Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations she has made to her EU counterparts on ensuring that UK citizens enjoy the same access to (a) museums, (b) historical sites and (c) other visitor attractions as EU citizens do.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
We would welcome moves by EU partners to promote greater access to their museums, especially considering the free access we provide to our national museums and galleries, but we are not members of the EU.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with her Belgian counterpart on releasing frozen Russian assets for use by Ukraine.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Chancellor regularly speaks to her G7 and European counterparts to progress matters in the UK national interest.
Supporting Ukraine and increasing economic pressure on Russia remains a priority.
The Government is firmly committed to ensuring Russia pays for the damage it has caused, and is causing, in Ukraine. The UK, together with our G7 allies, has committed to keeping Russia’s sovereign assets immobilised in our respective jurisdictions until Russia pays for this damage.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with her Canadian counterpart on releasing frozen Russian assets for use by Ukraine.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Chancellor regularly speaks to her G7 and European counterparts to progress matters in the UK national interest.
Supporting Ukraine and increasing economic pressure on Russia remains a priority.
The Government is firmly committed to ensuring Russia pays for the damage it has caused, and is causing, in Ukraine. The UK, together with our G7 allies, has committed to keeping Russia’s sovereign assets immobilised in our respective jurisdictions until Russia pays for this damage.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (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 discussions he has had with (a) EU, (b) Canadian and (c) US counterparts on the release of frozen Russian assets to Ukraine.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Russia must pay for the damage it has caused and is causing Ukraine. This is a matter that must be considered collectively, and we are working urgently with our partners across the G7 and European Union to consider all lawful avenues to make Russia pay. It would not be appropriate to give a running commentary; it's important that we preserve the ability to have candid conversations with our international partners.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (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 assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of recent arrests of political leaders in Georgia.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I am deeply concerned by the recent, politically motivated, sentencing of prominent Georgian opposition leaders. On 23 June, I urged Georgian Dream to stop misusing the judiciary to silence opposition voices, and to release all political prisoners.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) summoned the Georgian Chargé d'Affaires to formally register our concerns about Georgian Dream's unacceptable actions. On 1 July, I spoke with a number of European partners to discuss our collective concerns and, on 11 July, the Foreign Secretary issued a joint statement condemning the politically motivated detentions of opposition politicians.
While Georgian Dream's actions negatively affect our bilateral relations, the UK remains a firm supporter of the Georgian people's Euro-Atlantic aspirations and stands ready to support a return to democratic norms and European values.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of introducing legislation protecting the operability of purchased video games.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government is aware of concerns relating to the operability of video games including the life-span of licensed, online-only video games. We appreciate the frustrations of players of some games that have been discontinued. The Government has responded to a petition on this issue.
There are no plans to amend existing consumer law on disabling video games. Those selling games must comply with existing requirements in consumer law, including the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA) and Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPRs). We will continue to monitor this issue.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether funding will be made available to devolved Governments under the Barnett formula from the NHS England Ten Year Plan.
Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland
The UK Government announced last month that the Scottish Government will receive an extra £9.1 billion in funding following the Chancellor's Spending Review. This includes £5.8 billion in health-related Barnett consequentials.
Funding for devolved health services in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland is determined independently through the Barnett formula. While the UK Government’s NHS England Ten Year Plan does not directly allocate funds to devolved Governments, the Barnett formula ensures that funding remains consistent with respective devolved budgets.
The devolved Governments retain responsibility for the management and delivery of health services within their jurisdictions.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when the Leader of Dundee City Council can expect to receive a response to his letter dated 14 November 2024.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Thank you to the Leader of the Council for the invitations in his letter, they will be responded to shortly. I apologise for the delay.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payments Bill on the Scottish Government's block grant.
Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland
Universal Credit is a reserved matter, while in Scotland Adult Disability Payment, a devolved benefit, replaced Personal Independence Payments.
This Government will deliver the first permanent, above-inflation rise in the Universal Credit standard allowance since the 1970s, meaning nearly 4 million households will receive an income boost worth £725 by 2029/30 for a single household 25 or over. Individual block grant adjustments linked to individual policy decisions will be published in due course.
The Spending Review set a three year envelope and guarantees that the block grant will be at least £52 billion by 2029, with an additional £9.1 billion in Barnett consequentials over that time period.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what estimate he has made of the potential impact of a reduction in spending on asylum would have on the Scottish Government's block grant.
Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland
Phase 2 of the Spending Review confirmed that devolved expenditure by the UK Government on Justice and Home Affairs will generate £451 million of additional Barnett funding for the Scottish Government over 2026/27-2029/30.
The Spending Review set a three year envelope and guarantees that the block grant will be at least £52 billion by 2029, with an additional £9.1 billion in Barnett consequentials over that time period.