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 Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
One Best Start Family Hub has been established in the Huntingdon constituency at:
Best Start Family Hub – Huntingdon, Sallowbush Road, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE29 7AF.
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, whether there will be a review of UK Research and Innovation governance, in the context of recent Science and Technology Facilities Council funding cuts.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and its constituent councils are responsible for making funding and investment decisions within the strategic framework and allocations set by Government. The Science and Technology Facilities Council's recent prioritisation exercise reflects its responsibility to place its portfolio on a financially sustainable footing while protecting the capabilities most critical to the UK's long-term research and innovation ambitions. The Government works closely with UKRI through its established governance and accountability arrangements and will continue to do so to ensure UKRI delivers effectively against its objectives and supports the UK's research and innovation ambitions.
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, how his department is ensuring UK research is protected from increases in subscription fees to international facilities and resources.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department works with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to manage cost pressures on international research facilities and resources through rigorous scrutiny of costs, risks, and value for money. The UK uses its role in international governing bodies to press for cost containment and operational efficiencies, helping to control growth in set fees. UKRI manages foreign exchange risks through hedging, in line with HM Treasury policy, reducing short-term volatility, but not eliminating longer-term currency and economic pressures.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps she is taking to align UK oil and gas production with climate targets.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
As I said in my earlier answer, this government will not be making decisions for this country which are not compatible with our climate obligations. We are committed to our manifesto position to end new licences to explore new oil and gas fields and will be introducing legislation to reflect this very soon.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has assessed the potential impact of access to driving lessons on employment outcomes among young people.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government understands the importance of being able to access driving lessons and recognises the financial impact of the cost of learning to drive on learner drivers, particularly those from low-income backgrounds.
To help reduce learning to drive costs where possible, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has published guidance on GOV.UK for family members and friends who wish to supervise a learner driver. This guidance explains who can supervise a learner driver, the rules that apply and how to plan practice sessions safely. Where private practice is available, it may help learners reduce the number of paid lessons required before their test.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Answer of 17 September 2026 to Question (UIN 28962), what evidence his Department holds on the extent to which reductions in VAT are passed on to consumers (a) in general and (b) specifically for automated external defibrillators; and whether his Department has assessed representations from defibrillator manufacturers and suppliers committing to pass on in full any savings arising from VAT relief.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events, and does not routinely comment on proposals
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of driving licence acquisition on employment outcomes for young adults.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) recognises the importance of timely access to practical driving tests for learner drivers across the country, and the role this plays in supporting employment, education, and mobility particularly where public transport is limited.
The Government set out a comprehensive package of measures in April 2025 to tackle long waiting times. In the 12 months to September 2026, DVSA conducted more than 2.16 million tests, the highest rolling 12-month figure on record.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what consideration he has given to establishing UK-wide capital funds and low-interest public loans for acquisition and refurbishment of creative and community spaces.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Government recognises the important role that creative and community spaces play in towns and cities across the country.
Over the course of this parliament, £1.5 billion will be invested to support arts venues, museums, libraries and heritage buildings across England. It aims to keep venues open, finance urgent repairs and infrastructure projects, bolster long-term resilience, and widen access to arts and culture in communities that have faced under-investment.
The Government is also committed to communities and wants to ensure that they have the tools they need to protect local assets. Our Pride in Place programme is providing up to £5.8bn over 10 years to support 284 places. From saving youth centres and repairing playgrounds, to bringing empty buildings back into community use and expanding affordable after school activities – the Pride in Place programme has been designed to deliver improvements that matter to residents.
More widely, support for culture and the creative industries is a devolved matter. Responsibility for supporting cultural institutions and community spaces in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland therefore rests with the respective devolved government.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of Border Force processing capacity at regional airports, such as Edinburgh Airport.
Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Border Force continually reviews its resourcing and operational capacity across all UK ports, including regional airports such as Edinburgh. Resources are deployed according to passenger demand and operational risks and threats, enabling Border Force to maintain border security while facilitating legitimate travel.
Operational performance is monitored closely, allowing resources to be flexibly deployed in response to changing demands and operational requirements. The Home Office does not routinely publish staffing figures for individual ports.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of whether aviation performance statistics adequately reflect passenger experience after an aircraft has arrived on stand; and whether the department would consider introducing reporting requirements for end-to-end arrivals performance, including disembarkation, border processing and baggage delivery times.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Civil Aviation Authority publishes its annual UK aviation consumer survey which includes data on consumer experience and satisfaction throughout their journey, including passport control, baggage claim and transferring to a connecting flight. The most recent data shows increases in passenger satisfaction across the board, for those who had flown in the last 12 months.
UK airports are privately owned and operated and are responsible for the day-to-day management and operation of their facilities. Within their resilience arrangements, UK airports have processes in place to ensure the safe disembarkation and quick onward movement of passengers, coordinating with ground handlers, airlines and local transport providers.