Alan Gemmell MP: written questions
49 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Foreign Investment in UK: AyrshireScotland OfficeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24220More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on attracting international investment to Ayrshire.
Answer: Ministers and officials from the Scotland Office regularly engage with Scottish Government colleagues, local authorities, and economic development partners to drive inward investment and deliver regional economic growth across Scotland.Recent discussions ...
Answered 10 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordForeign Investment in UK: AyrshireScotland OfficeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24219More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps his Department is taking to increase foreign direct investment into Ayrshire's aerospace, advanced manufacturing and engineering sectors.
Answer: The UK Government actively promotes Ayrshire’s world-class aerospace, advanced manufacturing, and engineering capabilities to global markets.Key steps include:Prestwick Aerospace: Supporting the development of the Aerospace and Space Innovation Centre at ...
Answered 10 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordForeign Investment in UK: AyrshireScotland OfficeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24218More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many inward investment projects his department has supported in Ayrshire in each of the last five years.
Answer: The UK Government is providing substantial funding across Ayrshire to drive long-term economic growth, strengthen local infrastructure, and boost trade and investment.Key direct investments and funding initiatives provided to the region include:● Ayrshire...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordFreeports: AyrshireScotland OfficeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24217More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Freeports and Green Freeports on the economy in Ayrshire.
Answer: The UK Government is committed to driving sustainable economic growth, creating high-quality jobs, and boosting trade across all parts of Scotland. While Scotland's designated Green Freeports, Inverness & Cromarty Firth and Forth Green Freeport, are g...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordAnti-social Behaviour: Central AyrshireHome OfficeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24216More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to reduce anti-social behaviour over the summer in Central Ayrshire.
Answer: Public order and policing are devolved matters in Scotland. Responsibility for tackling anti-social behaviour in Central Ayrshire therefore rests with the Scottish Government and Police Scotland. The UK Government continues to work with the devolved admin...
Answered 10 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordKnives: CrimeHome OfficeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24215More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to reduce knife crime in Irvine.
Answer: Knife crime is a national concern. The Government is committed to halving knife crime over the next decade and published Protecting Lives, Building Hope: A Plan to Halve Knife Crime in April 2026. The Plan sets out a cross-government approach focused on p...
Answered 10 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordPigs: SlaughterhousesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24214More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what is the timeline of phasing out the use of carbon dioxide gas as a method of slaughtering pigs.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell, Helen Maguire, on 20 May 2026 to PQ UIN 613.
Answered 3 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: AyrshireDepartment for TransportTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24213More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many practical driving tests were cancelled due to examiner shortages at the Irvine Driving Test Centre in the last 12 months.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) publishes data on car practical test cancellation reasons by month and driving test centre (DTC) on GOV.UK. This data, in report DRT122B, is updated annually and currently shows data to March 2026. The next u...
Answered 3 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: AyrshireDepartment for TransportTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24212More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans she has to increase testing capacity in Ayrshire.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) publishes data on car practical test cancellation reasons by month and driving test centre (DTC) on GOV.UK. This data, in report DRT122B, is updated annually and currently shows data to March 2026. The next u...
Answered 3 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordPackaging: RecyclingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24211More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Extended Producer Responsibility 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 recordLocal Growth Deals: AyrshireDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 2 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 15579More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what progress has been made regarding the Ayrshire Growth Deal.
Answer: Regional Growth DeaIs are not a DBT policy. Delivery responsibility for the Scottish City Region and Growth Deal programme sits with the Scotland Office.The UK Government remains committed to ensuring effective delivery in Ayrshire, as evidenced by the re...
Answered 10 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordNuclear Power: AyrshireDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 2 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 15578More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to improve nuclear investment in Ayrshire.
Answer: As we enter the new golden age of nuclear, the UK Government has allocated almost £17 billion across the Spending Review period to enable the biggest nuclear new build programme in a generation. Ministers want to see this investment create economic opport...
Answered 10 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordBusiness: AyrshireDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 2 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 15577More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support businesses in Ayrshire in accessing opportunities from free trade deals.
Answer: Free trade agreements are central to our plan for growth, helping UK businesses to compete and succeed in global markets. Through FTAs, businesses can benefit from tariff reductions, improved market access, and enhanced protections in investment and digit...
Answered 10 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 15576More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on defence investment in Ayrshire.
Answer: The Strategic Defence Reveiw prioritises investment in the UK workforce and domestic industry, and recognises Scotland's role as a key hub for defence infrastructure and economic growth.
Answered 10 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordBritish CouncilForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 9 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 8385More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what progress her Department has made on negotiations on the British Council loan; and whether the British Council plans to close any offices.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the statement I made to the House on 26 March (HWCS1470).
Answered 12 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordGaza: Humanitarian AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 9 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 8384More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of aid entering Gaza on a daily basis; and what steps her Department is taking to increase the flow of aid.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the statement made to the House by the Foreign Secretary on 9 June, where - in setting out the action being taken by the UK in response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza - she said that barely half the level of the 4,200 trucks ...
Answered 18 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordJerusalem: Religious BuildingsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 9 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 8383More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of reports of attacks on Christian and Muslim sites in Jerusalem; and what diplomatic steps she is
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 14 April in response to Questions 124030-34.
Answered 15 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordCommonwealth Heads of Government MeetingForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7691More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the UK's priorities are for this year's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
Answer: The UK is working closely with Commonwealth partners to ensure this year's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua and Barbuda addresses the challenges of today's world, in particular delivering increased intra-Commonwealth trade, inve...
Answered 12 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordG20Foreign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7690More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the UK's priorities are for its G20 leadership.
Answer: The UK is working closely with Commonwealth partners to ensure this year's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua and Barbuda addresses the challenges of today's world, in particular delivering increased intra-Commonwealth trade, inve...
Answered 12 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordJob CreationDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 23 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 906107More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, What steps his Department is taking to support businesses to create well-paid jobs.
Answer: Through our modern industrial strategy, we’re backing businesses to create well-paid jobs across the UK. We’re investing in skills through apprenticeships, technical colleges and regional training programmes to help every area grow. Our global partnership...
Answered 30 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordNuclear PowerDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 904522More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the role of new nuclear in supporting a clean energy transition.
Answer: Nuclear power will play a central role in our future clean power system, providing clean, homegrown baseload power to the grid. I am delighted that today we have announced £14.2bn of support for Sizewell C and that Rolls Royce are the winners of the SMR c...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordLife Sciences: Manufacturing IndustriesDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 14 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 901344More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support the growth of the life sciences manufacturing sector.
Answer: At the Budget, the Chancellor unveiled the Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund, which will provide up to £520 million to secure major life sciences manufacturing investments across the UK. The scheme is now open to applications.My Department is wo...
Answered 20 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordLocal Growth Deals: AyrshireScotland OfficeTabled 11 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5499More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what progress his Department has made on the Ayrshire Growth Deal.
Answer: The Scotland Office is working closely with local partners and the Scottish Government to deliver for the people of Ayrshire through the £251 million Ayrshire Growth Deal.As part of this, my department is supporting a programme review of the Deal in order...
Answered 7 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordCommunity Ownership FundMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 18 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 746More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her planned timetable is for decisions for awards under the Community Ownership Fund Round 4.
Answer: This Government is committed empowering communities with a strong new ‘right to buy’ beloved community assets, such as empty shops, pubs and community spaces. We will make further announcements in due course.
Answered 24 Jul 2024
Original Parliament record
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