To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.


Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Department of Transport: Public Expenditure
Thursday 21st March 2024

Asked by: Patricia Gibson (Scottish National Party - North Ayrshire and Arran)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Spring Budget 2024 on his Department’s spending plans.

Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Spring Budget was not a Spending Review, and as such departmental spending limits are unaffected.


Written Question
Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Thursday 14th March 2024

Asked by: Patricia Gibson (Scottish National Party - North Ayrshire and Arran)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of the (a) level of seafarers pay and (b) number of seafarers on the (i) capacity and (ii) functions of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

Navy Command is introducing a number of recruitment and retention initiatives. An independent benchmarking survey has been engaged to ensure levels of pay, leave and assignment length are competitive with industry to ensure the RFA remains at the leading edge of UK shipping operators and employers.


Written Question
Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Thursday 14th March 2024

Asked by: Patricia Gibson (Scottish National Party - North Ayrshire and Arran)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had discussions with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary on the potential impact of trends in the level of pay on (a) recruitment, (b) retention and (c) training.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

Navy Command is introducing a number of recruitment and retention initiatives. An independent benchmarking survey has been engaged to ensure levels of pay, leave and assignment length are competitive with industry to ensure the RFA remains at the leading edge of UK shipping operators and employers.


Written Question
Shipping: Freight
Friday 8th March 2024

Asked by: Patricia Gibson (Scottish National Party - North Ayrshire and Arran)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of steps being taken to ensure that vessels transiting Scottish and UK territorial waters are not carrying sanctioned cargo.

Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

In delivering maritime security in the UK Marine Area, the UK operates a layered approach to coastal and maritime defence, including onshore resources and surveillance capabilities, to detect those seeking to smuggle illicit goods or to facilitate illegal entry into the UK. Through the Economic Deterrence Initiative, the Government is investing in the maritime intelligence capability of the Joint Maritime Security Centre to enhance sanctions enforcement. For vessels transiting through UK waters, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) details the right of innocent passage and freedom of navigation. The UK remains fully committed to upholding UNCLOS.


Written Question
Food: UK Trade with EU
Thursday 7th March 2024

Asked by: Patricia Gibson (Scottish National Party - North Ayrshire and Arran)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the UK’s exit from the EU on trends in the cost of exporting food to the EU.

Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Trade and Continuity Agreement provides businesses tariff and quota free access to the EU market, provided that these goods meet ‘Rules of Origin’ requirements.

UK businesses must comply with customs procedures when exporting food. These procedures include Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) border controls as well as technical regulations, standards and conformity assessments. Not enough time has passed to robustly assess the trend in these costs.

In 2023, the UK exported £14.0 billion of Food, Feed and Drink to the EU. This represents a nominal increase of 0.3% compared to 2018, but 19% lower than 2018 after adjusting for inflation.


Written Question
Liraglutide
Wednesday 6th March 2024

Asked by: Patricia Gibson (Scottish National Party - North Ayrshire and Arran)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress her Department has made on tackling shortages and disruption to supplies of liraglutide for patients with type 2 diabetes.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Following intensive work with industry, the broad supply position for glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) in the United Kingdom has improved. However, global supply issues remain with specific medicines, including Victoza (liraglutide). We issued updated guidance to healthcare professionals in the form of a National Patient Safety Alert on the 3 January 2024 on how to manage patients requiring these medicines, with input from expert clinicians. We continue to work closely with manufacturers and others working in the supply chain to help ensure the continued supply of GLP-1 RAs for UK patients, and to resolve the remaining supply issues as quickly as possible, for example by asking suppliers to expedite deliveries.

We know how distressing and frustrating medicine supply issues can be, and the Department will continue to help ensure that these critical medicines reach diabetes patients. If any patient is concerned about their treatment, they should discuss this with their clinician at the earliest opportunity.


Written Question
Self-employed: Taxation
Monday 4th March 2024

Asked by: Patricia Gibson (Scottish National Party - North Ayrshire and Arran)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the impact of paying tax in advance via HMRC's system of payments on account on (a) small business owners, (b) freelancers and (c) other self-employed people.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

There has been no recent assessment of the impact of requiring payments on accounts (POAs) from self-employed workers.

POAs have been a feature of Self-Assessment since its introduction in 1996. They are legally due and, despite their name, are not payable before income has been earned. There are two equal payments on account six months apart. The first is payable on 31 January, ten months after the beginning of the tax year to which it relates. The second is payable on the following 31 July, four months after the tax year ends.

POAs create a flow of revenue to the Treasury to fund public services. They allow Self-Assessment taxpayers to spread the cost of their tax bill rather than paying in a single lump sum. They also limit any timing advantage gained by Self-Assessment taxpayers compared to other taxpayers, such as employees whose tax is deducted from their pay.

Self-Assessment taxpayers (including the self-employed) can make a claim to reduce or cancel their payments on account if they think they are excessive, or no longer due.


Written Question
Self-employed: Taxation
Monday 4th March 2024

Asked by: Patricia Gibson (Scottish National Party - North Ayrshire and Arran)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to undertake a review of HMRC's payments on account system.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

At present the Government has no plans to undertake a review of HMRC’s Payments on Account (POAs) system for Self-Assessment.


Written Question
Cats: Smuggling
Tuesday 27th February 2024

Asked by: Patricia Gibson (Scottish National Party - North Ayrshire and Arran)

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 bring forward legislative proposals to ban cat and kitten smuggling.

Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

As outlined in our 2021 Action Plan for Animal Welfare, the Government has an ambitious agenda for animal welfare and conservation reforms, which we are taking forward during this Parliamentary session. We will continue to introduce and support legislative and non-legislative reforms where possible.

We are aware that Selaine Saxby MP has introduced a Private Members’ Bill on restricting the importation and non-commercial movement of dogs, cats and ferrets. In accordance with Parliamentary convention, the Government will set out its formal position on this Bill when it receives its Second Reading.


Written Question
Public Sector: Workplace Pensions
Wednesday 21st February 2024

Asked by: Patricia Gibson (Scottish National Party - North Ayrshire and Arran)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps are being taken to ensure the accurate calculation of pensions for eligible individuals in the context of the McCloud remedy.

Answered by Laura Trott - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Act 2022 (the Act) provides remedy for discrimination that arose when new public service pensions schemes were introduced between 2014 and 2016. The Act provides that members must be provided with a remediable service statement which provides detailed information about their pension benefits, including any corrections to lump sum benefits, pension benefits or contributions required by the Act. The Act and HM Treasury directions specify the information that must be provided in the remediable service statement. Scheme Managers are responsible for complying with the requirements of the Act and Treasury Directions, and providing accurate information.