Written questions by Kane.

Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to support rural community organisations undertaking community-led broadband installations.

Through the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS), the government provides a subsidy of up to £4,500 for residents and businesses towards the cost of installing gigabit-capable broadband via local community-led broadband projects.Approximately 2,300 premises in Stirling and Strathallan have received a gigabit-capable connection via the GBVS and its previous iterations. The voucher scheme is currently paused in the constituency while Building Digital UK finalises the scope of a wider Project Gigabit contract for Central and Northern Scotland.

What steps she is taking taken to (a) encourage growth in, (b) support small scale craft produce in and (c) reduce barriers to entry to the spirits industry.

At Autumn Budget the Government announced a number of measures to help reduce business costs and encourage growth within the spirits industry. These included: o Legislation to abolish the Alcohol Duty Stamp Scheme. From 1st May 2025 approximately 3500 spirit producers, bottlers and labellers will no longer need to comply with the duty stamp requirements, saving industry an estimated £6.5m annually. o Investment of up to £5m into HMRC’s Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme, to reduce costs for spirit producers registering traditional products for Geographic Indication. o Increased generosity of Small Producers Relief, available to producers of spirit-based products under 8.5% abv. The Government is also simplifying the administration of alcohol duty, reducing burdens and supporting growth. From March 2025 HMRC’s arrangements for duty returns and payments will be reformed, supported by a new online service. As a result, many small spirit producers will no longer require costly duty deferment arrangements to underwrite their monthly liabilities. Additionally, reform of the production approvals required by spirit producers will mean they will no longer be required to operate separate excise warehousing facilities for the storage, bottling and labelling of their own products. Beyond simplification and investment in the alcohol duty system, the Department for Business & Trade (DBT) also leads a government effort, working with devolved governments and the sector, to support this important industry. DBT helps boost spirit exports by leveraging trade agreements and removing barriers. They recently obtained recognition of the Scotch Whisky Geographic Indicator in Brazil, valued at £25m over five years. DBT also continue to spotlight UK spirits at global trade shows in key markets, including a trade mission to India in November this year and Germany in March 2025. Finally, the Export Academy food and drink programme, launched in October, offers dedicated upskilling to both emerging and experienced exporting distilleries.

Communities and Local Government, what recent progress she has been made in removing dangerous cladding from building across the UK.

Statistics on the progress of remediating unsafe cladding on 11m+ buildings in England are published monthly here: Building Safety Remediation - GOV.UK.The latest published statistics, as at 31 October 2024, shows progress over the last three months as: 120 more buildings in England are known to have started or completed remediation works on unsafe cladding since the end of July, and 86 more buildings are known to have completed remediation.The published statistics also include data on remediation progress of buildings in Northern Ireland progressing remediation via the Cladding Safety Scheme.Building safety is a devolved matter and the progress of remediation in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is a matter for their respective devolved administrations.

How many NHS prescriptions for cannabis based products there have been in each year since 2018.

The following table shows the total number of National Health Service prescriptions for licensed cannabis-based medicines, namely Nabilone, Sativex, and Epidyolex, dispensed in the community in England against an NHS prescription between January 2018 to September 2024:Time periodItems20182,59120192,63620202,67420212,97320224,00320235,19220244,326Total24,395Source: NHS Business Services AuthorityNote: data for 2024 is from January to September.Data on unlicensed cannabis-based medicines is withheld in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulations, due to the number of items attributed being to fewer than five patients, and an enhanced risk of the release of patient identifiable information.

What steps he is taking to (a) support research into and (b) promote awareness of (i) Guillain-Barré Syndrome, (ii) Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy and (iii) other related inflammatory neuropathies.

The Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases, such as rare inflammatory neuropathies. The UK Rare Diseases Framework sets out four priorities, collaboratively developed with the rare disease community, which include increasing awareness of rare diseases among healthcare professionals and improving access to specialist care, treatments, and drugs. We remain committed to delivering under the framework and will publish an annual England action plan in 2025.Pioneering research is an underpinning theme of the UK Rare Diseases Framework, and the Department funds and supports research into rare diseases through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). In the last five financial years, multiple studies, including one that is currently live, on rare inflammatory neuropathies have been supported by NIHR infrastructure.The NHS Genomics Education Programme is working to increase overall awareness of rare diseases among healthcare professionals. Guillain-Barré syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, and other inflammatory neuropathies are part of the core training curriculum for neurology trainees, for which competency has to be demonstrated before being placed on the specialist register.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme on small-scale craft production.

HM Revenue & Customs’ Spirits Drinks Verification Scheme (SDVS) conducts assurance of spirit producers wishing to apply for Geographic Indication status, ensuring their processes and products comply with established standards. As the SDVS is not limited to craft producers and engagement with the scheme is voluntary, no assessment of the impact on small scale craft producers has been undertaken. However, the government recognises the importance of protecting and promoting the unique status of the UK’s traditional spirit drinks industry. That is why at Autumn Budget we announced an investment of up to £5m to improve the SDVS and ensure the fees HMRC charge producers for its verification service are as low as possible.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has had recent discussion with the Scottish government on the Cladding Remediation Programme in Scotland.

