Written questions by Bowie.

What steps he is taking to ensure that the job guarantees for workers at Harland & Wolff’s Scottish sites are upheld after the buy-out by Navantia UK.

The UK Government acted decisively, helping to secure the commercial deal by Navantia UK. This saved all of Harland and Wolff shipyards, protecting 1000 jobs across the country.This industry-led deal will help ensure that the MOD's Fleet Solid Support contract is successfully delivered. Navantia UK has committed to future investment in Harland andWolff, strengthening the UK's industrial base and safeguarding essential sovereign shipbuilding capacity for future naval work and energy contracts.The Industrial Strategy, alongside Sector Plans for the growth-driving sectors, will be published in Spring 2025, aligned with the multi-year Spending Review.The Scotland Office will continue to work with DBT and Navantia UK to support a smooth transition process and will engage with local communities where appropriate to maximise the benefits for all.

What steps his Department plans to take to collaborate with Scottish stakeholders to ensure the success of the buy-out of Harland & Wolff by Navantia UK.

The UK Government acted decisively, helping to secure the commercial deal by Navantia UK. This saved all of Harland and Wolff shipyards, protecting 1000 jobs across the country.This industry-led deal will help ensure that the MOD's Fleet Solid Support contract is successfully delivered. Navantia UK has committed to future investment in Harland andWolff, strengthening the UK's industrial base and safeguarding essential sovereign shipbuilding capacity for future naval work and energy contracts.The Industrial Strategy, alongside Sector Plans for the growth-driving sectors, will be published in Spring 2025, aligned with the multi-year Spending Review.The Scotland Office will continue to work with DBT and Navantia UK to support a smooth transition process and will engage with local communities where appropriate to maximise the benefits for all.

What steps he has taken to ensure that the buy-out of Harland & Wolff by Navantia UK leads to increased opportunities for naval work at the company’s Scottish sites.

The UK Government acted decisively, helping to secure the commercial deal by Navantia UK. This saved all of Harland and Wolff shipyards, protecting 1000 jobs across the country.This industry-led deal will help ensure that the MOD's Fleet Solid Support contract is successfully delivered. Navantia UK has committed to future investment in Harland andWolff, strengthening the UK's industrial base and safeguarding essential sovereign shipbuilding capacity for future naval work and energy contracts.The Industrial Strategy, alongside Sector Plans for the growth-driving sectors, will be published in Spring 2025, aligned with the multi-year Spending Review.The Scotland Office will continue to work with DBT and Navantia UK to support a smooth transition process and will engage with local communities where appropriate to maximise the benefits for all.

What support his Department is providing to assist Navantia UK in managing the transition process for Harland & Wolff’s Scottish sites.

The UK Government acted decisively, helping to secure the commercial deal by Navantia UK. This saved all of Harland and Wolff shipyards, protecting 1000 jobs across the country.This industry-led deal will help ensure that the MOD's Fleet Solid Support contract is successfully delivered. Navantia UK has committed to future investment in Harland andWolff, strengthening the UK's industrial base and safeguarding essential sovereign shipbuilding capacity for future naval work and energy contracts.The Industrial Strategy, alongside Sector Plans for the growth-driving sectors, will be published in Spring 2025, aligned with the multi-year Spending Review.The Scotland Office will continue to work with DBT and Navantia UK to support a smooth transition process and will engage with local communities where appropriate to maximise the benefits for all.

What steps he plans to take to ensure that Harland & Wolff remains a competitive player in the UK shipbuilding industry after the buy-out by Navantia UK.

The UK Government acted decisively, helping to secure the commercial deal by Navantia UK. This saved all of Harland and Wolff shipyards, protecting 1000 jobs across the country.This industry-led deal will help ensure that the MOD's Fleet Solid Support contract is successfully delivered. Navantia UK has committed to future investment in Harland andWolff, strengthening the UK's industrial base and safeguarding essential sovereign shipbuilding capacity for future naval work and energy contracts.The Industrial Strategy, alongside Sector Plans for the growth-driving sectors, will be published in Spring 2025, aligned with the multi-year Spending Review.The Scotland Office will continue to work with DBT and Navantia UK to support a smooth transition process and will engage with local communities where appropriate to maximise the benefits for all.

What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help ensure the job security of the 350 workers at Harland & Wolff’s sites in (a) Methil and (b) Arnish.

