Asked by: Seamus Logan (Scottish National Party - Aberdeenshire North and Moray East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if her department has received the newly published evidence and impact report on the benefits of Erasmus+ by LEAP Sports Scotland.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
This Government has agreed an important new deal that will open up opportunities for people to study, live and learn in the EU through our reassociation into the Erasmus+ programme in 2027.
We have noted the report published on 26 February 2026 by LEAP Sports Scotland regarding the benefits of Erasmus+. The government recognises the value of international exchange and will consider all relevant evidence as we prepare for reassociation.
Our approach to EU relations will always respect the role of the devolved governments and legislatures. We are working closely with colleagues in the devolved governments to achieve this.
Asked by: Seamus Logan (Scottish National Party - Aberdeenshire North and Moray East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will assess the potential merits of using the Turing scheme to enhance reciprocal cooperation with other European countries so it is aligned with the Erasmus+ scheme.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
There are no plans to change the scope of the Turing Scheme, including the sectors in which it operates. The Turing Scheme is global by design and has supported placements in over 160 countries. The Turing Scheme already provides inclusion support through extra funding for students with special educational needs and disabilities, additional support needs (in Scotland) and additional learning needs (in Wales). The government keeps the scope of the Turing Scheme under review, and decisions on the Turing Scheme for future years will be shared in due course.
Our association to Erasmus+ will open up opportunities for learners, educators, young people and communities. It is an investment in opportunity for our young people, our workforce and our future, opening doors for tens of thousands across the UK.
Asked by: Seamus Logan (Scottish National Party - Aberdeenshire North and Moray East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to help ensure the Turing scheme funds cooperation, research, tool-building and shared training systems across countries in Europe.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
There are no plans to change the scope of the Turing Scheme, including the sectors in which it operates. The Turing Scheme is global by design and has supported placements in over 160 countries. The Turing Scheme already provides inclusion support through extra funding for students with special educational needs and disabilities, additional support needs (in Scotland) and additional learning needs (in Wales). The government keeps the scope of the Turing Scheme under review, and decisions on the Turing Scheme for future years will be shared in due course.
Our association to Erasmus+ will open up opportunities for learners, educators, young people and communities. It is an investment in opportunity for our young people, our workforce and our future, opening doors for tens of thousands across the UK.
Asked by: Seamus Logan (Scottish National Party - Aberdeenshire North and Moray East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has for extending Turing funding to youth work, adult learning, community development and sport in line with the Erasmus+ scheme.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
There are no plans to change the scope of the Turing Scheme, including the sectors in which it operates. The Turing Scheme is global by design and has supported placements in over 160 countries. The Turing Scheme already provides inclusion support through extra funding for students with special educational needs and disabilities, additional support needs (in Scotland) and additional learning needs (in Wales). The government keeps the scope of the Turing Scheme under review, and decisions on the Turing Scheme for future years will be shared in due course.
Our association to Erasmus+ will open up opportunities for learners, educators, young people and communities. It is an investment in opportunity for our young people, our workforce and our future, opening doors for tens of thousands across the UK.
Asked by: Seamus Logan (Scottish National Party - Aberdeenshire North and Moray East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has considered adding funding rules, inclusion support and non-formal learning approaches to the Turing scheme.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
There are no plans to change the scope of the Turing Scheme, including the sectors in which it operates. The Turing Scheme is global by design and has supported placements in over 160 countries. The Turing Scheme already provides inclusion support through extra funding for students with special educational needs and disabilities, additional support needs (in Scotland) and additional learning needs (in Wales). The government keeps the scope of the Turing Scheme under review, and decisions on the Turing Scheme for future years will be shared in due course.
Our association to Erasmus+ will open up opportunities for learners, educators, young people and communities. It is an investment in opportunity for our young people, our workforce and our future, opening doors for tens of thousands across the UK.
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, with reference to her Department's policy paper, Independent Commission for Aid Impact's review of UK aid to Sudan: UK government response, published on 18 December 2025, what steps she is taking to consult on a forum for Sudanese diaspora engagement.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Ministers and officials continue to meet on a regular basis with a wide range of Sudanese civil society and diaspora groups in the UK and across the region to listen to their concerns, gain their valuable insights, and help to build an inclusive, united approach for transitioning to a civilian-led government once a lasting ceasefire is in place.
Most recently, on 9 March, Minister for International Development and Africa, Baroness Chapman, met with a number of NGOs, including diaspora representatives, to discuss how to strengthen humanitarian access and overcome restrictions on the entry of aid, as well as how best to drive forward our work to protect civilians and hold perpetrators to account in Sudan, through the UK-led Coalition for Atrocity Prevention.
On 24 February, the UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls, Baroness Harriet Harman, also hosted an event in Berlin to discuss how to stop Violence Against Women and Girls in Sudan, consulting Sudanese activists and diaspora members, civil society representatives, UK and German policymakers and international partners. The event provided a platform for Sudanese women to inform UK and German thinking ahead of the April International Sudan Conference in Berlin.
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, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of differences between HGV driver facilities in (a) England and (b) other European countries.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department has commissioned an independent evaluation of the HGV Parking Matched Funding Grant Scheme, to consider the application and delivery process, the role of the scheme in improving lorry driver facilities in England and the impact of the site improvements for drivers. This analysis is underway and due to be finalised in Summer 2026.
The Department is also currently undertaking a new National Lorry Parking Survey which will provide up to date and comprehensive evidence on the availability and quality of lorry parking in England, including regional differences. The survey's findings will inform policy development on HGV parking and welfare, as well as providing data to support planning applications for new facilities. The survey is due to be published in Autumn 2026.
There has been no assessment of differences between HGV driver facilities in England compared with other European countries, nor is such an assessment planned in future.
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 funding will be made available to the Scottish Government under the Barnett Formula from the Poultry Support Grant.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Poultry Biosecurity Review uses funds allocated to farmers in England only. As agriculture is devolved, it will be for the Scottish Government to allocate any funding to farmers in Scotland. Overall, the spending review settlement for the Scottish Government is the largest settlement in real terms since devolution in 1998.
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 recent discussions she has had with Sudanese counterparts on threats against Mosab Haroom Ahmed in the Gorom refugee settlement in Sudan following his conversion to Christianity; and what steps her Department is taking to support his protection.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Religious intolerance has no place in pluralistic, modern societies. The UK is using its position at the UN Security Council and at the Human Rights Council to keep a spotlight on, and take actions in response to, the human rights situation in both Sudan and South Sudan.
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 steps her Department is taking to improve the safety of lorry drivers when using roadside facilities.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Through the HGV Parking and Driver Welfare Grant Scheme, the Government and industry are delivering up to £35.7 million of joint investment to upgrade truck stops in 30 counties across England, improving both safety and working conditions for drivers.
This funding is helping operators to deliver security improvements, including:
Enhanced CCTV coverage
Perimeter fencing and improved lighting
Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems
New and upgraded security barriers
The scheme is also supporting better welfare and rest facilities, such as improved showers, rest areas, and increased HGV parking capacity.
In addition, National Highways and industry are investing up to £30 million to enhance facilities on the Strategic Roads Network, including investment in security measures.
The Department has also developed the Road Transport Security Standards (RTSS) to support the commercial freight sector in improving the security of vehicles, drivers and operations. The RTSS is a voluntary, industry‑led framework that promotes good practice to reduce risks such as vehicle theft, hijack and misuse, including risks that can arise when drivers are operating or resting away from base locations.