Blair McDougall MP: written questions
121 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Jimmy LaiForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3366More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he has taken to help secure the release of Hong Kong pro-democracy campaigner, Jimmy Lai.
Answer: British national Jimmy Lai's case is a priority for the Government. The Foreign Secretary raised his case in his first meeting with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the ASEAN Summit on 26 July. We will continue to call on the Hong Kong authorities to e...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordRussia: OilForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3365More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to take steps to ban the import of oil products whose origin is derived from crude oil of Russian origin.
Answer: The action the UK and its partners have taken to limit Russian energy revenues is having a significant impact, with Russia forced to shoulder a 24% reduction in oil and gas revenues in 2023 compared to 2022. Importers of oil and oil products into the UK, ...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordTankers: Exclusive Economic Zone and Territorial WatersDepartment for TransportTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3364More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to take steps to ensure enforcement of environmental laws for sea vessels in (a) UK territorial waters and (b) the Exclusive Economic Zone in the context of reports of Russian shadow oil fleet
Answer: The Department already has robust measures in place to ensure the enforcement and compliance of environmental laws for all sea vessels in UK territorial waters and the Exclusive Economic Zone, including the Russian shadow fleet. The UK is a signatory to t...
Answered 6 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordRussia: OilForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3363More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will extend UK sanctions on shadow oil tankers dealing in Russian oil to (a) those providing (i) storage facilities and (ii) fuel, (b) port operators that facilitate th
Answer: UK sanctions against Russia aim to deny Putin the means to continue his illegal war. We have sanctioned 15 shadow oil tankers to date - action which has materially disrupted the shadow fleet's ability to operate. The UK cannot comment on future sanctions....
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordVeterinary Services: Fees and ChargesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3362More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing price regulation for veterinary services.
Answer: The Competition and Markets Authority, which is independent from Defra, is currently undertaking a market investigation into veterinary services, and Defra will review any recommendations that are made by the CMA when their process concludes in 2025.
Answered 6 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordBroadband: ScotlandScotland OfficeTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3361More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps he plans to take to improve broadband access and connection speed in rural Scotland.
Answer: Digital connectivity is key to delivering our priority mission of growing the economy. Building Digital UK continues to work with the Scottish Government on the delivery of Project Gigabit procurements across Scotland. Project Gigabit procurements are tar...
Answered 6 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordParking: Private SectorMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3360More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing regulatory scrutiny of private parking companies.
Answer: The Government will set out its plans for regulation of the private parking industry in due course.
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordRadicalism: ScotlandScotland OfficeTabled 27 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 900243More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps he is taking with the Secretary of State for the Home Department to help tackle far-right extremism in Scotland.
Answer: The past weeks have been frightening for many of our communities in Scotland, in particular for Muslims. I will never forget hearing from a young woman who has asked to work from home indefinitely because she is so afraid to be in a city centre, in Scotla...
Answered 4 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordBritish National (Overseas): PensionsHome OfficeTabled 29 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2170More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will hold discussions with HSBC on steps to help people with British National (Overseas) visas access HSBC pensions managed in Hong Kong.
Answer: This Government is deeply committed to supporting members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK.We are aware that individuals who have chosen to take up the British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) visa route are having difficulties in drawin...
Answered 2 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordBritish National (Overseas): PensionsHome OfficeTabled 29 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2169More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to support people from Hong Kong with British National (Overseas) visas access pensions managed in Hong Kong.
Answer: This Government is deeply committed to supporting members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK.We are aware that individuals who have chosen to take up the British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) visa route are having difficulties in drawin...
Answered 2 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordTibet: Human RightsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 26 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 1999More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to his Chinese counterpart on (a) the use of residential boarding schools as a means of undermining Tibetan culture, (b) the release of the Pa
Answer: This Government will take a consistent, long term and strategic approach to managing the UK's relations with China, rooted in UK and global interests. We will co-operate where we can, compete where we need to, and challenge where we must.We will stand fir...