The UK Government acted decisively, helping to secure the commercial deal by Navantia UK. This saved all of Harland and Wolff shipyards, protecting 1000 jobs across the country.This industry-led deal will help ensure that the MOD's Fleet Solid Support contract is successfully delivered. Navantia UK has committed to future investment in Harland andWolff, strengthening the UK's industrial base and safeguarding essential sovereign shipbuilding capacity for future naval work and energy contracts.The Industrial Strategy, alongside Sector Plans for the growth-driving sectors, will be published in Spring 2025, aligned with the multi-year Spending Review.The Scotland Office will continue to work with DBT and Navantia UK to support a smooth transition process and will engage with local communities where appropriate to maximise the benefits for all.

What steps he plans to take to support the skills development of workers at Harland & Wolff’s Scottish sites, in the context of the Navantia UK buy-out.

The UK Government acted decisively, helping to secure the commercial deal by Navantia UK. This saved all of Harland and Wolff shipyards, protecting 1000 jobs across the country.This industry-led deal will help ensure that the MOD's Fleet Solid Support contract is successfully delivered. Navantia UK has committed to future investment in Harland andWolff, strengthening the UK's industrial base and safeguarding essential sovereign shipbuilding capacity for future naval work and energy contracts.The Industrial Strategy, alongside Sector Plans for the growth-driving sectors, will be published in Spring 2025, aligned with the multi-year Spending Review.The Scotland Office will continue to work with DBT and Navantia UK to support a smooth transition process and will engage with local communities where appropriate to maximise the benefits for all.

How many hotels are being used to house asylum seekers in Scotland by local authority.

This Government inherited an asylum system under exceptional strain, with tens of thousands of people stuck in limbo without any prospect of having their claims processed. At their peak use under the previous government, in the autumn of 2023, more than 400 asylum hotels were being leased by the Home Office, at a cost of almost £9 million a day.We took immediate action to resolve that chaos by restarting asylum processing, establishing the new Border Security Command to tackle the people-smuggling gangs, cracking down on illegal working across the country, and increasing the return and removal of people with no right to be here.Inevitably, due to the size of the backlog we inherited, the Government has been forced to continue with the use of hotels for the time being. This is not a permanent solution, and the small increase in the number in use at the end of last year was just a temporary but necessary step to manage pressures in the system, which is now in the process of being reversed. The number of hotels in use at present is 218. Since the General Election, there has been a net increase of six hotels in use; however, nine are scheduled for closure by the end of March 2025. It remains our absolute commitment to end the use of hotels over time, as part of our reduction in overall asylum accommodation costs. In the interim, we are also continuing to increase our operational activity against smuggling gangs and illegal working, and we have increased returns to their highest level since 2018, with 16,400 people removed in the first six months this government was in office. Data on the number of supported asylum seekers in accommodation, including hotels, and by local authority can be found within the Asy_D11 tab for our most recent statistics release: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab). The Home Office publishes information on asylum expenditure in the Home Office Annual Report and Accounts at Home Office annual reports and accounts - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab). This Government is determined to restore order to the asylum system so that it operates swiftly, firmly, and fairly, including reviewing all spending to ensure the best value for money for the British taxpayer.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of allowing duty free purchases to be made on landing in Great Britain.

Current duty-free policy avoids large quantities of untaxed goods entering the UK market, while reducing operational burdens at the border and supporting wider health objectives.The Government keeps all taxes under review as part of the policy making process.

How many hotels her Department has identified as being appropriate for accommodating asylum seekers in Scotland by local authority.

This Government inherited an asylum system under exceptional strain, with tens of thousands of people stuck in limbo without any prospect of having their claims processed. At their peak use under the previous government, in the autumn of 2023, more than 400 asylum hotels were being leased by the Home Office, at a cost of almost £9 million a day.We took immediate action to resolve that chaos by restarting asylum processing, establishing the new Border Security Command to tackle the people-smuggling gangs, cracking down on illegal working across the country, and increasing the return and removal of people with no right to be here.Inevitably, due to the size of the backlog we inherited, the Government has been forced to continue with the use of hotels for the time being. This is not a permanent solution, and the small increase in the number in use at the end of last year was just a temporary but necessary step to manage pressures in the system, which is now in the process of being reversed. The number of hotels in use at present is 218. Since the General Election, there has been a net increase of six hotels in use; however, nine are scheduled for closure by the end of March 2025. It remains our absolute commitment to end the use of hotels over time, as part of our reduction in overall asylum accommodation costs. In the interim, we are also continuing to increase our operational activity against smuggling gangs and illegal working, and we have increased returns to their highest level since 2018, with 16,400 people removed in the first six months this government was in office. Data on the number of supported asylum seekers in accommodation, including hotels, and by local authority can be found within the Asy_D11 tab for our most recent statistics release: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab). The Home Office publishes information on asylum expenditure in the Home Office Annual Report and Accounts at Home Office annual reports and accounts - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab). This Government is determined to restore order to the asylum system so that it operates swiftly, firmly, and fairly, including reviewing all spending to ensure the best value for money for the British taxpayer.

