Every parliamentary written question tabled by Angus MacDonald this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 21–40 of 674 · this parliament
Innovation and Technology, whether he has held discussions with its counterpart in the Faroe Islands on the rollout of 5G coverage.
There have been no specific conversations with this Secretary of State and the Faroese authorities on the topic of 5G rollout. As part of the policy development process, we do consider approaches in other countries, particularly approaches that have addressed specific challenges.
If she will (a) introduce a dedicated employment status for foster carers, (b) establish an independent register and appeals system for foster carers and (c) launch a public inquiry into the fostering system.
Fostering is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.The government does not believe that fostering should be considered a form of employment. Foster care is a family-based vocation and fostering homes should feel like family homes with people who love them, not a workplace with staff. Foster carers should not need to be considered workers to get the support and respect they deserve.The department recently launched a Call for Evidence on a national fostering register, including purpose, scope, design features and safeguards. We are analysing responses and will publish results and our response in the summer. The Independent Review Mechanism provides independent panels that review decisions made by fostering providers.Our focus is on delivering on our ambitious action plan to renew foster care, published in February 2026. By April 2029, we will create 10,000 more foster places, providing a foster place for every child who needs one. We have no current plans to launch a fostering inquiry. There have been several independent reviews into fostering and the wider care system, including ‘Foster Care in England’ (2018), the ‘Independent Review of Children’s Social Care’ (2022) and the Education Select Committee’s 2025 inquiry into Children’s Social Care.
Pursuant to the Oral Question of 24th March 2026, what steps his Department is taking to introduce a trial for free wind power for people living near energy infrastructure.
In line with statements made to Parliament on 24th March 2026, the Department is working with UKRI to launch a trial this winter. The trial will test the removal of final consumption levies from increased consumer demand that responds to instances where there is abundant local renewable energy in grid constrained areas. This will enable energy suppliers and flexibility service providers to offer periods of discounted power to households and businesses in such areas so that more of this power can be used.
Pursuant to the Answer of 30 March 2026 to Question 122630 on Business: VAT, whether her Department has made an assessment on the effect that inflation has had on small business' ability to stay under the VAT threshold over the past decade.
At £90,000, the UK has a higher VAT registration threshold than any EU country and one of the highest in the OECD. This means the majority of UK businesses are not in the VAT system, reducing administrative burdens for small businesses. The government regularly assesses the level of the threshold taking into account impacts on small businesses, the economy as a whole, and tax revenues. Any changes would be made at a fiscal event, taking into account the position of the overall public finances.
What estimate her Department has made of the number of independent MOT testing stations that have closed since 2010; and whether she has had discussions with the DVSA on the potential impact of the Class 4 MOT fee on local testing capacity in rural and remote areas.
The Department understands that rising inflation and operational costs have put pressure on garages. It is not possible to determine the number of MOT testing centres that have ‘closed’ since 2010 as sites might cease testing and then resume testing at a later date, sometimes under new ownership. The Department keeps the MOT regime, including the fee and the provision of service in all areas of Great Britain under review. Any consideration of changes must balance the needs of garages and their ability to invest against the interests of drivers in receiving value from the MOT.
Whether her Department is taking steps to ensure that AI features embedded in platforms such as Google Workspace for Education are (a) disclosed and (b) consented to by (i) schools and (ii) parents before being made available to primary-aged pupils.
Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.The department is clear that safety is the top priority when making decisions around artificial intelligence (AI) in education, and any use of AI by pupils should be carefully considered and assessed, evaluating the benefits and risks.The department’s ‘Generative AI: Product Safety Standards’ updated in January 2026, set out the expectations that AI products should meet to be considered safe for use in education, including safeguarding requirements during set-up of any AI services.The department continues to encourage industry to ensure their products are compliant with the standards and is considering consulting on a certification scheme for generative AI products in education.The department has developed ‘Data protection in schools’ guidance which provides sector specific guidance for schools on compliance with data protection legislation and lawful basis for processing personal data. This includes AI, and signposts to tools, policy and standards. If a school relies on consent as the lawful basis to process personal data, guidance states that they must make sure that consent is properly given. This includes getting permission from parents or carers when required.
What guidance her Department provides to local authorities on the use of AI tools on school-issued devices in primary schools.
Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.The department has provided a number of guidance documents that are relevant to local authorities and other responsible bodies on the safe and effective use of digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) in schools.The department’s ‘Generative AI in education’ policy paper is clear that any use of generative AI by staff, students, and pupils should be carefully considered and assessed, evaluating the benefits and risks of use in its education setting.The ‘Generative AI: Product Safety Standards’, updated in January 2026, set clear expectations for child-centred design and safety. The department provides support materials for using AI in education settings which contain advice on safe and effective use, alongside guidance relating to connectivity standards, cyber security, filtering and monitoring, and device management. The support materials are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/using-ai-in-education-settings-support-materials.
What estimate his Department has made of the total (a) energy and (b) water demands of all proposed AI data centres.
