Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of UK Government investment programmes on communities in Scotland.

Answered by Melanie Ward - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)

The UK Government is committed to driving sustainable economic growth, creating high-skilled jobs, and delivering tangible benefits for communities right across Scotland.

Our direct investment programmes, including the £140 million Scottish Local Growth Fund, the Pride in Place programme, City Region and Growth Deals, Freeports, and Investment Zones, are targeted at unlocking economic potential, regenerating town and city centres, and improving local infrastructure. For example, the Glasgow City Region Deal, has attracted over £800 million in private and commercial investment since 2014, further strengthening Glasgow City Region’s position as a hub of Scotland’s economic growth. The Deal has supported 5,500 people into sustained employment, and has the potential to deliver 29,000 jobs over the Deal’s lifetime.

Assessments of investment programmes are conducted in partnership with local authorities, regional partnerships, and key stakeholders using robust economic frameworks. These measure long-term outcomes such as local job creation, private-sector leverage, productivity growth, and community revitalisation. My department continues to monitor these impacts closely to ensure UK Government funding delivers maximum value and lasting economic prosperity across Scotland.

Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions his Department has had with Scottish local authorities on the delivery of UK Government-funded projects.

Answered by Melanie Ward - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)

Ministers and officials from the Scotland Office regularly engage with Scottish local authorities, regional partnerships, and COSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) to discuss the design, delivery, and governance of UK Government-funded projects.

Recent discussions have focused on ensuring efficient delivery of programmes, including City Region and Growth Deals, the Pride in Place initiative, and the Local Growth Fund.

The Scotland Office works collaboratively with local authority leaders and the Scottish Government to ensure projects are tailored to local economic priorities, delivered transparently, and aligned with wider community needs.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of cross-government coordination on national security priorities.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)

Keeping the country safe is the government's first responsibility. The Cabinet Office has successfully coordinated across a number of national security priorities, such as agreeing support for Ukraine, responding to terrorist incidents or delivering the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War. The government keeps the effectiveness of its cross-government coordination on national security priorities under continuous review to ensure the UK remains resilient against evolving threats.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with the Scottish Government on support for nationally significant cultural institutions in Glasgow.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Support for arts and culture in Scotland is a devolved matter. The UK Government provides the Scottish Government with a settlement through the Barnett Formula which it can spend on cultural activities and priorities across Scotland. Direct support for cultural organisations in Glasgow is therefore the responsibility of the Scottish Government, Local Authority and its agencies, who are best suited to determine the level of support needed.

The UK Government also recognises that many cultural organisations in Glasgow are deeply embedded in the wider cultural ecosystem of the UK. Further support is available, for example through creative tax reliefs or national lottery funding, which can support cultural organisations. DCMS Ministers will continue to work with the Scottish Government to champion Glasgow’s world class culture sector.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with cultural organisations in Glasgow on the sustainability of the arts sector.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Support for arts and culture in Scotland is a devolved matter. The UK Government provides the Scottish Government with a settlement through the Barnett Formula which it can spend on cultural activities and priorities across Scotland. Direct support for cultural organisations in Glasgow is therefore the responsibility of the Scottish Government, Local Authority and its agencies, who are best suited to determine the level of support needed.

The UK Government also recognises that many cultural organisations in Glasgow are deeply embedded in the wider cultural ecosystem of the UK. Further support is available, for example through creative tax reliefs or national lottery funding, which can support cultural organisations. DCMS Ministers will continue to work with the Scottish Government to champion Glasgow’s world class culture sector.