When he (a) last met and (b) plans to meet South West of Scotland Transport Partnership.

Transport is a devolved matter but the Secretary of State for Scotland and I meet stakeholders from a range of sectors in connection with transport and related matters, as needed. We have not met with any of the aforementioned organisations since taking office, nor do we have any upcoming meetings with any of them.

When he (a) last met and (b) plans to meet ScotRail.

Transport is a devolved matter but the Secretary of State for Scotland and I meet stakeholders from a range of sectors in connection with transport and related matters, as needed. We have not met with any of the aforementioned organisations since taking office, nor do we have any upcoming meetings with any of them.

When he (a) last met and (b) plans to meet Caledonian MacBrayne Limited.

Transport is a devolved matter but the Secretary of State for Scotland and I meet stakeholders from a range of sectors in connection with transport and related matters, as needed. We have not met with any of the aforementioned organisations since taking office, nor do we have any upcoming meetings with any of them.

When he (a) last met and (b) plans to meet Transport for Edinburgh.

Transport is a devolved matter but the Secretary of State for Scotland and I meet stakeholders from a range of sectors in connection with transport and related matters, as needed. We have not met with any of the aforementioned organisations since taking office, nor do we have any upcoming meetings with any of them.

When he (a) last met and (b) plans to meet South East of Scotland Transport Partnership.

Transport is a devolved matter but the Secretary of State for Scotland and I meet stakeholders from a range of sectors in connection with transport and related matters, as needed. We have not met with any of the aforementioned organisations since taking office, nor do we have any upcoming meetings with any of them.

When he (a) last met and (b) plans to meet North East of Scotland Transport Partnership.

Transport is a devolved matter but the Secretary of State for Scotland and I meet stakeholders from a range of sectors in connection with transport and related matters, as needed. We have not met with any of the aforementioned organisations since taking office, nor do we have any upcoming meetings with any of them.

What the average cost is to accommodate an individual asylum seeker by Scottish local authority.

This Government inherited an asylum system under exceptional strain, with tens of thousands of people stuck in limbo without any prospect of having their claims processed. At their peak use under the previous government, in the autumn of 2023, more than 400 asylum hotels were being leased by the Home Office, at a cost of almost £9 million a day.We took immediate action to resolve that chaos by restarting asylum processing, establishing the new Border Security Command to tackle the people-smuggling gangs, cracking down on illegal working across the country, and increasing the return and removal of people with no right to be here.Inevitably, due to the size of the backlog we inherited, the Government has been forced to continue with the use of hotels for the time being. This is not a permanent solution, and the small increase in the number in use at the end of last year was just a temporary but necessary step to manage pressures in the system, which is now in the process of being reversed. The number of hotels in use at present is 218. Since the General Election, there has been a net increase of six hotels in use; however, nine are scheduled for closure by the end of March 2025. It remains our absolute commitment to end the use of hotels over time, as part of our reduction in overall asylum accommodation costs. In the interim, we are also continuing to increase our operational activity against smuggling gangs and illegal working, and we have increased returns to their highest level since 2018, with 16,400 people removed in the first six months this government was in office. Data on the number of supported asylum seekers in accommodation, including hotels, and by local authority can be found within the Asy_D11 tab for our most recent statistics release: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab). The Home Office publishes information on asylum expenditure in the Home Office Annual Report and Accounts at Home Office annual reports and accounts - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab). This Government is determined to restore order to the asylum system so that it operates swiftly, firmly, and fairly, including reviewing all spending to ensure the best value for money for the British taxpayer.

When he (a) last met and (b) plans to meet the Highlands and Islands Regional Transport Partnership.

Transport is a devolved matter but the Secretary of State for Scotland and I meet stakeholders from a range of sectors in connection with transport and related matters, as needed. We have not met with any of the aforementioned organisations since taking office, nor do we have any upcoming meetings with any of them.

When he (a) last met and (b) plans to meet Shetland Transport Partnership.

Transport is a devolved matter but the Secretary of State for Scotland and I meet stakeholders from a range of sectors in connection with transport and related matters, as needed. We have not met with any of the aforementioned organisations since taking office, nor do we have any upcoming meetings with any of them.

When he (a) last met and (b) plans to meet Tayside and Central Scotland Transport Partnership.

Transport is a devolved matter but the Secretary of State for Scotland and I meet stakeholders from a range of sectors in connection with transport and related matters, as needed. We have not met with any of the aforementioned organisations since taking office, nor do we have any upcoming meetings with any of them.