending the Scotland Act to provide that a referendum be arranged in the situation where there is a consensus in Scotland for independence.
Answered by Melanie Ward - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)
In 2014, there was agreement in the UK parliament and the Scottish parliament, across all political parties, and across civic society, that there should be a referendum. There is no such consensus now. In that referendum, the people of Scotland made clear their continued commitment to Scotland remaining part of the UK.
As set out in the manifesto which saw this government win a majority of UK parliamentary seats in Scotland, this Government does not support independence or another referendum.
Our focus now must be on delivery, not division. This UK Government is focused entirely on delivering in the national interest.
Asked by: Lara Bird (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his statement on 8 September 2026 on Israel-Palestine, which licences will be refused where they materially contribute to the occupation.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government has concluded that Israel's ongoing occupation of Palestinian territory is unlawful.
We have already suspended or rejected over 80 licences. Those suspensions remain in place. Additionally, we will now refuse all applications for exports that materially contribute to the occupation.
We have reviewed all extant licences for exports to Israel on the same basis. All licences are maintained under careful and continual review, and we can and will suspend or revoke any that we assess materially contribute to the occupation.
We now have in effect an additional lock on relevant licences.
Asked by: Lara Bird (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his statement to the House on 8 September on Israel-Palestine, whether a monitoring body will be established to assess compliance with the sanctions.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The enforcement and effectiveness of sanctions is a priority for the Government, and we conducted a major cross government review on this in 2025. Government departments and specialised agencies are mandated to lead on the enforcement and implementation of sanctions.
Asked by: Lara Bird (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what his Department's policy is on returning to Pakistan any person convicted in absentia by (a) an anti-terrorism court and (b) court martial.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The return of an individual to another country is considered on a case-by-case basis in accordance with UK law and the United Kingdom's international obligations.
Asked by: Lara Bird (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will set out the required steps for an independence referendum in Scotland.
Answered by Melanie Ward - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)
This Government was elected on a clear commitment not to support independence or another referendum. People need and want their governments focused on the big issues our country faces - economic growth, the cost of living, public services and security. That is what this Government is doing.
Asked by: Lara Bird (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what his planned timetable is for the prohibition of illegal settlement trade with Israel.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the statement made by the Foreign Secretary on 8 September in relation to Israel and Palestine.
Asked by: Lara Bird (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will set out the the conditions under which the Government would grant permission for Scotland to hold another Independence Referendum.
Answered by Melanie Ward - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)
This Government was elected on a clear commitment not to support independence or another referendum. People need and want their governments focused on the big issues our country faces - economic growth, the cost of living, public services and security. That is what this Government is doing.