The Department’s published Energy and Emissions Projections include growth in power demand from computing services like data centres. To ensure a comprehensive view, the methodology projects at a broader sector level, not disaggregating specific estimates for data centres. Water use comes under the remit of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Its Water Delivery Taskforce is building an evidence base of data centre water use across England. The Government encourages data centre developers to consider use of non-potable water, embed water efficiency or reuse in design, and contact their proposed water and wastewater supplier early in the planning process.
With reference to FOI2025/189761 dated 2 January 2026, what assessment she has made of the value for money of HMRC's compliance and enforcement activities relating to the Loan Charge.
This Government recognised that concerns were raised about the Loan Charge under the previous government and that some felt strongly that it had not been handled appropriately. The Government therefore commissioned a new independent review of the Loan Charge to bring the matter to a close for those affected, ensure fairness for all taxpayers and ensure that appropriate support is in place for those subject to the Loan Charge. The Government’s response to the review represents a fair and proportionate attempt to provide a route to resolution for those who have not yet been able to settle with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). In turn, this requires those individuals or employers to now come forward and engage with HMRC in good faith. Whilst HMRC assesses the overall resources needed to carry out Loan Charge compliance activity, this is not based on detailed case-by-case forecasts. HMRC is required to collect tax due under the law. The progression and resolution of Loan Charge cases depend on a range of variable and often uncertain factors. These include the extent to which taxpayers choose to engage with HMRC to settle their enquiries. In line with most tax policy changes, Tax Impact and Information Note (TIIN) setting out HMRC’s assessment of the impacts of the Loan Charge were published when the Loan Charge was announced in 2016. Further TIINs were published alongside subsequent changes to the Loan Charge.
Whether her Department has considered introducing (a) business rates relief and (b) National Insurance contribution rebates for small independent MOT testing stations.
There are a wide range of factors to take into consideration when introducing a tax relief. These include how effective the relief would be at achieving the policy intent, how targeted support would be, whether it adds complexity to the tax system, and the cost. The Government keeps all taxes under review as part of the policy making process. The Chancellor will announce any changes to the tax system at fiscal events in the usual way. At the Budget, the Government acted to limit increases in business rates bills, announcing a support package worth £4.3 billion. The Government introduced new permanently lower multipliers for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties. These new multipliers are worth nearly £1 billion per year and benefit over 750,000 properties. Additionally, around a third of properties already pay no business rates as they receive 100 per cent Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR), with an additional 85,000 benefiting from reduced bills as this relief tapers. Businesses are able to claim employer NICs reliefs for under-21s and under-25 apprentices. This means employers pay no employer NICs for apprentices under 25 or employees under 21 on earnings up to £50,270. These reliefs are estimated to be worth around £2.5 billion in 2025/26.
Pursuant to Question 108150 answered on 29 January 2026, what progress the cross-departmental team has made on reducing Capita's backlog of Civil Service Pension Scheme Payments.
The Cabinet Office is responsible for the management of the Civil Service Pension Scheme. The Cabinet Office awarded the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme to Capita in November 2023 under the previous government. The issues and delays facing a number of civil servants and pension scheme members in receiving their pension quotes are unacceptable. I want to reassure you that this Government has taken firm action to help put things right as soon as possible. We have agreed a clear recovery plan with Capita, which includes specific milestones and accountability targets for delivery. For priority cases, we have deployed additional resources and improved communication with affected colleagues, so that staff, both former and serving, receive the quality of service and support they deserve. Existing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) have been enhanced and strengthened to deliver improved performance and higher penalties for failure, including financial penalties. These have already applied in respect to Capita's performance with recent issues and delays in administering the Civil Service Pension Scheme. Capita prioritised the most urgent cases and by the end of February, all death in service cases were either settled or progressed to the final stage or awaiting a member response. The same position was reached for ill health retirement applications by mid-March. Capita has made lump sum payments to 8,747 members, the majority of whom have retired but are not yet receiving their pension, and are on track to bring these members into regular pension payments by the end of April. To provide immediate financial support to those who may need it, arrangements are in place for interest-free bridging loans typically up to £5,000 or £10,000 in exceptional cases to most recent retirees facing payment delays. This is alongside interim lump sum payments being made to provide immediate funds to retiring members. The pension scheme continues to make monthly pension payments to approximately 730,000 existing pensioner members on time. The latest position of the Civil Service Pension Recovery Plan Update is available at this weblink: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-pension-recovery-plan-updates
What steps she is taking to reduce delays in the issuing of HGV driving licences for drivers with medical conditions.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) seeks to process all driving licence applications as quickly as possible. However, in the interests of road safety, licences can only be issued once the required medical standards are met. Medical standards for lorry and bus drivers (Group 2) are significantly higher than those for car and motorcycle drivers (Group 1), reflecting the size and weight of these vehicles and the length of time professional drivers typically spend at the wheel. Where a medical condition needs to be assessed, applications may take longer to process, as the DVLA is often dependent on information from third parties, including medical professionals. Where drivers indicate that their licence is required for employment, applications are prioritised where possible. The DVLA has seen a sustained increase in both the volume and complexity of medical licence applications. In 2024/25, more than 830,000 medical licensing decisions were made, with over 925,000 medical applications and notifications forecast for 2025/26. This increase has led to longer waiting times for some customers. To improve performance and service levels, the DVLA is enhancing its digital services and introducing a new casework system to support medical licensing. This is being complemented by the recruitment of additional staff to process applications and handle customer enquiries, which will deliver improvements for drivers with medical conditions.
