Written questions by Leishman.

What is the specific purpose is of the Government's £14.5 million funding for Granngemouth; whether this funding is expected to be allocated to technologies identified in the Project Willow scope; and whether this funding will align with (a) existing Grangemouth investment workstreams and (b) Scottish Government funding.

The UK and Scottish Governments are working together to progress all investment at Grangemouth. To support this, on 11 December we announced the first project to benefit from this £14.5m funding, the Scottish biotech company MiAlgae, which will receive a total of £3 million from both governments to develop an innovative new project on the Grangemouth site, using byproducts from whisky distillation. This investment is expected to support around 310 jobs over the next five years. This is the first of a number of projects we are working to bring to the site, though at this moment in time, we cannot provide further information on future allocations of funding due to commercial sensitivities. On 17 December we went further, committing £120 million in support for the ethylene plant at Grangemouth. The UK Government remains firmly committed to delivering a successful low-carbon future for Grangemouth.

If he will make an estimate of the value of offshore catering contracts awarded in the oil and gas sector since 2019 to date.

No such assessment has been made.

What discussions his Department has had with (a) the Department for Transport and (b) offshore helicopter transport operators on advice that HM Coastguard has supplied to the oil and gas industry on Search and Rescue helicopter winching systems.

Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme on (a) glass manufacturers in Scotland, (b) economic growth in Scotland and (c) changes from glass to less sustainable packaging materials.

In autumn last year my department published an assessment of the impacts of implementing extended producer responsibility for packaging (pEPR), when the regulations were laid in parliament. This impact assessment does not include an assessment of the impact on specific materials or sectors or disaggregate at a national level.

Whether his Department plans to introduce mandatory heart screening for cardiac conditions for young people.

In the United Kingdom, national screening programmes are introduced based on the recommendations of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), an independent scientific advisory committee which advises ministers and the National Health Service in all four countries on all aspects of population and targeted screening, and which supports implementation.The UK NSC last reviewed screening for sudden cardiac death (SCD) in people under the age of 39 years old in 2019 and concluded that population screening should not be offered. Further information is available at the following link:https://view-health-screening-recommendations.service.gov.uk/sudden-cardiac-death/The UK NSC is currently examining the evidence for SCD screening and will open a public consultation to seek comments from members of the public and stakeholders on this in due course.

What engagement the UK government has had with ExxonMobil.

Both UK government Ministers and officials have engaged extensively with ExxonMobil regarding the Mossmorran Fife Ethylene Plant. Following the closure announcement, Ministers met with Unite and GMB union representatives to discuss workforce support options. The UK Government has not had access to ExxonMobil's internal management accounts for Mossmorran operations.

What engagement the UK government has had with the trade unions representing the workers at ExxonMobil Mossmorran.

Both UK government Ministers and officials have engaged extensively with ExxonMobil regarding the Mossmorran Fife Ethylene Plant. Following the closure announcement, Ministers met with Unite and GMB union representatives to discuss workforce support options. The UK Government has not had access to ExxonMobil's internal management accounts for Mossmorran operations.

What access the UK government has had to the business accounts of ExxonMobil at Mossmorran.

Both UK government Ministers and officials have engaged extensively with ExxonMobil regarding the Mossmorran Fife Ethylene Plant. Following the closure announcement, Ministers met with Unite and GMB union representatives to discuss workforce support options. The UK Government has not had access to ExxonMobil's internal management accounts for Mossmorran operations.

What comparative assessment his Department has made of the costs of (a) Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers and (b) geological storage for hydrogen in the UK.

Government continues to develop its evidence base on the costs of hydrogen storage and consider the potential role of using hydrogen storage across the hydrogen value chain. The previous Government’s Hydrogen Transport and Storage Cost Report (2023) includes a comparative assessment of the expected levelised cost of above ground and geological storage. The International Energy Agency’s Global Hydrogen Review (2023) includes an assessment of the potential levelised cost of Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers used for international trade.

What steps his Department is taking to help support businesses to invest in (a) Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers and (b) other chemical hydrogen storage, including revenue certainty.

Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers, and other chemical hydrogen storage, is a nascent technology that the Government has previously supported through the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio. As the Government considers geological storage to be the most strategic value to the hydrogen economy in the near-term, this will be the focus of the Hydrogen Storage Business Model. The Government will however continue to review technological developments and in the long-term, a mix of storage technologies with complementary characteristics may be required to support the development of the hydrogen economy.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier conversion projects being eligible for Net Zero Hydrogen Fund grant funding.

The Net Zero Hydrogen Fund was designed to bring forward the first UK low carbon hydrogen production projects, and was not intended to support other parts of the hydrogen value chain, such as hydrogen carriers. It made its final funding allocations in 2023.

If his Department plans to amend its Hydrogen Storage Business Model to include Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier storage.

Whilst chemical storage technologies such as liquid organic hydrogen carriers may have a role to play, such as for users with limited access to large-scale storage, there are no plans to include this type of storage in the initial allocation of the storage business model. The business model focus on large-scale geological storage is because we consider this type of storage essential to establishing the UK’s first regional hydrogen network as it can provide greater storage capacity and best support energy security. This type of storage is unlikely to be built without government support.

