Asked by: Seamus Logan (Scottish National Party - Aberdeenshire North and Moray East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she had discussions with the Scottish government prior to her announcement relating to the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund on 20 October 2025.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra Ministers discussed the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund at the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 23 June 2025, which was attended by Defra Ministers, other UK Government Ministers, and Devolved Government Ministers. At that meeting, Devolved Government Ministers set out their view that respective shares of the Fund should be devolved and administered by the Devolved Governments. Ahead of the announcement on 20 October 2025, Minister Eagle wrote to Devolved Governments setting out the devolved allocations of the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund.
Asked by: Seamus Logan (Scottish National Party - Aberdeenshire North and Moray East)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether funding will be made available to the Scottish Government under the Barnett Formula from the New Hospital Programme.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)
Since the election, the UK Government’s plan for change has delivered an extra £5.2 billion for the Scottish Government. In June 2025, the Spending Review announced an additional £9.1 billion in funding for the Scottish Government over the spending review period. This included almost £5.8 billion in Barnett consequentials as a result of additional UK Government funding for the Department of Health and Social Care.
Asked by: Seamus Logan (Scottish National Party - Aberdeenshire North and Moray East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on improving relations with the EU.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Since coming to office, this Government has worked to strengthen our relations with the EU, to grow our economy, boost living standards for British people and keep the UK safe. We will continue to drive forward this long-term strategic partnership over the coming months and years, and use it to deliver what the British people want; jobs, security, and effective action to counter illegal migration.Asked by: Seamus Logan (Scottish National Party - Aberdeenshire North and Moray East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of closure of the social care visa route on the availability of staff in the social care sector.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
In the technical annex published alongside the Immigration White Paper on 12 May 2025, the Home Office has estimated an annual reduction of approximately 7,000 main visa applicants as a result of ending overseas recruitment for care workers and senior care workers. This is based on their internal management information for entry visas granted covering the period of March 2024 to February 2025. This estimate reflects that there was a drop in visa grants of more than 90% compared with the 12 months ending in March 2024.
The Department for Health and Social Care continues to monitor adult social care workforce capacity, bringing together national data sets from Skills for Care’s monthly tracking data, the Capacity Tracker tool, and intelligence from key sector partners.
As set out in the Immigration White Paper, there will be a transition period until 2028, to be kept under review, where in-country applications, including from other visa routes, will continue to be permitted for care workers and senior care workers, provided individuals are already working in these roles in the adult social care sector. This means, for example, that care providers will continue to be able to recruit those who want to switch from student or graduate visas, who we know have provided a vital role in workforce capacity in recent years. The sector can also continue to employ individuals whose immigration status allows them to work in any sector, for example, those on a dependent visa or working whilst on a student visa.
We recognise the scale of the reform needed to make the adult social care attractive as a career and are determined to ensure that those who work in care are respected as professionals. We are introducing new Fair Pay agreements for adult social care workers, with legislation currently going through Parliament, implementing the first universal career structure for adult social care, and providing £12 million this year for staff to complete training and qualifications. These changes will help attract staff to the sector, providing proper recognition and opportunities for them to build their careers.
Asked by: Seamus Logan (Scottish National Party - Aberdeenshire North and Moray East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to respond to correspondence of 30 July and 10 September 2025 from the Hon Member for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East, references SL02586/dw and MIN/1368520/25.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Minister for Border Security & Asylum responded on 16 October 2025.
Asked by: Seamus Logan (Scottish National Party - Aberdeenshire North and Moray East)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to protect consumers from a reduction in service received from private services as part of the Digital ID scheme.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The government will ensure there is no reduction in services from the digital ID scheme. Indeed, it should deliver exactly the opposite - with easier access to public and private services for more people. We remain committed to commencing and delivering the measures in Part 2 of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, which underpin a framework of standards.
We will continue to engage with a range of organisations, including private sector digital verification services, over the coming weeks and months, including as part of the consultation to be launched by the end of this year, to ensure this commitment is delivered.
Asked by: Seamus Logan (Scottish National Party - Aberdeenshire North and Moray East)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department's financial planning anticipates that the costs of running a digital ID scheme would grow as public services become more interlinked.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government will launch a public consultation on the new digital ID by the end of the year. The eventual total cost and savings will depend on the design, build and delivery of the system, matters which will be included in the consultation.
Asked by: Seamus Logan (Scottish National Party - Aberdeenshire North and Moray East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when she plans to respond to correspondence of 30 June 2025 and 22 August 2025 from the Hon Member for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East with the reference SL02820/dw on Palestine Action Group.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I apologise for the delay in responding to the Hon. Member's correspondence. I issued a response to the Hon. Member on 12 September.
Asked by: Seamus Logan (Scottish National Party - Aberdeenshire North and Moray East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress her Department has made on reducing driving test wait times for test centres in Aberdeenshire North and Moray East constituency.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times.
On the 23 April, the Secretary of State for Transport appeared before the Transport Select Committee and announced that DVSA will take further actions to reduce driving test waiting times across the country.
Further information on these actions and progress on the DVSA’s plan, which was set out last year, can be found on GOV.UK.
DVSA continues to run recruitment campaigns for new driving examiners (DEs). From recent campaigns, DVSA has recruited four new potential DEs at driving test centres (DTCs) that serve the Aberdeenshire North and Moray East constituency.
DVSA has just completed a further recruitment campaign and hopes to make offers to the successful candidates soon.
DVSA will also continue to strategically deploy examiners to ensure fair coverage across all DTCs in Aberdeenshire, including remote and outstation locations.
Asked by: Seamus Logan (Scottish National Party - Aberdeenshire North and Moray East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department is considering a bespoke visa route similar to those in other European countries that could lead to settlement for Ukrainians.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government have always been clear that the Ukraine Schemes are temporary and do not lead to settlement in the UK. Similarly, time spent in the UK with permission granted under the Ukraine Schemes cannot be relied upon towards the continuous qualifying period for the purposes of a Long Residence application.
We are fully committed to supporting Ukraine in its fight against Putin’s illegal war, while also providing a safe and secure haven for those fleeing the conflict. We have offered our extended sanctuary to over 300,000 Ukrainians and their families.
On 1 September, the Home Secretary announced in parliament that the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme (UPE) would be extended for an additional 24 months to enable those eligible to obtain a further period of permission following their initial permission under UPE. More detail will follow in due course.
There are other routes available for those who wish to settle in the UK permanently, if they meet the requirements.