Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the use of barrier sheaths to help mitigate creosote leaching in telecommunications infrastructure.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is undertaking a detailed assessment to determine whether the approval of the active substance creosote should be renewed as a wood preservative under the Great Britain Biocidal Products Regulation. The assessment involves consideration of the risks posed by the use of creosote, potential risk mitigation measures and whether suitable and sufficient alternatives are available. It is informed by a public consultation that ran between 24 September and 24 November 2024 to seek evidence on potential alternatives.
Any evidence relating to barrier sheaths submitted during the consultation is being considered as part of the assessment.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of whether UK-linked companies or vessels, including vessels operated or managed by Seapeak and specialised Arc 7 ice class LNG carriers, are contributing directly or indirectly to to the export of liquefied natural gas from Russia’s Arctic Yamal LNG project by Russian state or security agency activities.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In November 2025, I announced our intention to impose a maritime services ban on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG), cutting off access to UK services which facilitate these exports globally. The measure will be introduced this year and come into full effect at the end of the year. We have already taken strong action on Russian LNG, sanctioning 16 vessels to date as well as the Beihai LNG import terminal in China and Russia's flagship Arctic LNG2 project - which is now severely disrupted. In addition to the ban on Russian LNG imports to the UK which took effect in 2023, these actions demonstrate the UK's clear commitment to taking Russian energy off the market to reduce the Kremlin's revenue.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the risk that Arc 7 ice class LNG carriers linked to UK actors could be sold, transferred, or reflagged to evade sanctions or services restrictions; and what steps her Department is taking to help prevent such vessels from supporting Russian LNG exports.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In November 2025, I announced our intention to impose a maritime services ban on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG), cutting off access to UK services which facilitate these exports globally. The measure will be introduced this year and come into full effect at the end of the year. We have already taken strong action on Russian LNG, sanctioning 16 vessels to date as well as the Beihai LNG import terminal in China and Russia's flagship Arctic LNG2 project - which is now severely disrupted. In addition to the ban on Russian LNG imports to the UK which took effect in 2023, these actions demonstrate the UK's clear commitment to taking Russian energy off the market to reduce the Kremlin's revenue.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if, following the her Department's settlement with Mr Abu Zubaydah, her Department will seek to support the relocation of Mr Abu Zubaydah to a safe country.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 19 January 2025 to Question 105729. Discussions on non-British nationals detained in US facilities are a matter for the US authorities and the nations of those detained.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if, following her Department's settlement with Mr Abu Zubaydah, her Department will call on the USA to release Mr Abu Zubaydah.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 19 January 2025 to Question 105729. Discussions on non-British nationals detained in US facilities are a matter for the US authorities and the nations of those detained.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of engaging in structured, law-based mediation with representatives of women born in the 1950s.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
On 29 January 2026 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced the Government’s new decision on the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s (PHSO) investigation into the way that State Pension age changes were communicated to women born in the 1950s.
We have set our decision out in full, and the document is available on Gov.uk: Government response to Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s Investigation into Women’s State Pension communications and associated issues.