Every parliamentary written question tabled by Graeme Downie this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 1–14 of 14 · Scotland Office
Whether he has had discussions with Fife Council on the Heart of Dunfermline feasibility study.
Scotland Office Ministers and officials regularly engage with Fife Council on a wide range of regional economic development priorities, and will continue to do so.Planning, and cultural heritage projects are devolved matters, and specific operational disc...
Whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the Heart of Dunfermline feasibility study.
Scotland Office Ministers and officials regularly engage with our colleagues in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on a range of issues pertinent to Scotland.Planning, and cultural heritage projects are devolved matters, and specific operational ...
What discussions he has had with Fife Council on the Heart of Dunfermline feasibility study for the city.
Scotland Office Ministers and officials regularly engage with Fife Council on a wide range of regional economic development priorities, and will continue to do so.Planning, and cultural heritage projects are devolved matters, and specific operational disc...
Whether his Department has held recent discussions with the Scottish Government on a Section 104 order to bring relevant components of the Trusts and Succession (Scotland) Act 2024 into force.
Scotland Office and Scottish Government officials meet regularly to discuss Scotland Act Orders. My officials have engaged Scottish Government officials to discuss a proposed Section 104 order under the Scotland Act 1998 in consequence of the Trusts and Succession (Scotland) Act 2024 and will continue to liaise with their counterparts on the matter.
When he last met with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs to discuss social media intervention by foreign actors seeking to spread misinformation on Scotland's constitutional position.
I have not recently met with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs to discuss these matters. However, the Home Office’s taskforce to protect the democratic integrity, called the Defending Democracy Taskforce, was set up to tackle threats facing our entire democracy - including, but not limited to, election security. The National Security Act 2023 provides the security services and law enforcement agencies with the tools they need to deter, detect, and disrupt modern-day state threats.
What discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on tackling social media interventions by foreign actors spreading misinformation on Scotland's constitutional position.
As you will be aware, I speak regularly with the Deputy First Minister, and my officials frequently engage with their Scottish Government counterparts. National security is the responsibility of the UK Government and protecting our democracy is one of our highest priorities. It is, and always will be, an absolute priority to protect the UK against foreign interference. The Home Office’s taskforce to protect the democratic integrity, called the Defending Democracy Taskforce, was set up to tackle threats facing our democracy.
What steps he is taking to help tackle social media intervention by foreign states seeking to influence the debate on Scotland's constitutional status.
Protecting our democracy is one of the Government’s highest priorities. The Defending Democracy Taskforce was set up to tackle threats including, but not limited to, election security. It is, and always will be, an absolute priority to protect the UK against foreign interference. The National Security Act 2023 provides the security services and law enforcement agencies with the tools they need to deter, detect, and disrupt modern-day state threats.
When he last met with Scottish Power to discuss the future of the former generating station at Longannet.
I am in contact with Scottish Power on a range of issues relating to the UK’s transition to Net Zero. I last met with them in March, at a stakeholder forum hosted by my department, where the topic of clean energy jobs was discussed. The representative from Scottish Power did not raise the future of the former generating station at Longannet but my door is always open to the energy sector in Scotland.
Whether he has had recent discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the reintroduction of a (a) passenger and (b) freight service from Rosyth to mainland Europe.
I have not, but I am aware that you have written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on this matter in connection with infrastructure enhancements that may be required at the port of Rosyth.This Government recognises the importance of upgrading our port in...
Whether he has had discussions on the reintroduction of a (a) passenger and (b) freight service from Rosyth to mainland Europe.
My officials have spoken with colleagues in the Department for Transport and the Treasury on this matter and I am aware of your campaigning on this issue.This Government recognises the importance of upgrading our port infrastructure, and that is why we ha...
What plans he has to work with the Scottish Cities Alliance.
The Scottish Cities Alliance is an important stakeholder. There is a clear synergy in the work of the Scottish Cities Alliance and how this Government wants to kickstart economic growth in all parts of the country. Therefore, I have plans to meet with the Scottish Cities Alliance in the future to hear about their very important plans for the economic potential across Scotland’s eight cities and better understand how they can better work in partnership with this Government.
What plans he has to work with the Scottish Government to improve services for veterans in (a) Dunfermline and Dollar constituency and (b) Scotland.
The UK Government is committed to supporting those who served and risked their lives for this country - a great number of whom I know live in my honourable Friend’s constituency. The Office for Veterans Affairs continues to work closely with the Scottish Government as key areas of policy and support delivered to veterans are devolved. This includes support with employment, mental health, and housing. For example, the veteran employment pathway provides employment and career development support for veterans across the UK, and veterans in Scotland who are homeless can access a UK-wide referral housing pathway.
What plans he has to work with the Scottish Government to (a) support and (b) increase engineering apprenticeships in Scotland.
Scotland has always produced world-class engineers, and this Government is committed to growing the economy and supporting the sector all across the UK.Scotland is at the forefront of the Government’s mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower by 2030, which in itself will create a range of new opportunities for engineering apprentices in Scotland. Great British Energy, our new publicly-owned clean energy company, will be headquartered in Scotland; in addition to delivering energy security and lower prices for consumers, it will create thousands of jobs and build supply chains across the UK as new technologies are deployed. In addition to GB Energy, further opportunities for engineering apprentices will arise from the National Wealth Fund, which will unlock further investment opportunities for the local ports, heavy industry and manufacturing companies that have a crucial role to play in creating quality jobs and in our transition to net zero.
What plans he has to work with the Scottish Government to improve (a) rail and (b) ferry provision in (i) Fife and (ii) Scotland.
Scotrail run rail services in both Fife and wider Scotland, and responsibility for these services lie with the Scottish Government. Similarly, ferry services are also devolved to the Scottish Government. This Government is, however, working to ensure public ownership across rail services. The Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill will ensure that ScotRail is kept in public hands. This Government is committed to resetting the relationship with the Scottish Government to ensure we can work together to deliver for the people of Scotland on the things that matter most to communities, including on transport links between Scotland and the rest of the UK. I have already met with the Deputy First Minister on numerous occasions to discuss a variety of issues. My officials regularly engage with their counterparts in the Scottish Government, working with their colleagues in the Department for Transport, to identify opportunities for collaboration on improving transport and other services.