Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of holding a consultation on reforming the Electronic Communications Code 2017 to help increase the way it reflects Scotland’s freehold property structure in multi-dwelling units.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
There are no plans to consult on reforms to the Electronic Communications Code. As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement on 21 July we will consult on policy measures later in the autumn to create a new right for leaseholders in England and Wales to request a gigabit broadband connection and a duty for freeholders to not unreasonably refuse the request. We are working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on the policy proposals and we will seek to legislate for these measures when parliamentary time allows.
We are engaging with the Devolved Nations on a range of issues relating to the deployment of digital infrastructure, including issues relating to access.
Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to ensure tenants in (a) flats and (b) tenements in Scotland are included in the full fibre rollout; and whether she plans to publish a consultation on bringing forward legislative proposals to update access rules for full fibre.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement on 21 July we will consult on policy measures later in the autumn to create a new right for leaseholders in England and Wales to request a gigabit broadband connection and a duty for freeholders to not unreasonably refuse the request. We are working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on the policy proposals and we will seek to legislate for these measures when parliamentary time allows.
Scottish Tenements are a devolved matter and governed by Scotland. We're engaging with the Devolved Nations on a range of issues relating to the deployment of digital infrastructure, including issues relating to access.
Multiple Dwelling Units (MDUs) that remain not covered by commercial plans will be in scope for support for full fibre rollout through Project Gigabit.
Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has made an assessment with her counterpart in the Scottish government on the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to allow broadband providers to access communal areas in multi dwelling units with majority owner consent.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement on 21 July we will consult on policy measures later in the autumn to create a new right for leaseholders in England and Wales to request a gigabit broadband connection and a duty for freeholders to not unreasonably refuse the request. We are working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on the policy proposals and we will seek to legislate for these measures when parliamentary time allows.
Scottish Tenements are a devolved matter and governed by Scotland. We're engaging with the Devolved Nations on a range of issues relating to the deployment of digital infrastructure, including issues relating to access.
Multiple Dwelling Units (MDUs) that remain not covered by commercial plans will be in scope for support for full fibre rollout through Project Gigabit.
Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much and what proportion of the £25 million funding for Youth Hubs will be allocated to Scotland; and what estimate he has made of the number of youth hubs that will be supported.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
We are expanding our network of Youth Hubs to over 200 within the next three years, including in Scotland, to provide more accessible and joined-up employment support for young people. This investment ensures that young claimants, particularly those on Universal Credit, can access tailored employment and skills services in their local communities.
While employment and skills support remain central to the Youth Hubs offer, the expansion will also ensure a core minimum blueprint across all locations. This will connect young people to a wider range of services such as health, housing, and wellbeing support, based on local needs and partnerships.
This expansion will build on the strong foundations of existing Youth Hubs operating in Scotland, which will continue to evolve and align with the Youth Hub blueprint, ensuring young people benefit from high-quality, locally tailored services
Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, why (a) fish processing was excluded and (b) poultry processing was included in the Energy Intensive Industries scheme.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The eligibility criteria for both the Energy Intensive Industries (EIIs) Compensation Scheme and British Industry Supercharger are based on electricity usage and trade intensity levels. Some EIIs therefore do not meet the thresholds necessary to qualify for support under either scheme. The Government will review the eligibility criteria for both schemes in 2026 to ensure our support for EIIs is effective, proportionate and targeted. We would encourage views from a wide range of stakeholders during consultations.
Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what interim support is available to energy intensive industries not covered by the Energy Intensive Industries scheme before the next review of that scheme.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises that Energy Intensive Industries (EIIs) are facing uncompetitively high energy costs. While some sectors are not currently eligible for EII schemes support, we would welcome all views from impacted EIIs when the Government consults on the future eligibility criteria of these schemes in 2026. The Government wants to ensure that we are supporting as many impacted sectors as possible during the UK’s transition to a net-zero economy, while mitigating carbon leakage and protecting British jobs.
Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of including fish processing in the Energy Intensive Industries scheme.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
While fish processing is not an eligible sector under the British Industry Supercharger or Energy Intensive Industries (EIIs) Compensation Scheme, the Government will undertake a review of eligibility criteria in 2026. We would welcome views from a wide range of stakeholders, and the Government would encourage businesses in the fish processing sector to engage with this consultation when the opportunity arises. The Government wants to ensure our support is proportionate, effective and targeted to the most impacted EIIs to aid the net-zero transition.
Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will launch a consultation on the electric vehicle pavement channels grant; and whether that grant will be treated as a subsidy.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
A range of stakeholders were engaged during the policy development of the Electric Vehicle Pavement Channels grant, including local government, cross-pavement solution providers, chargepoint operators and disability groups. No further consultation on the grant is planned.
We have assessed the grant under the Subsidy Control Act 2022 and determined that it is not a subsidy.
Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to grant energy network operators dedicated radio spectrum access required for (a) enhanced visibility and (b) control of the energy system.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Ofcom is responsible for the management of spectrum in the UK, including allocating spectrum. The government is considering how it can support the development of telecommunications infrastructure for a decarbonised energy system. As part of this, my officials are in regular discussion with counterparts in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and with Ofcom on potential spectrum requirements.
Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of hydrogen blending in the transmission network.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government remains committed to assessing the case for hydrogen blending. In December 2024 we set out an intention to consult on transmission-level blending within Great Britain in early 2025, to gather evidence to help inform a strategic policy decision on whether to support transmission blending.