Alan Gemmell MP: written questions
49 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Public Sector: Workplace PensionsTreasuryTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24245More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether an Equality Impact Assessment was undertaken for SCAPE Rate changes.
Answer: The previous government published an Equalities Impact Assessment of changes to the SCAPE discount rate in their March 2023 consultation response (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/642546fc60a35e00120cb166/Response_SCAPE_discount_rate_methodo...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordWorkplace Pensions: Public SectorHome OfficeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24244More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Home Office and GAD began work on the implications of the SCAPE change.
Answer: On 19 May 2026, HM Treasury confirmed the adjusted SCAPE rate from CPI +1.7% to CPI +2.0%, triggering a pension scheme factor review by the Government Actuary’s Department (GAD).
Answered 14 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordWhisky: ExportsDepartment for Business, Innovation, Science and TradeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24243More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps he has taken to increase the exports of Scotch Whisky, including to the US and India.
Answer: Scotch whisky is one of the UK’s largest drink export sectors, and the Government is working to remove market access barriers and support exporters. Through the UK-India Free Trade Agreement, tariffs on Scotch whisky were reduced from 150% to 75% when the...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordEmployment: Young PeopleDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24242More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what he is doing to support young people into work in Ayrshire.
Answer: With around one million young people not in education, employment and training, this Government will not leave an entire generation of young people behind. The Government is investing an additional £2.5 billion by 2029 into the Youth Guarantee and the Gro...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordHealth Services: ScotlandDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24241More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions she has had with the Scottish Government about waiting times in Scotland compared with England.
Answer: It is unacceptable that patients across the United Kingdom continue to wait lengthy periods for treatment and it is imperative that the elective waiting list and ambulance response times are top priorities for all four nations. While health is predominant...
Answered 7 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordAmbulance Services: ScotlandDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24240More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions she has had with the Scottish Government about ambulance waiting times in Scotland compared with England.
Answer: It is unacceptable that patients across the United Kingdom continue to wait lengthy periods for treatment and it is imperative that the elective waiting list and ambulance response times are top priorities for all four nations. While health is predominant...
Answered 7 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordPackaging: RecyclingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24239More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impacts of EPR on the glass sector, including in Central Ayrshire.
Answer: Defra continues to engage extensively with the glass manufacturing sector to understand the impacts on them. Through modulation, more recyclable materials, such as glass, will benefit from discounted fees, from Year 2 of pEPR (2026/2027) onwards. Defra, a...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordPackaging: RecyclingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24238More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has the Government made of the impact of EPR on businesses in Central Ayrshire.
Answer: pEPR in the UK has some of the most generous support measures for small businesses across any packaging scheme globally, including an exemption from disposal fees and recycling obligations for producers with an annual turnover below £2 million and packagi...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordExports: ScotlandDepartment for Business, Innovation, Science and TradeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24237More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what recent discussions he has held with EU counterparts on reducing trade barriers affecting Scottish exporters.
Answer: The Government is committed to supporting UK businesses trading with the European Union. We are working to reduce barriers to trade with our closest partner and biggest export market to help deliver growth in every postcode, including those in Scotland.Mi...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordExports: ScotlandDepartment for Business, Innovation, Science and TradeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24236More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what recent discussions he has held with United States counterparts on reducing trade barriers affecting Scottish exporters.
Answer: On 30 April, following successful UK Government engagement and the State Visit, President Trump announced the removal of tariffs on UK produced whisky. Whisky tariffs were lifted on 24th July. This has been welcomed by industry and is an important win f...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordWhisky: ExportsDepartment for Business, Innovation, Science and TradeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24235More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the impact of United States tariffs on Scottish whisky exports.
Answer: On 30 April, following successful UK Government engagement and the State Visit, President Trump announced the removal of tariffs on UK produced whisky. Whisky tariffs were lifted on 24th July. This has been welcomed by industry and is an important win f...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordUniversities: New BusinessesDepartment for Business, Innovation, Science and TradeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24234More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what discussions he has had with Scottish universities on support for their commercial spin outs.
Answer: Government regularly engages with universities, investors and innovative firms across the UK, including Scotland, on research commercialisation and university spin-outs. Scottish universities make a significant contribution to the UK's spin-out ecosystem ...
Answered 3 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordArtificial Intelligence: ScotlandDepartment for Business, Innovation, Science and TradeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24233More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what support his Department provides for AI start-ups based in Scotland.
