Every parliamentary written question tabled by Brian Leishman this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 41–60 of 113 · this parliament
What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier conversion projects being eligible for Net Zero Hydrogen Fund grant funding.
The Net Zero Hydrogen Fund was designed to bring forward the first UK low carbon hydrogen production projects, and was not intended to support other parts of the hydrogen value chain, such as hydrogen carriers. It made its final funding allocations in 2023.
How much financial support his Department provides annually to children and young people with cancer and their families travelling for treatment.
The Department is responsible for healthcare in England. In Scotland, health is a devolved matter. The Department has not made an assessment of the average distance travelled or the cost of travel for young cancer patients from Scotland when attending cancer treatment in England, as patient-level data on patient travel is not collected at a national level.However, the Department recognises that the cost of travel is an important issue for many young cancer patients and their families.In England, NHS England and the integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning and ensuring that the healthcare needs of local communities are met, including providing support for travel. The National Health Service in England runs the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS) to provide financial assistance for travel to a hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostics tests when referred by a doctor or other primary healthcare professional.Patients who do not qualify for the HTCS and who are on a low income may be able to claim the costs from the Department for Work and Pensions through Universal Credit or Personal Independence Payment. There are also a number of United Kingdom charities who provide support, including financial support, for patients with cancer.NHS England does not collect national patient-level data on uptake of the HTCS, therefore it is not possible to provide an estimate of how much financial support is provided annually to specific patient groups, such as children and young people with cancer and their families.
Whether he has made an estimate of the average (a) distance travelled and (b) cost incurred by (i) children and (ii) young people from Scotland when attending cancer treatment in England; and what financial support is available to support people travelling cross-border.
The Department is responsible for healthcare in England. In Scotland, health is a devolved matter. The Department has not made an assessment of the average distance travelled or the cost of travel for young cancer patients from Scotland when attending cancer treatment in England, as patient-level data on patient travel is not collected at a national level.However, the Department recognises that the cost of travel is an important issue for many young cancer patients and their families.In England, NHS England and the integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning and ensuring that the healthcare needs of local communities are met, including providing support for travel. The National Health Service in England runs the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS) to provide financial assistance for travel to a hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostics tests when referred by a doctor or other primary healthcare professional.Patients who do not qualify for the HTCS and who are on a low income may be able to claim the costs from the Department for Work and Pensions through Universal Credit or Personal Independence Payment. There are also a number of United Kingdom charities who provide support, including financial support, for patients with cancer.NHS England does not collect national patient-level data on uptake of the HTCS, therefore it is not possible to provide an estimate of how much financial support is provided annually to specific patient groups, such as children and young people with cancer and their families.
If she will liaise with the Financial Conduct Authority to prevent the removal of the Family Protection Plan by C Mutual and Maiden Life Försäkrings until policy holders have secured alternative provision.
It is for the FCA as the regulator of financial services to decide whether to take any steps in relation to this issue and I can confirm that HMT has asked the FCA to look into this matter. The FCA will respond directly to the Honourable Member by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
If she will have discussions with the Financial Conduct Authority to ensure that (a) Vulnerability Assessments and (b) a Consumer Duty Review are conducted before the withdrawal of the Family Protection Plan by C Mutual and Maiden Life Försäkrings.
It is for the FCA as the regulator of financial services to decide whether to take any steps in relation to this issue and I can confirm that HMT has asked the FCA to look into this matter. The FCA will respond directly to the Honourable Member by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
If she will review the conduct of C Mutual Ltd and Maiden Life Försäkrings in the context of the removal of the Family Protection Plan.
It is for the FCA as the regulator of financial services to decide whether to take any steps in relation to this issue and I can confirm that HMT has asked the FCA to look into this matter. The FCA will respond directly to the Honourable Member by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
With reference to the press release entitled Supporting Grangemouth workers, published on 26 August 2025, how much additional funding has been allocated; and how much and what proportion of that funding has been provided by the (a) UK and (b) Scottish Government.
The extension of the Grangemouth Training Guarantee to support INEOS Olefins & Polymers shared services employees directly affected by the closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery builds on support put in place earlier this year for Grangemouth refinery workers. This brings the total projected investment in the Grangemouth Training Guarantee from UK and Scottish Governments up to £2 million. The Grangemouth Training Guarantee is a joint project between UK and Scottish Governments and both governments will provide equal funding. We are working closely with Forth Valley College who will mapping workers skills and qualifications, and training needs to identify and deliver re/upskilling support and training. UK and Scottish Governments will use the findings of the Training Need Analysis to fund the delivery of training. Final costs are dependent on the outcome of the Training Need Analysis.
