Pete Wishart Portrait

Pete Wishart

Scottish National Party - Perth and North Perthshire

First elected: 7th June 2001


Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
8th Sep 2022 - 12th Dec 2022
Shadow SNP Leader of the House of Commons
1st Feb 2021 - 8th Sep 2022
Members Estimate Committee
15th May 2019 - 8th Sep 2022
Members Estimate
15th May 2019 - 8th Sep 2022
House of Commons Commission
15th May 2019 - 8th Sep 2022
Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Constitution)
20th Jun 2017 - 1st Feb 2021
Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Cabinet Office)
7th Jan 2020 - 1st Feb 2021
Shadow SNP Leader of the House of Commons
20th Jun 2017 - 7th Jan 2020
Scottish Affairs Committee
12th Jul 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Liaison Committee Sub-committee on the effectiveness and influence of the select committee system
13th Feb 2019 - 6th Nov 2019
Liaison Committee (Commons)
6th Nov 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Shadow SNP Westminster Group Leader (Leader of the House of Commons)
20th May 2015 - 20th Jun 2017
Scottish Affairs Committee
18th Jun 2015 - 3rd May 2017
Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
15th Jun 2015 - 3rd May 2017
Liaison Committee (Commons)
10th Sep 2015 - 3rd May 2017
Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
10th Nov 2015 - 3rd May 2017
Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Constitution)
15th Jun 2010 - 20th May 2015
Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Culture and Sport)
15th Jun 2010 - 20th May 2015
Speaker's Advisory Committee on Works of Art
18th Nov 2010 - 9th Nov 2012
Shadow Spokesperson (International Development)
10th May 2005 - 6th May 2010
Shadow Spokesperson (Culture, Media and Sport)
10th May 2001 - 6th May 2010
Shadow Spokesperson (Justice)
10th Oct 2007 - 6th May 2010
Shadow Spokesperson (Home Affairs)
10th Oct 2007 - 6th May 2010
Scottish Affairs Committee
24th Nov 2008 - 6th May 2010
Speaker's Advisory Committee on Works of Art
1st Jan 2008 - 6th May 2010
Administration Committee
12th Jul 2005 - 24th Nov 2008
Shadow Spokesperson (Cabinet Office)
10th May 2005 - 10th Oct 2007
Opposition Whip (Commons)
1st Jun 2001 - 1st Jun 2007
Shadow Spokesperson (Transport)
10th May 2001 - 5th May 2005
Shadow Spokesperson (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th May 2001 - 5th May 2005


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Pete Wishart has voted in 596 divisions, and 2 times against the majority of their Party.

25 Jan 2022 - Judicial Review and Courts Bill - View Vote Context
Pete Wishart voted No - against a party majority - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 4 Scottish National Party No votes vs 4 Scottish National Party Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 187 Noes - 315
29 Jun 2022 - Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill - View Vote Context
Pete Wishart voted No - against a party majority - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 1 Scottish National Party No votes vs 1 Scottish National Party Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 175 Noes - 271
View All Pete Wishart Division Votes

Debates during the 2019 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Jacob Rees-Mogg (Conservative)
(42 debate interactions)
Alister Jack (Conservative)
Secretary of State for Scotland
(33 debate interactions)
Lindsay Hoyle (Speaker)
(32 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Leader of the House
(96 debate contributions)
Cabinet Office
(84 debate contributions)
Scotland Office
(47 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
View all Pete Wishart's debates

Perth and North Perthshire Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

Pete Wishart has not participated in any petition debates

Latest EDMs signed by Pete Wishart

7th February 2024
Pete Wishart signed this EDM on Monday 11th March 2024

International Court of Justice Ruling on Gaza and the UK’s duties under the Genocide Convention

Tabled by: Zarah Sultana (Labour - Coventry South)
That this House notes the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 26 January 2024, which found that it is plausible that Israel’s ongoing attacks on the Palestinian people in Gaza are in breach of the Genocide Convention; further notes that the ICJ issued provisional measures, including ordering …
63 signatures
(Most recent: 18 Mar 2024)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 31
Scottish National Party: 21
Independent: 5
Plaid Cymru: 3
Social Democratic & Labour Party: 2
Green Party: 1
Alba Party: 1
Alliance: 1
6th March 2024
Pete Wishart signed this EDM as the primary signatory on Wednesday 6th March 2024