Building standards and remediation are a devolved matter. Scottish Government have taken a different remediation approach in terms of identification, assessment and scope.We support the collective improvement of the safety of the UK’s built environment and regularly work with colleagues in Scotland and other devolved Governments to support them in driving remediation and protecting affected residents.

What discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on supporting community ownership of (a) land and (b) buildings in Scotland.

This government is committed to the communities sector and community ownership through empowering communities to own and run those local assets which mean the most to them. To date, the UK Government’s Community Ownership Fund has helped more than 40 Scottish community organisations with around £17m in grants. As part of this programme, the UK Government is working closely with the Scottish Government to look for opportunities to jointly support projects, including through the Empowering Communities Programme and the Scottish Land Fund. The projects awarded funding to date can be found online at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/community-ownership-fund-first-round-successful-bidders.

What steps the Government is taking to (a) support rural businesses and (b) promote rural economic development in Scotland.

Growing the economy across both rural and urban areas is a key mission for the Government, and helping rural businesses succeed is a significant part of this work. Nature recovery plays a critical role in supporting the rural economy, and in turn businesses can help provide food security, enhance biodiversity and accelerate progress towards net zero targets.In Scotland, we work closely with the Scottish Government and its agencies to ensure that businesses have access to the support they need to grow and thrive, including through export, and that we showcase the opportunities offered in all parts of Scotland to potential global investors.For example, the Investment Fund for Scotland offers a range of commercial finance options with smaller loans and debt finance from £25,000 to £2 million and equity investment up to £5 million. The fund covers the whole of Scotland, including rural and coastal areas..

What steps the Government is taking to tackle depopulation in rural areas in Scotland.

The Government recognises the importance of tackling rural depopulation, and the wider challenges faced by rural and island communities in Scotland. We are committed to supporting these communities by boosting investment and opportunities.For example, we are in the process of rolling out the Shared Rural Network (SRN) program (alongside EE, three, VMO2 and Vodafone), to improve mobile coverage and connectivity across the UK. Rural areas in Scotland will be among the biggest beneficiaries of this programme.Furthermore, the UK Government is investing £50m covering the three island groups – Shetland, Orkney and Western Isles – through the Islands Growth Deal. The Deal supports the Islands’ ambitions for net zero, aquaculture and development of tourism and heritage projects. These investments exemplify the Government’s ongoing work towards growing the rural economy and improving infrastructure, which are critical to addressing rural depopulation.

What discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on using the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to (a) support accessible tourism and (b) improve facilities for disabled people in Scotland.

The UK Government worked with the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to inform the most appropriate mix of UKSPF interventions for Scotland. Under the UKSPF delegated delivery model, local authorities are given the autonomy to make decisions on how funding is spent in their area. Local authorities in Scotland therefore might choose to make place-based investments for regeneration and town centre improvements, which could include better accessibility for disabled people, including capital spend and running costs; as well as providing funding for the development and promotion (both trade and consumer) of the visitor economy, such as local attractions, trails, tours and tourism products more generally.

What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her Department's polices of recent trends in levels of car insurance premiums.

This Government committed in its manifesto to tackle the high costs of motor insurance. To deliver on this commitment, the UK Government has formed a cross-government Taskforce on motor insurance, co-chaired by the Department for Transport and His Majesty’s Treasury, which met for the first time on 16th October. The Taskforce is comprised of ministers from relevant government departments and by the Financial Conduct Authority and Competition and Markets Authority. The Taskforce is supported by a separate Stakeholder Panel of industry experts representing the insurance, motor, and consumer sector. This Taskforce has a strategic remit to set the direction for UK Government policy, identifying short- and long-term actions for departments that may contribute to stabilising or reducing premiums, while maintaining appropriate levels of cover. It will evaluate the impact of increased insurance costs on consumers and the insurance industry, including how this impacts different demographics, geographies, and communities.

What discussions he has had with (a) the Scottish Government and (b) the Chancellor of the Exchequer on funding for the voluntary sector in Scotland to help reduce child poverty.

Tackling child poverty is a shared priority across all parts of the UK. I am a member of the Child Poverty Taskforce, which is confronting the wide-ranging and deep-rooted causes of child poverty. The Child Poverty Taskforce will collaborate with the Scottish Government on our common goal to reduce and alleviate child poverty. The Taskforce will work with the Scottish Government in developing the UK-wide strategy, to be published in spring next year, to improve children’s lives and life chances now and address the root causes of child poverty in the long-term. I have had a number of discussions with Scottish Government Ministers since my appointment, as have many of my Ministerial colleagues, including the Prime Minister. T o establish collaboration on the development of a UK-wide Child Poverty Strategy, the co-chairs of the Child Poverty Taskforce met with the First Minister and the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice earlier this month. We look forward to continuing our partnership to build consensus for action and deliver sustainable change for all children across the UK. The Taskforce is also engaging directly with voluntary sector organisations from across the UK. The Chancellor will set out overall fiscal and spending plans in her Budget on 30 October and the Spending Review in the spring.

