Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will have discussions with the Scottish Government on the potential merits of banning first-cousin marriage in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK.

Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland

Scotland Office Ministers and officials regularly engage with counterparts in the Scottish Government on issues that matter to the people of Scotland.

We are aware that all aspects of weddings, including first cousin marriage, are important issues. The Scottish Parliament has power to legislate in relation to marriages in Scotland.

Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many staff their Department has seconded from Hakluyt since July 2024.

Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland

Secondments is one way of bringing talent and experience into the civil service for short periods of time and has been used by successive governments. Secondments are arranged at a business unit level and data is held at business unit level.

No officials in the Scotland Office have been seconded from Hakluyt since July 2024.

Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of Dundee University's plan to cut staffing by 20% on the Tay Cities Deal.

Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland

I am fully aware of the well documented financial situation with the University of Dundee and share concern that any job losses are regrettable, however the University is a key partner in the Tay Cities Region Deal and remains fully committed to delivering its objectives. Economic Growth is one of this Government’s key missions and I am absolutely committed to working alongside the Scottish Government to realise our shared ambitions for growth in Scotland. My officials will continue to collaborate with all of the Tay Cities Region Deal partners to ensure the maximum benefits for the region can be realised.

Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions his Department has had with the Scottish Government on the difference in the (a) process and (b) cost of completing a Power of Attorney in Scotland compared to England and Wales.

Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)

The process and costs associated with Power of Attorney vary between legal jurisdictions within the UK due to the distinct legal frameworks in place. The processes and costs are a matter for the Scottish Government.

Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the Answer of 27 March 2025 to Question 40390 on Data, Statistics and Research on Sex and Gender Independent Review, if he will have discussions with the Scottish Government on the potential implications for their policies of the recommendations of the Sullivan Review.

Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland

The government has now published the independent review of data, statistics and research on sex and gender commissioned by the previous government.

We are considering the findings in light of ongoing policy work in this area.

Officials and Ministers engage frequently with Scottish Government counterparts on a range of issues that matter to the people of Scotland.

Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will remove corporate crown immunity from the Scottish Prison Service.

Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)

The Lord Chancellor has received a letter from the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs seeking to discuss a number of issues across the justice system and will respond in due course.

Crown Immunity within the Scottish Prison Service is a complex issue, and any change would interact with both devolved and reserved competencies. It is right therefore that the UK Government fully considers its next steps accordingly.

Make the Tour de France a Category A event to ensure it remains free-to-air in the UK.

Found: as you rightly say, and there is probably more that we could and should do, working with the Scotland Office

Found: We have experienced positive engagement from Defra, DBT, the Scotland Office and the Home Office across

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions (a) he and (b) his Department had with the (i) Scotland Office and (ii) Department for Business and Trade on the application for an English Whisky geographical indication prior to the submission of that application.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The application to register English Whisky as a geographical indication was submitted in February 2022. There are no recorded discussions on the application held with other departments prior to that time.

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Found: Officials are also continuing to engage with BEIS, Scotland Office and Cabinet Office on the potential

Found: Officials are also continuing to engage with BEIS, Scotland Office and Cabinet Office on the potential

Found: Officials are also continuing to engage with BEIS, Scotland Office and Cabinet Office on the potential

Found: Scotland Non-Ministerial Departments (3) General Register Office for Scotland Registers of Scotland Office

Found: Scotland Non-Ministerial Departments (3) General Register Office for Scotland Registers of Scotland Office

Found: [1/12/22, 12:46:33 PM] Paul Johnston: Covid in Scotland: Office workers asked to join care effort

Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-31545 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 3 December 2024, whether it has received any response from the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland with regards to the proposed order under section 104 of the Scotland Act 1998 relating to changing marriages to civil partnerships.

Answered by Somerville, Shirley-Anne - Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice

We have received a reply from the Secretary of State for Scotland. This reply gives in-principle agreement to the proposed section 104 Order.

Scotland Office has asked for further information on what the Order could cover. The Scottish Government will write to Scotland Office accordingly and will also work with them to agree a timetable.

It may still take some time for the work on the Order to be completed. Scottish Government officials will keep people who have expressed an interest updated on developments.

Found: Nations meetings which have allowed development of strong relation- ships with Public Health Scotland, Office