Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the need for amputee veterans to undertake capability assessments every two years.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government has not proposed to introduce two year assessments for any specific group.
Currently, Work Capability Assessment re-assessments are prioritised for customers on Employment and Support Allowance and the health element of Universal Credit who report a change in their health condition. Routine department-led reassessments are scheduled according to expected prognosis length for recovery and subject to available assessment capacity.
Individuals who have Limited Capability for Work- and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA), with the most severe and lifelong health conditions or disabilities, whose level of function means that they will always have LCWRA and are unlikely ever to be able to move into work, are not routinely reassessed.
Our wide-ranging package of reforms to health and disability benefits, set out in the Pathways to Work Green Paper, will improve experiences of the system for those who need it. The functional impact and severity of a condition can significantly vary across individuals, which is why we will continue to ensure that those with the most severe, life-long health conditions, who will never be able to work, will not need to be reassessed.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether amputee veterans will need to undertake capacity reassessments ever two years as part of proposed welfare reforms.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government has not proposed to introduce two year assessments for any specific group.
Currently, Work Capability Assessment re-assessments are prioritised for customers on Employment and Support Allowance and the health element of Universal Credit who report a change in their health condition. Routine department-led reassessments are scheduled according to expected prognosis length for recovery and subject to available assessment capacity.
Individuals who have Limited Capability for Work- and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA), with the most severe and lifelong health conditions or disabilities, whose level of function means that they will always have LCWRA and are unlikely ever to be able to move into work, are not routinely reassessed.
Our wide-ranging package of reforms to health and disability benefits, set out in the Pathways to Work Green Paper, will improve experiences of the system for those who need it. The functional impact and severity of a condition can significantly vary across individuals, which is why we will continue to ensure that those with the most severe, life-long health conditions, who will never be able to work, will not need to be reassessed.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he last met the South African Minister of Defence and Military Veterans; and what issues were discussed at the meeting.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The UK has a strong bilateral defence relationship with the Republic of South Africa. The Secretary of State for Defence has yet to meet his South African counterpart, Minister Motshekga. However the Minister for the House of Lords, Lord Coaker, had the pleasure of meeting with Mr Holomisa, the Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, in February 2025 where both parties spoke of the importance of the UK-Republic of South Africa Defence relationship.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which additional border control posts have been constructed in the UK due to the UK's departure from the EU.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The following BCPs have been newly constructed since the UK left the EU: Dover Bastion, Harwich, Heysham, Holyhead (Welsh Government project), Liverpool 2, Newhaven, Poole, Portsmouth, Purfleet, Sevington, Tyne.
Further information on the designation of ports is available on GOV.UK.
Animals, animal products and HRFNAO imports: authorised border control posts in the UK - GOV.UK.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies on support for veterans in the UK of the support provided to military veterans living in South Africa.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
This Government continues to work to deepen our relations with our international partners, including on issues relating to veterans.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to meet with the South African Minister for Defence and Military Veterans.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
We are actively engaged in enhancing bilateral defence ties with South Africa. The Defence Secretary looks forward to meeting his South African counterpart when the opportunity arises.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the volume of trade is that is required to be processed through each additional border control post constructed in the UK as a result of the UK exiting the EU.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra does not hold information on what volumes of trade are required to be processed via individual border control posts due to the UK leaving the EU.
The Government has worked with commercial ports to ensure that the infrastructure required to facilitate trade is in place, while also respecting the discretion of port operators and other stakeholders to make decisions on a commercial basis about the use of their infrastructure and facilities.
Further information on which ports are designated as BCPs, is available on GOV.UK. Animals, animal products and HRFNAO imports: authorised border control posts in the UK - GOV.UK.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the cost was of each additional order border control post constructed in the UK as a result of the UK's departure from the EU.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Through the Port Infrastructure Fund (PIF), the Government provided grants totalling nearly £200 million to 41 ports to construct infrastructure required for import controls following the UK leaving the EU.
Information on ports which received funding from the Ports Infrastructure Fund is
available on GOV.UK: Port Infrastructure Fund - successful applicants - GOV.UK.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much freight has been processed at the border control post in Grangemouth in (a) tonnes and (b) GBP value since its creation.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra does not hold the volume of freight or the GBP value of freight that is processed at Grangemouth BCP due to commercial sensitivity.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will provide a breakdown of (a) the type of freight and (b) its value processed at the border control post at Grangemouth.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra does not hold information on the value of freight going through Grangemouth BCP. The BCP is designated for the importation of products of animal origin (POAO), high risk food and feed not of animal origin (HRFFNAO), and plastic kitchenware.
Further details are available on GOV.UK:
Animals, animal products and HRFNAO imports: authorised border control posts in the UK - GOV.UK