Whether she has had discussions with the university sector in Scotland on promoting Scottish universities internationally.

The new government is mission-led and will break down the barriers to opportunity to help make Britain the international home of opportunity. The UK government’s International Education Champion Professor Sir Steve Smith regularly liaises with the university sector, including in Scotland, to promote education export growth for UK universities. Representatives from Scottish universities have also joined several of his trade missions. Most recently, the University of Dundee and the University of Glasgow joined Professor Sir Steve on a higher education transnational education mission to Brazil. Professor Sir Steve’s tenure as the UK government’s International Education Champion has been extended to 1 October 2025 by this government.

What discussions she has had with her Scottish counterpart on supporting the university sector in Scotland to develop international operations.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education has had initial engagement with her Scottish counterpart and looks forward to further collaboration with education Ministers from across the UK including at the UK Education Ministers Council next month in Belfast. This government supports the university sector in Scotland and the development of their international operations through the overseas engagements of the UK government’s International Education Champion Professor Sir Steve Smith. Most recently, Professor Sir Steve led a higher education transnational education mission to Brazil with two Scottish universities in attendance, the University of Dundee and the University of Glasgow.

What recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on promoting innovation and skills through the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal.

Since coming into office, I have had several meetings with the Scottish Government, including the Deputy First Minister. We have discussed a range of key issues including economic growth across all of Scotland, which is the priority mission of this UK Government. The jointly funded City Region and Growth Deals programme, including the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal, is a fundamental element to the economic growth plan. The UK Government commitment to the deal is for £45.1m, the Scottish Government have also committed £45.1m and with partner contributions this make it a £214m Deal. The UK Government commitment covered investment in the following: Clackmannanshire Fund, National Aquaculture Technology Innovation Hub, Scotland’s International Environment Centre, the transfer of MoD land at Forthside, the National Tartan Centre and skills and employability provision in Alloa.

What recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the progress of City Deals projects in Scotland.

Since coming into office, I have had several meetings with the Scottish Government, including the Deputy First Minister. Economic growth is the key mission of this Government and one that I am absolutely committed to delivering in partnership with the Scottish Government. City Region and Growth Deals are a fundamental part of this mission. Since coming into office, the UK Government and Scottish Government have jointly agreed the £100 million Falkirk and Grangemouth Growth Deal.

What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of recent trends in levels of economic inactivity in Stirling and Strathallan constituency.

The Government has made clear that we consider the current rate of inactivity to be unacceptably high. With nearly 2.8 million people out of work due to long-term sickness and the last Parliament seeing the biggest increase in economic inactivity in forty years, our inactivity rate is above pre-pandemic levels at 21.9% for May-July 2024 and, unlike most major economies, our overall employment rate has failed to recover to its pre-pandemic level. In Stirling and Strathallan constituency the estimated economic inactivity level amongst 16-64 year olds stood at 11,700 from April 2023-March 2024. This is why we have set an ambition to get to an 80% employment rate, alongside raising living standards and tackling insecurity at work. We have announced our intention to publish a White Paper which will set out the Government’s planned changes to tackle economic inactivity, support people into good work and help them to progress. The White Paper will set out fundamental reforms including:o A new public employment and careers service to help get more people into work, and on in their work.o New, bespoke joined-up work, health and skills plans for the economically inactive, with input from mayors, local councils, the NHS, businesses, colleges and the voluntary sector to deliver real employment opportunities for local peopleo A youth guarantee for all people aged 18 to 21 to ensure that they can access quality training opportunities, an apprenticeship or employment support

What steps he plans to take to support the voluntary sector in Scotland.

Volunteering is a devolved policy area. However, the UK Government funded and supported the launch of the 2024 Big Help Out, which was a UK-wide campaign and took place on 7-9 June. It aimed to raise awareness of volunteering and provided opportunities for people to support their communities. This event followed the success of the inaugural day of community volunteering to mark the Coronation of His Majesty the King and Her Majesty The Queen, held on 8 May 2023.Millions of people took part in last year’s Big Help Out with a huge range of charities and voluntary organisations providing people with the opportunity to try out and experience volunteering.UK Government officials will continue to engage with the devolved administrations on matters relating to volunteering policy and shared insights.

What assessment he has made of the impact of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund on (a) local business in Scotland, (b) social enterprises in Scotland and (c) Stirling and Strathallan constituency.

Under the UK Shared Prosperity Fund ‘Supporting Local Business’ investment priority, which includes support for social enterprises, local authorities in Scotland have already spent £10.9m as of April 2024. This includes close to £400,000 spent in Stirling, and more than £270,000 spent in Perth and Kinross. Year 3 payments have now been paid to local authorities, and we anticipate further investment under this priority in the third year of the fund. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is committed to evaluating and publishing findings on the impacts of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and Scotland is a key component of this evaluation. The UKSPF evaluation strategy clearly sets out the approach to evaluation.