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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans the Government has to strengthen origin labelling requirements for pork products.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Country of origin information is required for certain products, including fresh and frozen pig meat. It is also required for all prepacked food where its omission would be misleading to consumers.

Under existing rules, food that is not classed as of UK origin cannot be sold or labelled as being British. Processed foods (such as bacon and sausages) and composite foods that are made in the UK, are British.

We continue to monitor how origin information is presented and the commitments supermarkets have made, and are considering what more can be done to help consumers make informed choices.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has been made of whether current pig supply-chain arrangements enable producers to receive a fair share of the final retail value of pork products.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government has not made a specific assessment of the share of the final retail value of pork products received by producers.

However, the Fair Dealing Obligations (Pigs) Regulations 2025, which came into force for all contracts in August this year, support fairer and more transparent relationships between producers and purchasers in the pig supply chain.

While the Regulations do not set pig prices, they require contracts to include clear pricing provisions and greater transparency on how prices are determined. This helps producers make informed business decisions and provides greater certainty over contractual terms.

Anyone with concerns about compliance should contact the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA), which is responsible for enforcing the Regulations. ASCA also operates an anonymous ‘in-confidence’ channel for producers who do not wish to share their personal details: [email protected].

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will meet with me to discuss sub-sea cement applications with regard to offshore wind within Scottish supply chains.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

I would be happy to consider a request to meet. Invitations should be submitted through the usual channels, either by post or by email, and will be considered in the normal way.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to Norfolk Vanguard East & West, whether his department has received RWE's supply chain plans.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Clean Industry Bonus (CIB) replaced Supply Chain Plans for offshore wind projects from Allocation Round 7 of the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme. Applicants are required to obtain a CIB statement, demonstrating investment in shorter and more sustainable supply chains, before entering the CfD auction. Both Norfolk Vanguard East and Norfolk Vanguard West obtained such statements and were awarded Contracts for Difference in Allocation Round 7. Officials engage regularly with RWE on supply chain delivery for both projects.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking with the DVSA to reduce driving test waiting times in Forfar.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government set out a comprehensive package of measures in April 2025 to tackle long waiting times across the whole of Great Britain, aiming to deliver around 10,000 additional tests per month. A key step was reintroducing overtime incentives. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) conducted 1.99 million tests between April 2025 and March 2026, a record and 8.6% (159,000) higher than the previous year.

DVSA has made changes to make the booking system fairer, as well as continuing to run national recruitment campaigns for driving examiners (DE) across the country.

Forfar driving test centre (DTC) is an outstation of Dundee DTC. DVSA currently sends an examiner to Forfar twice a week to conduct tests. DVSA recently completed a recruitment campaign for Dundee DTC and has made two offers of employment. Recruiting additional examiners at Dundee will enable DVSA to increase the number of tests available in Forfar.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether additional resources will be made available to reduce driving test waiting times in Forfar.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government set out a comprehensive package of measures in April 2025 to tackle long waiting times across the whole of Great Britain, aiming to deliver around 10,000 additional tests per month. A key step was reintroducing overtime incentives. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) conducted 1.99 million tests between April 2025 and March 2026, a record and 8.6% (159,000) higher than the previous year.

DVSA has made changes to make the booking system fairer, as well as continuing to run national recruitment campaigns for driving examiners (DE) across the country.

Forfar driving test centre (DTC) is an outstation of Dundee DTC. DVSA currently sends an examiner to Forfar twice a week to conduct tests. DVSA recently completed a recruitment campaign for Dundee DTC and has made two offers of employment. Recruiting additional examiners at Dundee will enable DVSA to increase the number of tests available in Forfar.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what funding is available to communities across the UK under the Pitching In programme; which body administers that funding in Scotland; and under what criteria is it allocated.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government is committed to delivering new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities that promote health, wellbeing and community cohesion.

Our investment into grassroots sports facilities in Scotland is made via the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities (MSGF) Programme, which is investing £8.14 million in 2026/27. The programme delivers projects such as new artificial grass pitches, changing pavilions and pitch maintenance equipment.

The MSGF Programme is delivered by the Scottish Football Association in Scotland, where it is administered as part of the SFA’s wider Pitching In Programme. The MSGF Programme aims to promote health, wellbeing and community cohesion, while removing the barriers to physical activity for under-represented groups, such as women and girls, people with disabilities, and ethnic minority communities.

50th Annual Scottish Transport Extravaganza

Air Ambulance Week 2026

Tent of Nations Nassar family farm

Wm Morrison Supermarkets Limited and Clerkhill Post Office

Chinese state repression against Tibetans

Design and Disability exhibition at the V&A Dundee

30th anniversary of the birth of Dolly the Sheep

Josh Kerr

Arrest of Dr Mazen Al-Rantisi and Israeli action against Palestinian civil society

Trophy hunting imports

Five-year indefinite leave to remain pathway for Skilled Worker visa holders (No. 2)

Technology companies and crimes against Palestinians

Nature rights

Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games

The Odyssey's filming in Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey constituency

Impact of Israel’s ingress into Palestinian territory on maternal care

FIFA World Cup 2026 match bans

Norman MacLeod

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Patricia Ferguson (Chair); Dave Doogan; Lillian Jones; Douglas Lumsden

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Patricia Ferguson (Chair); Maureen Burke; Harriet Cross; Dave Doogan

Found: Members in attendance: • Patricia Ferguson MP • Dave Doogan MP • Lillian Jones MP • Kirsteen Sullivan

Found: Q57 Dave Doogan: Sorry, Mr Leenders, we will get on to hubs in a moment.

Scotch whisky is one of Scotland’s most globally recognised products and the UK’s largest drink export. The industry contributes substantial economic value and supports 41,000 jobs across Scotland. Whisky also carries cultural significance and plays a central role in rural economies. However, recent global volatility and a rise in protectionist measures have contributed to a slowdown in Scotch whisky exports, while market trends are also shifting. At the same time, the sector is facing a number of domestic pressures, such as rising energy costs and the introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme. This inquiry will examine these challenges, and explore how UK Government policies on trade, duty and domestic regulation are shaping the future of this key Scottish industry.

At its meeting on 9 September, the Committee agreed to inquire into the Electoral Commission's oversight of the funding and governance of political parties in Scotland, and the policies, processes and safeguards associated with the distribution of Short Money to political parties. Further information on the scope of this inquiry will be published in due course.

The Lord Advocate and her deputy the Solicitor General for Scotland each assume a “dual role” being both senior government legal advisers, and senior public prosecutors. There is a long-standing and ongoing political and constitutional debate within Scotland about whether the dual role should be split to better mitigate actual and/or perceived conflicts of interest between the two functions. This inquiry will appraise the case for and against splitting the dual role, and exploring different options for reform.