Answered 5 Aug 2024
Original Parliament recordTax AvoidanceTreasuryTabled 17 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 344More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress she has made on establishing an (a) independent and (b) wide-ranging review into the loan charge.
Answer: The Chancellor and I know the loan charge is a very important one for many members and their constituents. We have been considering this matter since taking office and will provide an update in due course.
Answered 23 Jul 2024
Original Parliament recordSpain: British Nationals AbroadForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 17 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 343More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment f the potential merits of negotiating a reciprocal agreement with the Government of Spain that will allow British citizens with holiday properti
Answer: Both the UK and the EU allow for visa-free short-term travel in line with their arrangements for Third Country Nationals. The UK allows EU citizens short-term visa-free travel for up to six months. Meanwhile, the Schengen Borders Code allows for Third Cou...
Answered 26 Jul 2024
Original Parliament recordFuels: PricesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 17 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 342More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to take legislative steps to protect consumers of (a) petrol and (b) diesel from uncompetitive practices by retailers.
Answer: The government welcomes the CMA’s work to investigate fuel prices and we will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Answered 26 Jul 2024
Original Parliament recordPensions: Lump Sum PaymentsTreasuryTabled 17 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 281More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending paragraph 1(b) of Schedule 29 to the Finance Act 2004 to ensure that people with enhanced protection are not limited in the amount of pension commen
Answer: Paragraph 1(b) of Schedule 29 to the Finance Act 2004 provides for a pension commencement lump sum where all or part of a member’s lump sum allowance, and all or part of their lump sum and death benefit allowance, is available. Those with enhanced protect...
Answered 24 Jul 2024
Original Parliament recordState Retirement Pensions: WomenDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 17 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 276More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she plans to respond to the report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman entitled Women’s State Pension age: our findings on injustice and associated issues, published on 21 March 2024.
Answer: As a newly formed Government we will need time to review and consider the Ombudsman’s report along with the evidence provided during the investigation. This Government respects the work of the Ombudsman. Now the election has concluded we need to consider ...
Answered 22 Jul 2024
Original Parliament recordAntisemitismMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 275More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of antisemitism; and what steps he plans to take to help protect Jewish communities from hatred directed towards them.
Answer: Antisemitism has absolutely no place in our society, and tackling antisemitism is a top priority for this Government. This Government continues to fund the Community Security Trust, supporting their vital work in protecting Jewish communities. This includ...
Answered 26 Jul 2024
Original Parliament recordUkraine: Military AidMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 274More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to help increase the manufacture of artillery shells to be supplied to the Ukrainian government.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has supported Ukraine by the granting in kind of both artillery munitions and systems. As a result of lessons from Ukraine, the MOD has significantly increased its order of artillery munitions through the multi-billion pound ...
Answered 25 Jul 2024
Original Parliament recordBelarus: Politics and GovernmentForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 17 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 273More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department plans to take steps to support democratic forces in Belarus.
Answer: Since the flawed elections of 2020, the UK has consistently supported the efforts of the democratic opposition in its peaceful struggle to realise the democratic aspirations of the people of Belarus. On 11 July, the UK, alongside other partners, invoked t...
Answered 24 Jul 2024
Original Parliament recordGeorgia: Politics and GovernmentForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 17 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 272More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made recent representations to his counterpart in Georgia on the passing of the law on the transparency of foreign influence in that country.
Answer: The UK is committed to supporting a vibrant civil society in Georgia as an essential attribute of a healthy democracy. The Foreign Secretary met Georgian Foreign Minister Darchiashvili on 18 July at the European Political Community summit at Blenheim Pala...
Answered 26 Jul 2024
Original Parliament recordSolar Power: Supply ChainsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 17 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 271More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that solar panels installed in the UK do not contain polysilicon manufactured through the slave labour of Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims i
Answer: No company in the UK should have forced labour in its supply chain. We will be working with colleagues across Government to tackle the issue of Uyghur forced labour in supply chains. We are also relaunching the Solar Taskforce, which will focus on identif...
Answered 26 Jul 2024
Original Parliament record
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