Supermarket listing for Perth restaurant owner

Tabled by: Pete Wishart (Scottish National Party - Perth and North Perthshire)
That this House congratulates Praveen Kumar, owner of Tabla restaurant in Perth, on securing his first ever supermarket listing to supply 11 new lines of authentic Indian ready meals into 56 Asda stores across Scotland; recognises Praveen’s esteemed career in hospitality, which has seen him work in some of the …
6 signatures
(Most recent: 13 Mar 2024)
Signatures by party:
Scottish National Party: 6
View All Pete Wishart's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Pete Wishart, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.


1 Urgent Question tabled by Pete Wishart

Tuesday 19th January 2021

Pete Wishart has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

1 Bill introduced by Pete Wishart


The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill To make provision for the House of Commons to nominate the Prime Minister and approve appointments to the Cabinet; to establish the office of Acting Prime Minister; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Thursday 11th July 2019

Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
14th Jan 2020
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the compliance of the blog post entitled Two hands are a lot, published by Dominic Cummings on 2 January 2020, with paragraphs (a) 5, (b) 6 and (c)14 of his Department's December 2016 Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

I refer the Hon member to the response which I gave to PQ1411 on 14 January 2020.

Oliver Dowden
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
15th Jul 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the financial impact on the UK audio-visual sector of his decision to expand the text and data mining exception.

The Government asked specific questions about impact in the consultation on AI and IP, but received very limited quantitative evidence. An impact assessment will be published alongside the legislation when laid. The proposed exception will be targeted to limit negative impacts, and the government welcomes further evidence from rights holders on how to best achieve this.

16th Jun 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has had recent discussions with representatives from the EU to understand whether the simultaneous disclosure of unregistered designs in the UK and EU would provide protection for those designs in the UK and EU.

The UK sought an agreement with the EU on reciprocal disclosure for unregistered designs. This would have been beneficial to UK design businesses. However, the

EU decided to pass up the opportunity to conclude such mutually beneficial text, which is disappointing. There are no plans to revisit this issue with our EU partners.

However, the Government recognises that this an important issue for UK designers and will consider it in our future work on the UK designs system.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
15th Dec 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of raising the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court Small Claims Track Cap to £25,000 in line with a Fast-Track claim.

As part of its work on IP enforcement issues the IPO has facilitated a series of working groups over the last year looking at the enforcement framework. The cost and accessibility of court processes for IP disputes was considered as part of this review, and questions on these topics were included in the call for views which closed in November this year. The IPO is currently considering the responses received from that exercise and will carry out further assessment as necessary before any recommendations are taken forwards.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
15th Dec 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to implement recommendation 13b in Annex G of the Digital Market’s Taskforce’s report entitled A new pro-competition regime for digital markets.

The Government is committed to ensuring digital markets remain competitive and deliver positive outcomes for consumers, small businesses, and society. That is why we have announced funding to establish a new Digital Markets Unit within the Competition and Markets Authority from 2021-22.

We set up the Digital Markets Taskforce in March to offer expert advice. We will now consider the recommendations, including 13b and consult on proposals for a new pro-competition regime for digital markets in early 2021.

15th Dec 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing an online system to submit claims to the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court Small Claims Track.

As part of its work on IP enforcement issues the IPO has facilitated a series of working groups over the last year looking at the enforcement framework. The cost and accessibility of court processes for IP disputes was considered as part of this review, and questions on these topics were included in the call for views which closed in November this year. The IPO is currently considering the responses received from that exercise and will carry out further assessment and consult other departments as necessary before any recommendations are taken forwards.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
22nd Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure the protection of the intellectual property of people in the creative industries in the event that a UK EU trade agreement is (a) agreed and (b) not agreed after the end of the transition period.