What steps she is taking to help ensure HGV licence applications are processed within DVLA target times, in cases where drivers may lose their job if the licence is delayed.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) seeks to process all driving licence applications as quickly as possible. However, in the interests of road safety, licences can only be issued once the required medical standards are met. Medical standards for lorry and bus drivers (Group 2) are significantly higher than those for car and motorcycle drivers (Group 1), reflecting the size and weight of these vehicles and the length of time professional drivers typically spend at the wheel. Where a medical condition needs to be assessed, applications may take longer to process, as the DVLA is often dependent on information from third parties, including medical professionals. Where drivers indicate that their licence is required for employment, applications are prioritised where possible. The DVLA has seen a sustained increase in both the volume and complexity of medical licence applications. In 2024/25, more than 830,000 medical licensing decisions were made, with over 925,000 medical applications and notifications forecast for 2025/26. This increase has led to longer waiting times for some customers. To improve performance and service levels, the DVLA is enhancing its digital services and introducing a new casework system to support medical licensing. This is being complemented by the recruitment of additional staff to process applications and handle customer enquiries, which will deliver improvements for drivers with medical conditions.
When she will respond to the letter of 3 March 2026 from the hon. Member for Inverness, Skye, & West Ross-shire on Cameron Barracks.
The Minister for Border Security & Asylum responded on 31 March 2026.
What comparative assessment her Department has made of the (a) VAT Registration Threshold and (b) rate of inflation between 2014 and 2026.
At £90,000, the UK has a higher VAT registration threshold than any EU country and the joint highest in the OECD. This reflects the Government’s approach to balance the impacts on small businesses, with the needs of the wider economy and the public finances. Such a comparatively high threshold means the majority of UK businesses are not in the VAT system at all, reducing administrative burdens and supporting growth.
Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the provisions of the Online Safety Act 2023 for tackling online scam advertisements.
The Online Safety Act lists fraud as priority illegal content, meaning in-scope services including social media and search providers must prevent and minimise fraudulent user-generated content from appearing on their services and swiftly remove it if it does. In-scope user-to-user services must also manage the risk that their service may be used to facilitate fraud offences.Category 1 and 2A services (including large social media and search providers respectively) will have additional duties to tackle paid-for fraudulent advertising. Ofcom is responsible for designating categorised services and aims to publish the categorisation register in July.
Innovation and Technology, what measures her Department is implementing to help ensure big tech companies do not profit from fraudulent activity on their platforms.
The Online Safety Act lists fraud as priority illegal content, meaning in-scope services including social media and search providers must prevent and minimise fraudulent user-generated content from appearing on their services and swiftly remove it if it does. In-scope user-to-user services must also manage the risk that their service may be used to facilitate fraud offences.Category 1 and 2A services (including large social media and search providers respectively) will have additional duties to tackle paid-for fraudulent advertising. Ofcom is responsible for designating categorised services and aims to publish the categorisation register in July.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of increased defence industrial collaboration with Ukraine on Scotland's economy.
The Defence Industrial Collaboration underscores our continued commitment to supporting Ukraine and strengthening long-term security in Europe. This strategic partnership offers significant opportunities for UK-Ukraine cooperation, and Scotland is well placed to both contribute to the effort and benefit from this collaboration, leveraging its strengths in defence, advanced manufacturing, digital technology, and the space sectors. This collaboration will help to advance joint production and integration of UK funding for new R&D. Crucially, this will support Ukraine's resilience while simultaneously sustaining skilled jobs and investment across the Scottish supply chain.
Whether his Department plans to expand defence training and knowledge-sharing initiatives with Ukraine, including through facilities and defence establishments in Scotland.
In March 2026, the UK and Ukraine signed an Enhanced Security and Defence Industrial Collaboration Declaration, which will see the UK and Ukraine deepen cooperation in the field of military training and knowledge sharing. This includes the participation of Ukrainian personnel in allied training activities and the organisation of joint exercises. We will accelerate cooperation in the exchange of defence-related information and data and integrate lessons learnt from the battlefield into military training and capability planning. On 12 March, we announced a £50 million investment into the Scotland Defence Growth Deal to boost Scotland’s crucial role in UK defence. We also announced a further £10 million to support the implementation of a Defence Technical Excellence College, in consultation with Colleges Scotland, to increase the number of skilled workers available to Scotland’s defence sector.
What recent steps he has taken to incorporate lessons from Ukraine’s battlefield innovation, particularly in drone technology, electronic warfare and autonomous systems, into UK defence.
The pace of Defence's 'learn and adapt' cycle has accelerated exponentially as a result of lessons learnt in Ukraine The SDR highlighted the importance of autonomous systems within the UK’s integrated force. Decisions on the UK’s equipment requirements, including drones, electromagnetic warfare and autonomous systems, will be prioritised appropriately against the threat as part of the future Integrated Force and set out in the Defence Investment Plan to be published this year.