Whether the UK Hydrogen Strategy will consider the strategic potential of Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers.

Government continues to consider a range of potential hydrogen carriers, including Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers (LOHCs), and their role in the transport, storage and trade of hydrogen. While we cannot comment on the contents of the Hydrogen Strategy ahead of its publication, we welcome further evidence and engagement from stakeholders on the strategic potential of LOHCs.

How much financial support his Department provides annually to children and young people with cancer and their families travelling for treatment.

The Department is responsible for healthcare in England. In Scotland, health is a devolved matter. The Department has not made an assessment of the average distance travelled or the cost of travel for young cancer patients from Scotland when attending cancer treatment in England, as patient-level data on patient travel is not collected at a national level.However, the Department recognises that the cost of travel is an important issue for many young cancer patients and their families.In England, NHS England and the integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning and ensuring that the healthcare needs of local communities are met, including providing support for travel. The National Health Service in England runs the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS) to provide financial assistance for travel to a hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostics tests when referred by a doctor or other primary healthcare professional.Patients who do not qualify for the HTCS and who are on a low income may be able to claim the costs from the Department for Work and Pensions through Universal Credit or Personal Independence Payment. There are also a number of United Kingdom charities who provide support, including financial support, for patients with cancer.NHS England does not collect national patient-level data on uptake of the HTCS, therefore it is not possible to provide an estimate of how much financial support is provided annually to specific patient groups, such as children and young people with cancer and their families.

Whether he has made an estimate of the average (a) distance travelled and (b) cost incurred by (i) children and (ii) young people from Scotland when attending cancer treatment in England; and what financial support is available to support people travelling cross-border.

The Department is responsible for healthcare in England. In Scotland, health is a devolved matter. The Department has not made an assessment of the average distance travelled or the cost of travel for young cancer patients from Scotland when attending cancer treatment in England, as patient-level data on patient travel is not collected at a national level.However, the Department recognises that the cost of travel is an important issue for many young cancer patients and their families.In England, NHS England and the integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning and ensuring that the healthcare needs of local communities are met, including providing support for travel. The National Health Service in England runs the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS) to provide financial assistance for travel to a hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostics tests when referred by a doctor or other primary healthcare professional.Patients who do not qualify for the HTCS and who are on a low income may be able to claim the costs from the Department for Work and Pensions through Universal Credit or Personal Independence Payment. There are also a number of United Kingdom charities who provide support, including financial support, for patients with cancer.NHS England does not collect national patient-level data on uptake of the HTCS, therefore it is not possible to provide an estimate of how much financial support is provided annually to specific patient groups, such as children and young people with cancer and their families.

If she will review the conduct of C Mutual Ltd and Maiden Life Försäkrings in the context of the removal of the Family Protection Plan.

It is for the FCA as the regulator of financial services to decide whether to take any steps in relation to this issue and I can confirm that HMT has asked the FCA to look into this matter. The FCA will respond directly to the Honourable Member by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

If she will liaise with the Financial Conduct Authority to prevent the removal of the Family Protection Plan by C Mutual and Maiden Life Försäkrings until policy holders have secured alternative provision.

It is for the FCA as the regulator of financial services to decide whether to take any steps in relation to this issue and I can confirm that HMT has asked the FCA to look into this matter. The FCA will respond directly to the Honourable Member by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

If she will have discussions with the Financial Conduct Authority to ensure that (a) Vulnerability Assessments and (b) a Consumer Duty Review are conducted before the withdrawal of the Family Protection Plan by C Mutual and Maiden Life Försäkrings.

It is for the FCA as the regulator of financial services to decide whether to take any steps in relation to this issue and I can confirm that HMT has asked the FCA to look into this matter. The FCA will respond directly to the Honourable Member by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

With reference to the press release entitled Supporting Grangemouth workers, published on 26 August 2025, how much additional funding has been allocated; and how much and what proportion of that funding has been provided by the (a) UK and (b) Scottish Government.

The extension of the Grangemouth Training Guarantee to support INEOS Olefins & Polymers shared services employees directly affected by the closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery builds on support put in place earlier this year for Grangemouth refinery workers. This brings the total projected investment in the Grangemouth Training Guarantee from UK and Scottish Governments up to £2 million. The Grangemouth Training Guarantee is a joint project between UK and Scottish Governments and both governments will provide equal funding. We are working closely with Forth Valley College who will mapping workers skills and qualifications, and training needs to identify and deliver re/upskilling support and training. UK and Scottish Governments will use the findings of the Training Need Analysis to fund the delivery of training. Final costs are dependent on the outcome of the Training Need Analysis.

With reference to the oral contribution, Volume 768, column 142 of 2 June 2025, what is the programme relating to the £120 million worth of military licenses for Israel issued in 2024 for components to support exports of military items from Israeli companies to a single programme for a NATO ally.

We have released extensive information on export licences involving Israel, including those that cover components for products for onward export from Israel. This can be accessed at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/export-control-licensing-management-information-for-israel/israel-export-control-licensing-data-31-july-2025. The government does not provide further detailed commentary as individual licences contain commercial and other sensitive information.Values included on export licence applications represent the maximum value of exports permitted rather than the actual exports under these licences, which may be lower.