The Government’s approach to negotiations between the UK and the EU aims to secure an Intellectual Property Chapter that includes mutual assurances to maintain high standards of protection for IP rights, including registered IP rights such as patents, trademarks and designs; and unregistered rights such as copyright, and trade secrets. The approach also reflects international agreements such as the WTO agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property and World Intellectual Property Organisation treaties.

If no further negotiated agreement is reached between the UK and the EU, the arrangements in the intellectual property section of the Withdrawal Agreement take effect at the end of the transition period. These arrangements provide legal certainty and protect the interests of rightsholders and users of the IP framework.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
22nd Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the level of reliance of UK creative industries on UK-based trade mark attorneys; what assessment he has made of trends in the level of that reliance after the transition period; and if he will make a statement.

The UK’s highly skilled legal profession play a vital role in advising UK businesses in the creative sector, and indeed across all sectors, on how to make the most from their IP portfolios

Officials at the Intellectual Property Office are having ongoing conversations with representative bodies over how to best address any issues they may face once the transition period ends.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
22nd Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what new protections are being offered to UK IP legal practitioners who help support IP rights owners after the transition period.

Officials at the Intellectual Property Office and Ministry of Justice are working together and continue to have conversations with representative bodies over how to best address issues they may face once the transition period ends.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
28th Apr 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to respond to the letter dated 3 April 2020 from the hon Member for Perth and North Perthshire, reference PW10093.

A reply was sent to the hon Member on 4 May.

28th Apr 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to respond to the letter dated 14 April 2020 from the hon Member for Perth and North Perthshire, reference PW10251.

A reply was sent to the hon Member on 29 April.

5th Feb 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to help support people in freelance creative professions.

The Government recognises the essential contribution freelancers make to the creative industries.

A key ambition of the Creative Industries Sector Vision, published in June 2023, is to improve the job quality and working practice of the sector, including the self-employed. As part of this ambition, Government and industry have agreed to work together to address the recommendations of the Good Work Review. An action plan is being developed and proposals include the recent launch of the British Film Institute’s £1.5 million Good Work Programme for screen.

Arts Council England’s current Delivery Plan includes ‘increasing our support for individuals’ as one of its five themes and sets high expectations for all cultural organisations which work with creative and cultural professionals. Its online toolkits support practitioners and employers by setting out good-practice approaches, and signposting people to other supportive resources.

Universal Credit and Jobcentre Plus support is available to those who are looking for work, and those who are in work but with low earnings, and this includes the self-employed. This support is available to all, regardless of sector.

Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
5th Feb 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the trends in the level of freelance employment in creative industries in the next five years; whether her Department is taking steps to help support growth in freelance employment in the sector; and if she will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of introducing social security programmes to help support freelance employees in the sector.

The Government recognises the essential contribution freelancers make to the creative industries.

A key ambition of the Creative Industries Sector Vision, published in June 2023, is to improve the job quality and working practice of the sector, including the self-employed. As part of this ambition, Government and industry have agreed to work together to address the recommendations of the Good Work Review. An action plan is being developed and proposals include the recent launch of the British Film Institute’s £1.5 million Good Work Programme for screen.

Arts Council England’s current Delivery Plan includes ‘increasing our support for individuals’ as one of its five themes and sets high expectations for all cultural organisations which work with creative and cultural professionals. Its online toolkits support practitioners and employers by setting out good-practice approaches, and signposting people to other supportive resources.

Universal Credit and Jobcentre Plus support is available to those who are looking for work, and those who are in work but with low earnings, and this includes the self-employed. This support is available to all, regardless of sector.

Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
30th Jan 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has made an assessment of the (a) long-term viability and (b) economic sustainability of freelance journalism.

Journalists, including freelancers, play an important role in holding power to account and keeping the public informed by providing reliable, high-quality information.

As the independent Cairncross Review into the future of journalism identified, society is increasingly moving online and news publishers are facing significant challenges in transitioning to sustainable digital business models, particularly at local level - and this presents challenges both for publishers and the freelancers that they contract.

