Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to the Soft Drinks Industry Levy thresholds on business competitiveness.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL) is globally recognised as a transformative health intervention. After SDIL was announced, the average sugar content of soft drinks in scope of the levy fell 46% between 2015 and 2020. These positive health impacts have been achieved without a negative impact on soft drink sales, with sales of drinks subject to the levy increasing by 21% between 2015 and 2020.
Given SDIL’s success, the Chancellor announced at Autumn Budget 2024 her intention to review the levy to enhance its impact. The ‘Strengthening the Soft Drinks Industry Levy’ consultation, published on 28 April 2025, follows this commitment. Specifically, it sets out proposals to reduce the minimum sugar threshold at which the levy applies from 5g to 4g sugar per 100ml, and to remove the current exemptions for milk-based and milk substitute drinks with added sugar.
The government takes potential business impacts seriously, continues to engage with businesses, and welcomes further feedback as part of the consultation, which is open until 21 July 2025.
The government expects to confirm any changes to the levy at the upcoming Budget, and will publish a Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) alongside the confirmed policy. This will set out the expected impact of any changes on businesses and civil society organisations.
The Competition and Markets Authority is responsible for investigating anti-competitive practices. As an independent authority, the CMA has discretion to investigate competition cases which, according to its prioritisation principles, it considers most appropriate.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of changes to annual revenue received from a single Remote Betting and Gambling Duty.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
In the financial year 2023-24, betting and gaming duties raised around £3.4 billion in tax revenue.
The Government is currently consulting on a single remote betting and gaming duty and we welcome responses to the consultation.
Should the government proceed with these reforms, the rate of the new tax will be set as part of the Budget process, and the OBR will update its forecast then, based on the final policy design.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the potential cost per year of universally restoring the Winter Fuel Payment.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Paying Winter Fuel Payments on a universal basis in England and Wales is estimated to cost an additional £1.3 billion in 2025/26 and £1.4 billion in 2026/27.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make it his policy to suspend the remaining arms licences to Israel, in the context of remarks by Prime Minister Netanyahu on control of Gaza made on 19 May 2025.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government's position is clear. This conflict has had a devastating impact on civilians and more bloodshed is in no-one's interest. One of our first actions in government was to review and suspend export licences which might be used by the Israeli Defence Forces in Gaza. As the Foreign Secretary set out in Parliament, that was a complex decision, which the Foreign Secretary took extremely seriously and stands by.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the White Paper entitled Restoring control over the immigration system, published 12 May 2025, whether her Department's proposed changes to the qualifying period for settled status will apply to people who have acquired settled status but have not yet lived in the UK continuously for ten years.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and further details on the proposed scheme will be provided at the time.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions his Department has had with (a) the Scottish Government and (b) industry representatives on supporting the growth of Scotland’s offshore wind supply chain; and what steps he is taking to ensure Scottish businesses can gain from UK offshore wind deployment targets and associated manufacturing opportunities.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department ensures Scotland benefits from our world-leading offshore wind deployment by supporting the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero with the Contract for Difference’s Clean Industry Bonus, which awards developers who invest in sustainable supply chains. The Energy Secretary has already increased the bonus from an initial £200m to £544m to support clean energy growth, including in Scotland’s industrial heartlands and coastal communities. We are also supporting the delivery of Great British Energy’s £300m grant funding to secure investment in domestic supply chains, including in Scotland.
The Department regularly engages with Scottish Government and industry representatives. For example, UK and Scottish Governments participated in a roundtable in Edinburgh to discuss clean energy supply chains, including floating offshore wind.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Thousands of Civil Service roles moved out of London in latest reform to the state, published on 14 May 2025, what assessment his Department has made of the economic impact of relocating civil service jobs from London to (a) Glasgow, (b) Edinburgh, and (c) Aberdeen on Scottish cities.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Places for Growth published a formative evaluation report in October 2024, which outlined that the programme is on track to deliver an estimated £729m in local economic benefits to cross Government locations between 2024 and 2030. Further details on the programme will be set out in the Spending Review after which an assessment will be undertaken. Places for Growth is committed to ongoing programme evaluation.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when his Department plans to complete its consideration of the relevant Project Willow recommendations.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We are working as quickly as possible to understand what we can do to support investors interested in developing projects at Grangemouth, including what policy or regulatory support is needed to enable investment. The inaugural Grangemouth Investment Taskforce, jointly chaired by the HMG and the Scottish government took place on May 21, 2025, to drive forward potential investment propositions.
The National Wealth Fund stands ready, and we encourage investors to come forward to join us in this major opportunity to secure a long-term industrial future in Grangemouth.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to publish the reforms to allow a limited pool of UNHCR recognised refugees and displaced people living overseas to apply for employment through existing sponsored worker routes.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
Refugees who have had to leave their home country because of persecution often lack the opportunity to apply for jobs and skilled worker visas in the UK, even where they have the talent and training to do so.
The Home Office’s Displaced Talent Mobility Pilot ended on 1 November 2024. Its findings will inform consideration of further efforts to enable skilled refugees and displaced people to work in the UK.
Further details of all the measures announced in our Immigration White Paper will be set out in due course.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, when she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to provide for a fully trans-inclusive ban on conversion therapy.
Answered by Nia Griffith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Wales Office)
Conversion practices are abuse. Such practices have no place in society and must be stopped. As outlined in the King’s Speech, this Government is committed to bringing forward a full, trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices. We continue to work cross-government on this important issue with a view to publishing our draft Bill later this session.