Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his department plans to take in response to the consultation on the use of cages and crates for laying hens which closed on 9 March 2026.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is analysing consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2026 to Question 3737, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a dedicated visa route for other roles that require Gaelic speakers.
Answered by Mike Tapp
We do not limit access to Gaelic-medium posts or any other roles that require Gaelic speakers, provided they meet the other requirements of the Skilled Worker route.
We have therefore not had discussions relating to having specific routes for Gaelic speakers, nor have we considered Welsh, Cornish, Irish Gaelic or Scots as the basis of language evaluation on the Skilled Worker immigration route.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has held recent discussions with the Scottish Government on the creation of a dedicated work visa for fluent Gaelic speakers to fill Gaelic-medium posts in Scotland.
Answered by Mike Tapp
We do not limit access to Gaelic-medium posts or any other roles that require Gaelic speakers, provided they meet the other requirements of the Skilled Worker route.
We have therefore not had discussions relating to having specific routes for Gaelic speakers, nor have we considered Welsh, Cornish, Irish Gaelic or Scots as the basis of language evaluation on the Skilled Worker immigration route.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to help reduce industrial energy costs.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises the pressure high energy costs place on businesses. Our Clean Power by 2030 mission will bring down bills, reducing exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets and the risk of carbon leakage.
In the near term, we are acting through the British Industry Supercharger, increasing network charge discounts from 60% to 90% since April 2026 for energy‑intensive industries. In addition, the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme will cut electricity costs by up to £40/MWh for over 10,000 firms in key manufacturing sectors.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to improve the UK's business environment.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
This government is focused on creating a stronger business environment by making the UK the best place to start and grow a business, with a culture that supports entrepreneurship.
Through the Small Business Plan, we are tackling late payments, improving access to finance for start-ups, and cutting unnecessary red tape. The new Business Growth Service supports SMEs with digital adoption and facilitates international trade and investment.
As part of the Regulation Action Plan, published in March 2025, we have committed to reducing the administrative burden on businesses by 25% by the end of the Parliament.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had discussions with her Irish counterpart on reports that Aughinish Alumina has been linked to supply chains supporting Russia's defence industry.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK and Irish governments regularly discuss our staunch support for countering Russia's aggression in Ukraine, including international efforts to maximise pressure on the Russian war economy. We conduct similar conversations with the EU on a regular basis. We keep all options to put pressure on the Russian war economy under regular review.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of whether Vehicle Excise Duty rates for vehicles in the highest bands are a proportionate application of the polluter pays principle.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)
Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) is a tax on vehicles used or kept on public roads. Different VED rates apply to cars, vans, and motorcycles, and the rate for each vehicle is calculated according to a range of factors, such as its date of first registration, weight, or CO2 emissions.
Since 2001, the tax system has encouraged the uptake of cars with low carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to help meet the UK's legally binding climate targets. Cars first registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017 pay VED annually according to CO2 emissions.
From 1 April 2017, a reformed VED system was introduced for new cars. Under this system, new cars pay a variable first year rate according to the emissions of the vehicle, with the most polluting currently paying over £5,600, and zero emission models currently pay £10. After the first year, most cars move to a standard annual rate, currently set at £200.
The Government annually reviews the rates and thresholds of taxes and reliefs to ensure that they are appropriate and reflect the current state of the economy. The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events in the context of the public finances.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the proportionality of Vehicle Excise Duty rates for higher-emission vehicles; and whether she plans to review the differential between vehicles in the lowest and highest emission bands.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)
Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) is a tax on vehicles used or kept on public roads. Different VED rates apply to cars, vans, and motorcycles, and the rate for each vehicle is calculated according to a range of factors, such as its date of first registration, weight, or CO2 emissions.
Since 2001, the tax system has encouraged the uptake of cars with low carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to help meet the UK's legally binding climate targets. Cars first registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017 pay VED annually according to CO2 emissions.
From 1 April 2017, a reformed VED system was introduced for new cars. Under this system, new cars pay a variable first year rate according to the emissions of the vehicle, with the most polluting currently paying over £5,600, and zero emission models currently pay £10. After the first year, most cars move to a standard annual rate, currently set at £200.
The Government annually reviews the rates and thresholds of taxes and reliefs to ensure that they are appropriate and reflect the current state of the economy. The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events in the context of the public finances.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with The Humane League UK on the banning of cages for laying hens.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Department has had wide ranging discussions with animal welfare organisations and other stakeholders on the banning of cages for laying hens.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Home Office has considered the potential merits of creating a dedicated Gaelic Speaker Work Visa, allowing fluent Gaelic speakers from overseas to fill Gaelic-medium posts in Scotland.
Answered by Mike Tapp
Teachers, including those who deliver Gaelic-medium education, already have preferential treatment in the Skilled Worker immigration route, with salary requirements based on pay scales in each of the four UK nations. There is no need for a separate dedicated visa route.