The Government is taking action to support journalists. We set up the National Committee for the Safety of Journalists (NCSJ) in 2020, bringing together government, representatives bodies for journalists, police and prosecuting authorities as well as civil society groups to improve ways journalists, especially freelancers, can be supported and given the resources and training they need and set this our in the 2021 National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists.

We are also supporting the news publishers that employ or contract journalists. To date, this support has included the introduction of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill, which among many other things will help to rebalance the relationship between publishers and platforms; the delivery of a £2 million Future News Fund, designed to invest in new technological prototypes, start-ups and innovative business models to explore new ways of sustaining the industry in this changing landscape; the zero rating of VAT on e-newspapers; the extension of a 2017 business rates relief on local newspaper office space until 2025; We continue to consider all possible options in the interests of promoting and sustaining news journalism.

Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
7th Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to protect public funding for creative industries during the period of increases to the cost of living.

The Government is aware of the number of issues facing the creative industries as a result of rising inflation and rising energy prices.

In September 2022 the government announced support for businesses, including businesses within the creative industries, through the Energy Bill Relief Scheme. This is expected to cut non-domestic energy bills by between one-quarter and one-third up until March 2023. BEIS recently launched a 3 month review into the effectiveness of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme. DCMS continues to work with BEIS and industry to analyse the impact of the current Energy Bill Relief Scheme on our sectors.

Support is also available through the targeted support package announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in May, worth over £37 billion in total, to ease the cost of living burden on millions of households with the greatest need, including those working in the creative industries.

The creative industries are some of the fastest growing sectors in the UK economy, contributing £116 billion in GVA and employing 2.1 million people. That is why we are developing a Sector Vision to set out our ambitions for the sector between now and 2030, which we will publish in the coming months.

Supporting the resilience of the creative industries’ workforce in the long-term is a key objective of the Policy and Evidence Centre’s Review of Job Quality and Working Practice in the Creative Industries which was co-funded by DCMS and is due to be published later this year. The Government will work with industry to consider its recommendations.

The Government is also supporting the creative industries through Arts Council England, which recently announced support for 990 organisations across the creative and cultural sectors as part of its 2023-2026 Investment Programme.

Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
7th Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support the livelihoods of people in the creative industries during the period of increases to the cost of living.

The Government is aware of the number of issues facing the creative industries as a result of rising inflation and rising energy prices.

In September 2022 the government announced support for businesses, including businesses within the creative industries, through the Energy Bill Relief Scheme. This is expected to cut non-domestic energy bills by between one-quarter and one-third up until March 2023. BEIS recently launched a 3 month review into the effectiveness of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme. DCMS continues to work with BEIS and industry to analyse the impact of the current Energy Bill Relief Scheme on our sectors.

Support is also available through the targeted support package announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in May, worth over £37 billion in total, to ease the cost of living burden on millions of households with the greatest need, including those working in the creative industries.

The creative industries are some of the fastest growing sectors in the UK economy, contributing £116 billion in GVA and employing 2.1 million people. That is why we are developing a Sector Vision to set out our ambitions for the sector between now and 2030, which we will publish in the coming months.

Supporting the resilience of the creative industries’ workforce in the long-term is a key objective of the Policy and Evidence Centre’s Review of Job Quality and Working Practice in the Creative Industries which was co-funded by DCMS and is due to be published later this year. The Government will work with industry to consider its recommendations.

The Government is also supporting the creative industries through Arts Council England, which recently announced support for 990 organisations across the creative and cultural sectors as part of its 2023-2026 Investment Programme.

Julia Lopez
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
3rd Dec 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with the commercial music industry on the difficulties of procuring insurance for live music events.

We are aware of the concerns raised by the music industry about the potential challenges associated with securing insurance for live music events.

Officials have been working closely with the affected sectors to understand the challenges faced. This includes work to build an evidence base on whether there is a clear market failure that demonstrates insurance coverage is the only barrier to live music events taking place.

23rd Sep 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans the Government has to support music businesses in the event that they cannot reopen when the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme ends.