Answer: The Government's support for AI start-ups is UK wide, and we are determined that the benefits of AI are felt in every part of the country. Through our Sovereign AI Unit, backed by up to £500 million, we invest directly in high-potential British start-ups....
Answered 7 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordArtificial Intelligence: ScotlandDepartment for Business, Innovation, Science and TradeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24232More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of Scotland's contribution to the UK's AI sector.
Answer: Scotland is a key contributor to the UK’s AI ecosystem. According to BIST’s AI sector study in 2024, Scotland was responsible for almost 2,000 AI jobs, as well as £180 million of AI-related revenues.Scotland is also the focus of significant AI infrastruct...
Answered 7 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: ScotlandDepartment for Business, Innovation, Science and TradeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24231More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of UK trade agreements on Scottish agriculture.
Answer: Our trade programme is opening new opportunities for Scottish agrifood. Our FTA with India is expected to grow Scotland’s GVA by around £190 million, underpinned by significant new market access for Scotch whisky, which will in turn support primary agricu...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordExports: ScotlandDepartment for Business, Innovation, Science and TradeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24230More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps he is taking to increase exports from Scotland to North America.
Answer: On 30 April, following successful UK Government engagement and the State Visit, President Trump announced the removal of tariffs on UK produced whisky. Whisky tariffs were lifted on 24th July. This has been welcomed by industry and is an important win f...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordExports: AyrshireDepartment for Business, Innovation, Science and TradeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24229More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, how many Scottish Ayrshire businesses have received export support from his Department during the last financial year.
Answer: In the financial year 2025/26, the Department supported 36 businesses in Ayrshire, Scotland.The figure includes businesses that engaged with the Department through a range of support activities, including attendance at Department-led events, participation...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordFood: ExportsDepartment for Business, Innovation, Science and TradeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24228More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of export growth among Scottish food and drink producers.
Answer: In 2025, Scotland exported £7.0 billion worth of food and drink; this was over a quarter (27%) of total UK food and drink exports.The value of food and drink exports from Scotland has risen 48% in current prices over the last decade (2015-2025), but falle...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordGreat British Energy: AyrshireDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24227More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate she has made of the number of jobs expected to be created in Ayrshire or the West of Scotland through GB Energy investments.
Answer: The Government has not made a specific estimate of the number of jobs expected in Ayrshire or the West of Scotland. Great British Energy (GBE) invests on a UK-wide basis, and its investment decisions and job impacts cannot be predicted by region at this e...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordWind Power: Seas and OceansDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24226More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how much funding has been allocated to offshore wind supply chain development in Ayrshire since July 2024.
Answer: The Government is committed to strengthening supply chains for offshore wind and to good growth in every postcode across the whole of the UK. Investments are made on a case by case basis rather than by regional breakdown by the Government, Great British E...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordRenewable Energy: AyrshireDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24225More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions she has had with National Grid and Scottish network operators on bringing forward grid connections for renewable projects in Ayrshire.
Answer: Ministers and officials engage regularly with National Grid and Scottish network operators, as well as the National Energy System Operator and Ofgem, on a range of issues relating to electricity network capacity, the delivery of network infrastructure and...
Answered 7 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordRenewable Energy: AyrshireDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24224More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of grid capacity on renewable energy investment in Ayrshire.
Answer: Responsibility for strategic planning, including assessed the impact of grid capacity on renewable energy deployment, sits with the National Energy System Operator (NESO). NESO's strategic network plans are informed by the Future Energy Scenarios and, in ...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: AyrshireMinistry of DefenceTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24223More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing defence contracts in Ayrshire.
Answer: The Government is committed to ensuring that businesses across the United Kingdom, including in Ayrshire, can benefit from opportunities created by defence investment. Through the Defence Industrial Strategy, we are strengthening partnerships with industr...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordSkilled Workers: ScotlandDepartment for EducationTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24222More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what engagement her Department has had with Skills Development Scotland and how they are helping to address skills shortages in Scotland.
Answer: As education and skills policy is devolved, the Scottish Government is responsible for associated policy in Scotland.Skills England is responsible for assessing skills needs across the economy in England and helping to align education and training provisi...
Answered 4 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordUnemployment: Young PeopleDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24221More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to reduce economic inactivity among people aged 18 to 30 in Ayrshire.
Answer: Through Jobcentre Plus in Ayrshire, young people can access tailored support from Work Coaches and services delivered in partnership with East, North and South Ayrshire Councils, colleges, employers, and Scottish Government’s No One Left Behind approach t...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament record
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