Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps his Department plans to take with universities and laboratories to help ensure that staff and expertise are kept in the UK, in the context of Science and Technology Facilities Council cuts to Large Hadron Collider beauty Experiment.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises the importance of maintaining UK scientific expertise and supporting future generations of researchers. As part of the Science and Technology Facilities Council prioritisation process, Particle Physics, Astronomy and Nuclear Physics grant postdoctoral funding has been maintained at 2025/26 levels, alongside PhD studentships and fellowships, supporting the UK’s skills base and long-term scientific capability. UK Research and Innovation continues to engage with universities, laboratories and research partners as prioritisation decisions are implemented. The current LHCb experiment at CERN continues to receive UK funding, alongside grants for UK researchers.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information his Department holds on (a) the number of work-related suicides or attempted suicides in the UK over the last 5 years and (b) how these are divided into sub-categories across different industries or sectors.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
We use the same method as that employed by the previous Government. Royal Navy vessels are depreciated by reducing their value evenly over their expected working life, based on their estimated out of service dates. The economic life of a vessel is reviewed annually and revised where necessary to reflect changes in circumstances.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of requiring the immediate notification of work-related or suspected work related suicide or attempted suicide under the RIDDOR regulations.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
We use the same method as that employed by the previous Government. Royal Navy vessels are depreciated by reducing their value evenly over their expected working life, based on their estimated out of service dates. The economic life of a vessel is reviewed annually and revised where necessary to reflect changes in circumstances.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, if he will set out his Department's grant schemes, funds and support programmes available for social enterprises, community interest companies and SMEs working in (a) engineering skills development, (b) vocational and technical education, (c) advanced manufacturing and (d) workshop and productive capital equipment investment.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department supports social enterprises, community interest companies, and SMEs through a range of programmes, including skills and training initiatives, the Business Growth Service, and innovation funding delivered by Innovate UK. More information on support available is laid out in the Small Business Plan launched in July 2025.
Eligible organisations may also access support for advanced manufacturing, engineering skills development and investment in plant, machinery and productive equipment, subject to the criteria of individual schemes.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to increase the uptake of free eye tests.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Free National Health Service sight tests are available to eligible groups in England. The NHS website provides information on eligibility and the importance of regular sight tests. Integrated care boards commission these services and would be responsible for considering how to address any inequalities in access.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the review of the law relating to marketing authorisations for orphan medicines for the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of cancer will begin; and when she expects to publish its conclusions.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer he received on 28 September in response to Question 18871.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to tackle misogyny through improved relationship and sex education in schools.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
Education is a devolved matter and the response outlines the information for England only.
The department recognises that more needs to be done to support effective delivery of relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) in schools. That is why updated RSHE statutory guidance has strengthened content on building healthy relationships and emphasis on addressing misogynistic attitudes and online harms.
Alongside this, the department is investing £16 million to pilot targeted interventions in schools from the next academic year, supporting the rollout of the updated RSHE curriculum and the strengthening of teaching on healthy relationships and harmful behaviours to ensure teachers and schools feel fully supported.
To support schools and colleges to ensure that children are taught to challenge harmful ideas, unhealthy attitudes towards relationships and misogyny, the department is developing a whole-school approach that will provide a framework for schools and colleges to support the prevention of misogyny by promoting respect, belonging and positive participation among children and young people.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what support his Department is providing to battery manufacturers to ensure their readiness for the rules of origin requirements of the UK/EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement’s Rules of Origin for electric vehicles will become stricter from 2027; batteries and key battery components, including cathode active materials, must be manufactured in the UK and EU to avoid 10% tariffs. BIST officials are engaging closely with battery manufacturers and the wider supply chain to understand readiness for these changes, including planned investment and onshoring timelines. We remain focused on supporting the growth and competitiveness of the UK battery sector and continue to work with industry and EU counterparts to explore solutions that support compliance and strengthen UK battery manufacturing capability.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of further delaying of the introduction of rules of origin requirements under the UK/EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
New rules of origin requirements for electric vehicles under the TCA are scheduled to come into force on 1st January 2027. We continue to engage closely with the automotive and battery industries to understand challenges with readiness relating to these rule changes. We recognise the need to help protect access to one of the UK's largest automotive export markets whilst also safeguarding the investment efforts of industry. We continue to work with industry and the European Commission on the issue with a view to finding a mutually satisfactory solution.