We appreciate that the Covid-19 pandemic presents a significant challenge to the music sector. As you are aware, the Government has provided unprecedented support for business and workers to protect them against the current economic emergency, including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS), the Bounceback Loan Scheme and business rates reliefs.

The Chancellor has now announced the Winter Economy Plan to protect jobs and support businesses over the coming months, once the existing SEISS and CJRS come to end. This support includes:

  • the new Job Support Scheme;

  • an extension to the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme;

  • an extension of reduced VAT (from 20% to 5%) on concert tickets to March 2021; and

  • further concessions on repayment terms, payment deferrals and application windows.

In addition, the Secretary of State provided a major £1.57 billion support package for key cultural organisations to help them through the coronavirus pandemic. This support package will benefit the music sector by providing support to venues and many other organisations to stay open and continue operating.

11th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department’s planned timescale is for publishing its response to the Union connectivity review: final report, published on 26 November 2021.

The UK Government is grateful to Lord Peter Hendy for his Union Connectivity Review. We are taking the time necessary to consider his recommendations, and have been working closely with the Scottish Government, Welsh Government, Northern Ireland Executive and key stakeholders, to identify the solutions that work best for the people of the UK. We will publish the Government’s response as soon as is practicable.

Richard Holden
Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
2nd Sep 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he is taking steps to clear the driving test backlog and reduce test waiting times, particularly in rural areas.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) operates a 24-week booking window for car tests and there are test slots available within this window.

Driver testing services were significantly disrupted during the pandemic, which has led to a high demand for learners who are now wanting to take their driving test. The DVSA is working hard to provide as many practical driving test appointments as it can and has a number of measures in place to do this. These include offering a national recovery allowance and annual leave buy back to examiners, asking all those qualified to conduct tests, but who do not do so as part of their current day job, to return to conducting tests, conducting out of hours testing (such as on public holidays and weekends), and resuming the number of driving tests per day to seven for each full-time examiner.

The DVSA is also recruiting more than 300 driving examiners across Great Britain. The DVSA’s examiner recruitment campaigns continue to be successful but, like many employers, it is finding the job market extremely competitive. As it moves through each recruitment campaign, the DVSA will continually review and make changes and improvements to its recruitment and selection process, and training courses.

To reduce the number of driving tests that go to waste, the DVSA has introduced a text messaging service to remind candidates about their test and has also launched a ‘Ready to Pass?’ campaign to improve learners’ understanding of what it means to be test ready and how they can assess their readiness.

Lucy Frazer
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
2nd Sep 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, in the context of the driving test backlog, if he will take steps to increase the number of driving test slots available, particularly in rural areas.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) operates a 24-week booking window for car tests and there are test slots available within this window.

Driver testing services were significantly disrupted during the pandemic, which has led to a high demand for learners who are now wanting to take their driving test. The DVSA is working hard to provide as many practical driving test appointments as it can and has a number of measures in place to do this. These include offering a national recovery allowance and annual leave buy back to examiners, asking all those qualified to conduct tests, but who do not do so as part of their current day job, to return to conducting tests, conducting out of hours testing (such as on public holidays and weekends), and resuming the number of driving tests per day to seven for each full-time examiner.

The DVSA is also recruiting more than 300 driving examiners across Great Britain. The DVSA’s examiner recruitment campaigns continue to be successful but, like many employers, it is finding the job market extremely competitive. As it moves through each recruitment campaign, the DVSA will continually review and make changes and improvements to its recruitment and selection process, and training courses.

To reduce the number of driving tests that go to waste, the DVSA has introduced a text messaging service to remind candidates about their test and has also launched a ‘Ready to Pass?’ campaign to improve learners’ understanding of what it means to be test ready and how they can assess their readiness.

Lucy Frazer
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
28th Aug 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the DVLA is taking to make the processing of V5 forms (a) more efficient and (b) accessible online during the covid-19 outbreak.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has a range of services available online which offer the quickest and easiest way to transact with the DVLA. The DVLA’s online services have worked well throughout the pandemic with more than 36 million online driver and vehicle transactions processed since March. Around 97.5 per cent of DVLA’s customer interactions are digital or automated allowing businesses and motorists to transact with DVLA at a time and place that suits them.