With reference to the oral contribution, Volume 768, column 142 of 2 June 2025, what is the programme relating to the £120 million worth of military licenses for Israel issued in 2024 for components to support exports of military items from Israeli companies to a single programme for a NATO ally.
We have released extensive information on export licences involving Israel, including those that cover components for products for onward export from Israel. This can be accessed at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/export-control-licensing-management-information-for-israel/israel-export-control-licensing-data-31-july-2025. The government does not provide further detailed commentary as individual licences contain commercial and other sensitive information.Values included on export licence applications represent the maximum value of exports permitted rather than the actual exports under these licences, which may be lower.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Prime Minister discussed the proscription of Palestine Action with President Trump on (a) 10 and (b) 30 March 2025.
I refer the Hon Member to the read-outs of the discussion with President Trump on 10 (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-call-with-president-trump-of-the-united-states-10-march-2025) and 30 March (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-call-with-president-trump-of-the-united-states-30-march-2025) published on gov.uk.
Which oil and gas (a) duty holders and (b) installations on the UK Continental Shelf were subject to enforcement action by the Health and Safety Executive in relation to the management of safety critical maintenance work in each year between 2022-23 and 2024-25.
As a result of the review of maintenance backlog data and targeted offshore installation and HQ interventions over the recent years Improvement Notices have been served on the following installation operators (for both single and multiple installations). These are accessible on Health and Safety Executives’s enforcement database: For 2022/23:Ithaca AlbaEni DouglasCNR multiple installationsPerenco multiple installationsTotal GryphonHarbour Armada For 2023/24:Repsol AukTotal DunbarApache multiple installations For 2024/25:Total CulzeanDana Triton
What recent assessment she has made of the potential impact that the Principles of Process Safety Leadership for the offshore UK Continental Shelf energy industry agreed between the Health and Safety Executive and offshore oil and gas industry representatives on the management of safety critical maintenance programmes at contractor level.
The Principles of Process Safety Leadership programme for the offshore UK Continental Shelf energy industry was focused on improving process safety leadership for offshore oil and gas installation operators. Safety critical maintenance programmes at contractor level are managed by these oil and gas operators. There has been sustained focus on offshore oil and gas operators since the pandemic including an annual request to report to Health and Safety Executive, their overall maintenance backlog position, including deferred workscopes. There has been an improving trend in these backlog numbers over the past four years. An agreed set of industry KPIs is now in place and a Maintenance Backlog Task/Finish Group was established to address the challenges including sharing good practice in the delivery of maintenance work.
Whether he has had discussions with Ineos on the country of origin of the crude oil it intends to import into the Grangemouth refinery.
Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.
Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of replacing domestically refined oil with imported oil at Grangemouth on the UK's balance of payments.
We do not expect a substantial impact as Grangemouth already imported more than 90% of its crude oil in 2023.
What discussions he has had with the oil and gas industry on the effectiveness of the industry's checks for valid safety certification among prospective offshore workers.
Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.
What discussions he has had with the oil and gas industry on the effectiveness of the industry's processes for developing safety standards for offshore oil and gas workers.
Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.
Whether his Department has (a) lost, (b) deleted and (c) otherwise destroyed any surveillance footage taken by Royal Air Force planes over Gaza since December 2023.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question 57027, and reiterate that I cannot comment on detailed intelligence matters nor disclose details of Ministry of Defence internal policies for the storage and retention of operational intelligence.
What process his Department has for (a) storing and (b) otherwise retaining surveillance footage taken by Royal Air Force planes over Gaza since December 2023.
The Ministry of Defence has policies and protocols which provide direction for the storage and retention of operational intelligence. I am unable to comment further due to operational security.
When he plans to respond to Question 52090 tabled by the honourable Member for Alloa and Grangemouth on 13 May 2025.
I am unable to release this information due to operational security.
When he plans to respond to Question 52089 tabled by the honourable Member for Alloa and Grangemouth on 13 May 2025.
I am unable to release this information due to operational security.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2025 to Question 52683 on International Humanitarian Law, what the name is of the third-party contractor providing information and analysis to the International Humanitarian Law cell; and how much his Department paid to this contractor since January 2024.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office provides funding for the Centre for Information Resilience (CIR), an independent not for profit organisation that specialises in using open-source methodologies to verify digital content (e.g. footage, images) from conflict settings. We support CIR's work in a number of conflict settings, including the Middle East, via a central accountable grant agreement. We have provided £715,000 of funding for their work on the Middle East since January 2024.