Written questions by McAllister.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of requiring employers to show salaries on job adverts.

The government is committed to strengthening equal pay and ending pay discrimination.As part of the 2025 Equality law call for evidence, the Office for Equality and Opportunity sought information about best practices already used by some employers, research from academics and the experience of other countries when it comes to pay transparency measures. Responses to the call for evidence will help us to understand how increased pay transparency may impact women, ethnic minorities, disabled people, and other groups in the workplace.

What steps she is taking to help ensure that young women are aware of rights on equal pay.

The government is committed to strengthening equal pay and ending pay discrimination. We have already introduced legislation, through the Employment Rights Act 2025, which will require employers to publish the actions they are taking to close the gender pay gap. Through planned legislation, we will make the right to equal pay effective for ethnic minority and disabled people. We will also put in place measures to ensure that the outsourcing of services can no longer be used by employers to avoid paying equal pay, and we will implement a regulatory and enforcement unit for equal pay. Last year, we launched a public call for evidence on a number of areas of equality policy, including these commitments. We are currently analysing the responses to the call for evidence, which closed at the end of June 2025. We will consider the views from the call for evidence to ensure that the legislation works for everyone. On implementing these measures, up-to-date, clear guidance will be made available so that everyone understands their rights under the law.

What recent progress he has made on improving cooperation between the UK Government and the devolved Administrations.

This government reset relations with the devolved governments, has delivered record funding settlements for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and is bringing pride to communities in every part of the UK with our groundbreaking Pride in Place scheme, including in West Dunbartonshire. My honourable friend’s constituents are best served when both of Scotland’s governments work in partnership, to create jobs and opportunities for all Scots, and that is exactly the approach I have taken in this role.

Whether his Department has considered options for schemes to deliver compensation in line with the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman's report on Women's State Pension age communications.

The Secretary of State announced in his oral statement of 11 November 2025 that we will retake the decision made in December 2024 as it relates to the communications on State Pension age. This was because findings from a 2007 report had not been drawn to the attention of the previous Secretary of State as its potential relevance to the making of her decision was not evident at the time. The process to retake the decision is underway and it is important that we give this full and proper consideration. Retaking the decision should not be taken as an indication that Government will necessarily decide that it should award financial redress. We will update Parliament on the decision as soon as a conclusion is reached and on 2 December 2025 we committed to re-take the decision within three months.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Replacing animals in science strategy on economic growth.

The Government has published a strategy to support alternatives to the use of animals in science, which considered economic impacts. Building on the UK’s strengths as home to world leading research and pharmaceutical businesses, the strategy will support the UK to capitalise on the global non-animal technologies market, estimated to be worth $29.4 billion by 2030 The strategy has also considered the scientific and economic advantages of human-relevant methods for product development and testing.

What plans he has to meet with representatives of the WASPI campaign.

There are no plans to meet with any campaign groups.

Whether he plans to enter into alternative dispute resolution with WASPI Ltd.

We have no plans to do so.

Whether his Department plans to publish the geographical distribution of sites involved in the TRANSFORM trial; and what criteria were used to select them.

The Department invests over £1.6 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).In November 2023, the Government and Prostate Cancer UK (PCUK) announced the £42 million TRANSFORM screening trial to find the best way to screen men for prostate cancer, in order to find it before it becomes advanced and harder to treat. PCUK is managing the award on behalf of the funders, with the Government contributing £16 million through the NIHR.Once received, the protocol will be published on the NIHR’s website on the funding and awards page. This is expected to contain details of the site selection criteria. TRANSFORM will aim to recruit men from across the United Kingdom, including Scotland.

Whether she plans to establish an alternative disputes resolution process for people affected by changes in state pension age for women.

We have no such plans.

What steps his Department is taking to help lengthen life expectancy for people with acute myeloid leukaemia; and if he will increase levels of funding for leukaemia (a) research and (b) treatment.

The Department funds research into leukaemia through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR spent £133 million on cancer research in 2023/24.In leukaemia research, for example, the NIHR is funding the £2.6 million PROPEL trial, testing whether a package of enhanced personalised prehabilitation can help people with acute myeloid leukaemia secure better outcomes after treatment.NHS England has implemented non symptom specific pathways for patients who present with non-specific symptoms or combinations thereof that can indicate several different cancers. This includes leukaemia, which can present non-specific symptoms, such as unexpected weight loss and night sweats. The national evaluation showed that blood cancers are one of the most common cancer types diagnosed through these pathways.The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, including treatment for acute myeloid leukaemia patients.

What recent progress her Department has made on increasing levels of international cooperation to help tackle organised illegal immigration.

We are leading the international fight against organised immigration crime, and have delivered new agreements with a range of partners, including with Iraq, Germany and Italy; as well as deepening our cooperation with France Today’s landmark Summit on Organised Immigration Crime features delegations from over 45 countries and agencies, and will strengthen our partnerships across the globe; increase intelligence-sharing, and enable targeted disruptions to the criminal networks whose operations cross over multiple borders.

Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to support digital inclusion in West Dunbartonshire.

Digital inclusion is a priority for me and for Government. It means everyone has the access, skills, support and confidence to participate in a modern digital society, whatever their circumstances. Work is ongoing to develop our approach to tackling digital exclusion and we hope to announce more on this soon. We look forward working closely with the third sector, business and the Devolved Governments, to ensure interventions are targeted to and based on individual needs.

What steps he plans to take through the Defence Industrial Strategy to grow the defence sector.

The Government is delivering for defence by increasing defence spending and recognises the defence sector as a strategic resource. The Defence Industrial Strategy will provide clear signals to encourage firms to take long-term investment decisions in the ...

What progress she has made on implementing the proposals in the Get Britain Working white paper.

We are getting on with delivery. Fundamental reform will be delivered through:• Transformation of jobcentres to support people into and on in work.• Working with local areas to tackle economic inactivity.A Youth Guarantee for 18-21's in England to benefit...