For vehicle keepers, the online services include notifying a change of keeper, telling the DVLA that a vehicle has been disposed of to a motor trader as well as removing and adding a personalised number plate from or to a vehicle.

The DVLA continues to add to the extensive range of digital services already available. In June, the DVLA launched a new service allowing vehicle keepers to change their address online. This service was developed and introduced at pace in response to the pandemic and has been very successful with more than 213,000 change of address transactions completed online by the end of August. Further digital service enhancements are underway.

19th May 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure (a) Air France, (b) KLM and (c) other airlines refund customers for flights cancelled as a result of covid-19.

The Department for Transport is in regular conversation with UK airlines and wider membership bodies. We are working closely with the sector, the regulator and consumer groups to help ensure airlines deliver on their commitments.

The Government recognises the challenges businesses are experiencing regarding refunds for cancelled holidays and flights. Airlines are working hard to answer the high call volumes and to process large volumes of refunds.

The Government appreciates the frustration consumers may be experiencing. We have been clear that where a consumer has asked for a refund, that refund must be paid.

29th Nov 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to support research into glioblastoma and other less survivable cancers.

  • I am very grateful to the Honourable Gentleman for bringing this challenge to my attention.

  • We are working closely with research partners, and I am pleased to say that more research is being funded as we continue to encourage more researchers to become involved in what remains a challenging scientific area, with a relatively small research community.

  • My office is in the process of arranging meetings with key stakeholders in this area. This includes leading charities and a separate meeting between leadership of the MHRA and honourable members who are similarly passionate to see advances in research.

  • This is an issue close to my heart, and I am confident that the Government's continued commitment to funding will help us make progress towards effective treatments.

Andrew Stephenson
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
10th Mar 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help support negotiations to end regional conflicts within the Balochistan region of Pakistan.

We regularly discuss the security situation and human rights in Pakistan at a senior level with the relevant Pakistani authorities. Resolving the ongoing security issues in Balochistan is a matter for the Pakistani Government.

Leo Docherty
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
10th Mar 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the implications for its policies of the human rights situation in the Pakistani region of Balochistan, including potential occurrence of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial executions and honour killings.

The UK regularly engages the Government of Pakistan at a senior level on the need to respect human rights and uphold the rule of law. On 30 January, Minister of State for South Asia, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, discussed the human rights situation with Minister for Human Rights Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada. In June 2022, the British High Commissioner to Pakistan discussed the issue of enforced disappearances in Balochistan with Minister Pirzada. We continue to encourage progress towards the criminalisation of enforced disappearances in Pakistan. We urge states to fully investigate any allegations, prosecute those responsible and provide justice to victims and their families.

Leo Docherty
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
10th Mar 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department plans to provide humanitarian aid and support to the Baloch people displaced by conflict in that region.

Since 2014 the UK has provided support to the most vulnerable people in Pakistan affected by conflict, through the Multi-Year Humanitarian Programme. The £120 million programme covers both immediate relief and early recovery interventions for shelter, food and non-food items, water and sanitation, and livelihood and protection needs.

Leo Docherty
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
5th Feb 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending tax reporting periods for freelancers in the creative sectors.

The deadlines for individuals submitting self-assessment tax returns are prescribed in legislation. Individuals have specific reporting deadlines which are dependent on whether they submit their returns online or on paper.

Individuals who might not know their exact profit by the relevant filing date may provide estimated figures in their return. They have 12 months from the filing deadline date to finalise their figures and make the appropriate amendment to their return.

There is no provision within the legislation to make distinctions between individuals with different professions or vocations such as creative freelancers.

There is however provision for a special relief for self-employed creators of literary or artistic works to average their profits over 2 years where certain conditions are met. This helps them even out fluctuating profits, smoothing their tax bills

Nigel Huddleston
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
14th Nov 2023
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to (a) review the Approved Mileage Allowance Payment and (b) take fiscal steps to support employees and volunteers using their own vehicles in (i) rural and (ii) other areas.

Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) are used by employers to reimburse an employee’s expenses for business mileage in their private vehicle, including employees in rural areas. These rates are also used by self-employed drivers to claim tax relief on business mileage (simplified motoring expenses). The AMAP rates are not mandatory, and employers can choose to pay more or less than the AMAP rate. It is therefore ultimately up to employers to determine the rate at which they reimburse their employees. The AMAP rate also applies to volunteers, and organisations using volunteers also do not need to use the AMAP rate, and can choose to pay more or less than the AMAP rate.

In considering changes to the AMAP/simplified motoring expenses rates, the Government has to balance support for individuals with the responsible management of public finances, which fund our essential public services.

However, the Government recognises that transport is a major cost for individuals and families. At Spring Statement 2022 the Government announced a temporary 12-month cut to duty on petrol and diesel of 5p per litre. In order to continue supporting all motorists, it will extend the 5p fuel duty cut, which is worth £100 to the average driver over the next year.

Like all taxes and allowances, the Government keeps the AMAP rate underreview, and any changes will be announced at a future fiscal event.

Gareth Davies
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
15th Oct 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many instances of sprits and duty fraud have been successfully prosecuted since the introduction of the Duty Stamps Scheme.

HMRC regularly publishes alcohol fraud prosecution data on the GOV.UK website. The most recent publication (Tackling alcohol smuggling: outputs – April 2016 to April 2019) shows that during the period April 2016 and March 2019 HMRC conducted 33 arrests with 25 convictions for offences relating to alcohol fraud. Figures for the periods since April 2019 will be published in due course.

Helen Whately
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
15th Oct 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to review the application of duty stamps on Scotch whisky and spirits.

Duty stamps do not raise revenue, they are an anti-fraud measure that have helped secure the alcohol supply chain, making it more difficult for illicit products to infiltrate the market. HMRC’s tax gap estimate indicates that such measures are successfully keeping spirit’s fraud at historically low levels.

The Government is keen to support innovation in the alcohol sector. That is why, at Budget 2020, we announced plans to review alcohol duty with the aim of improving the current system to make it simpler, more economically rational and less administratively burdensome.

Following a Call for Evidence launched in October 2020, the Government is currently considering the responses. While scope of this review does not include duty stamps, HM Revenue and Customs will review the duty stamps policy when any changes to the alcohol regime have been developed.

Helen Whately
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
15th Oct 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much revenue has been raised from the Duty Stamps Scheme since the introduction of that scheme.

Duty stamps do not raise revenue, they are an anti-fraud measure that have helped secure the alcohol supply chain, making it more difficult for illicit products to infiltrate the market. HMRC’s tax gap estimate indicates that such measures are successfully keeping spirit’s fraud at historically low levels.

The Government is keen to support innovation in the alcohol sector. That is why, at Budget 2020, we announced plans to review alcohol duty with the aim of improving the current system to make it simpler, more economically rational and less administratively burdensome.

Following a Call for Evidence launched in October 2020, the Government is currently considering the responses. While scope of this review does not include duty stamps, HM Revenue and Customs will review the duty stamps policy when any changes to the alcohol regime have been developed.

Helen Whately
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
11th May 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to respond to the letter of 10 April 2020 from the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, reference PW10229.

HM Treasury has received unprecedented amounts of correspondence since the start of the coronavirus outbreak, and apologises for the delay in responding to the Honourable Member. The Honourable Member’s correspondence is receiving attention and will be replied to as soon as possible.

11th May 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to respond to the letter of 10 April 2020 from the hon Member for Perth and North Perthshire, reference PW10256.

HM Treasury has received unprecedented amounts of correspondence since the start of the coronavirus outbreak, and apologises for the delay in responding to the Honourable Member. The Honourable Member’s correspondence is receiving attention and will be replied to as soon as possible.

11th May 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to respond to the letter of 7 April 2020 from the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, reference PW10191.

HM Treasury has received unprecedented amounts of correspondence since the start of the coronavirus outbreak, and apologises for the delay in responding to the Honourable Member. The Honourable Member’s correspondence is receiving attention and will be replied to as soon as possible.

11th May 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to respond to the letter of 10 April 2020 from the hon Member for Perth and North Perthshire, reference PW10257.

HM Treasury has received unprecedented amounts of correspondence since the start of the coronavirus outbreak, and apologises for the delay in responding to the Honourable Member. The Honourable Member’s correspondence is receiving attention and will be replied to as soon as possible.

11th May 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to respond to the letter of 7 April 2020 from the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, reference PW10166.

HM Treasury has received unprecedented amounts of correspondence since the start of the coronavirus outbreak, and apologises for the delay in responding to the Honourable Member. The Honourable Member’s correspondence is receiving attention and will be replied to as soon as possible.

11th May 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to respond to the letter of 13 April 2020 from the hon Member for Perth and North Perthshire, reference PW10269.

HM Treasury has received unprecedented amounts of correspondence since the start of the coronavirus outbreak, and apologises for the delay in responding to the Honourable Member. The Honourable Member’s correspondence is receiving attention and will be replied to as soon as possible.

11th May 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to respond to the letter of 6 April 2020 from the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, reference PW10140.

HM Treasury has received unprecedented amounts of correspondence since the start of the coronavirus outbreak, and apologises for the delay in responding to the Honourable Member. The Honourable Member’s correspondence is receiving attention and will be replied to as soon as possible.

11th May 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to respond to the letter of 10 April 2020 from the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, reference PW10231.

HM Treasury has received unprecedented amounts of correspondence since the start of the coronavirus outbreak, and apologises for the delay in responding to the Honourable Member. The Honourable Member’s correspondence is receiving attention and will be replied to as soon as possible.

11th May 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to respond to the letter of 13 April 2020 from the hon Member for Perth and North Perthshire, reference PW10280.

HM Treasury has received unprecedented amounts of correspondence since the start of the coronavirus outbreak, and apologises for the delay in responding to the Honourable Member. The Honourable Member’s correspondence is receiving attention and will be replied to as soon as possible.

11th May 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to respond to the letter of 5 May 2020 from the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, reference PW10460.

HM Treasury has received unprecedented amounts of correspondence since the start of the coronavirus outbreak, and apologises for the delay in responding to the Honourable Member. The Honourable Member’s correspondence is receiving attention and will be replied to as soon as possible.

11th May 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to respond to the letter of 13 April 2020 from the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, reference PW10279.

HM Treasury has received unprecedented amounts of correspondence since the start of the coronavirus outbreak, and apologises for the delay in responding to the Honourable Member. The Honourable Member’s correspondence is receiving attention and will be replied to as soon as possible.

11th May 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to respond to the letter of 8 April 2020 from the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, reference PW10203.

HM Treasury has received unprecedented amounts of correspondence since the start of the coronavirus outbreak, and apologises for the delay in responding to the Honourable Member. The Honourable Member’s correspondence is receiving attention and will be replied to as soon as possible.

11th May 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to respond to the letter of 6 April 2020 from the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, reference PW10080.

HM Treasury has received unprecedented amounts of correspondence since the start of the coronavirus outbreak, and apologises for the delay in responding to the Honourable Member. The Honourable Member’s correspondence is receiving attention and will be replied to as soon as possible.

11th May 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to respond to the letter of 6 April 2020 from the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, reference PW10016.

HM Treasury has received unprecedented amounts of correspondence since the start of the coronavirus outbreak, and apologises for the delay in responding to the Honourable Member. The Honourable Member’s correspondence is receiving attention and will be replied to as soon as possible.

11th May 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to respond to the letter of 15 April 2020 from the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, reference PW10296DM.

HM Treasury has received unprecedented amounts of correspondence since the start of the coronavirus outbreak, and apologises for the delay in responding to the Honourable Member. The Honourable Member’s correspondence is receiving attention and will be replied to as soon as possible.