Every parliamentary written question tabled by Kenneth Stevenson this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–7 of 7 · this parliament
Whether her Department has considered publishing separate figures for the amount raised in each nation and region, including Scotland, from the apprenticeship levy collected via HMRC.
HMRC does not require or collect data on where in the UK the economic activities occurs in order to collect the Apprenticeship Levy. Receipts data based on company registered addresses do not necessarily reflect where liabilities are accrued.
What recent assessment her Department has made of the potential economic merits of introducing a Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate for Heavy Duty Vehicles.
The Government believes that more needs to be done to decarbonise the road freight sector. We are considering our regulatory approach to decarbonise new non-zero emission heavy goods vehicles and will engage with stakeholders in due course.
What steps her Department is taking to support the decarbonisation of Heavy Duty Vehicles.
The Government is committed to decarbonising heavy-duty vehicles, and is supporting this through programmes such as the Plug-in Truck Grant, the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) programme, further funding for the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas programme, and a bus decarbonisation measure in the Bus Services Bill, which is currently going through Parliament.
What steps her Department is taking to ensure the £950m dedicated to the rapid charging fund is invested efficiently to drive decarbonisation in the transport sector.
A reliable, accessible and visible public charging network to support EV drivers on long journeys is essential. There are now over 5,560 open-access, rapid and ultra-rapid chargepoints within 1 mile of the Strategic Road Network (England’s motorways and major A roads) (Zapmap, April 2025). This is an increase of over 60% since January 2024 (Zapmap Jan 2024 – April 2025). The market has changed significantly since the previous government announced the Rapid Charging Fund in 2020, including increased private sector investment in infrastructure, a changed regulatory environment, and improvements in battery technology. We will ensure taxpayers' money is used as efficiently as possible to make the transition to electric vehicles a success. The Rapid Charging Fund pilot was launched in 2023 to better understand where to target government support. We will apply learning from the pilot and continue working with industry to inform future policy to boost charging infrastructure on the Strategic Road Network.
What assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of the Autumn Budget 2024 on public services in Scotland.
The budget delivered more money for public services in Scotland with the largest real terms budget in the history of devolution.People now expect delivery from the SNP government in Edinburgh, especially in our NHS where over 100,000 Scots have been trapped on NHS waiting lists for more than a year. They have the money, they have the powers, there are no more excuses.
What proportion of gross national income has been allocated to Official Development Assistance spending for the next three financial years; and what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of such spending in the last three years.
The Government remains committed to international development. This is why we allocated £13.7 billion to ODA in 2025/26 at Autumn Budget 2024. We will restore Official Development Assistance (ODA) spending to the level of 0.7 percent of GNI as soon as the fiscal circumstances allow. The Independent Commission for Aid Impact scrutinises all UK aid spending to ensure it is spent effectively, and all reports are available on their website. The Chancellor announced Phase 2 of the Spending Review at Autumn Budget, which is the process by which ODA allocations for future financial years will be decided.
When he last met with the Scottish Government; and what issues were discussed at this meeting.
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. My most recent meeting was with the Deputy First Minister, on Tuesday 1 October, who I am meeting regularly. We have discussed a range of issues such as our joint plan to secure the industrial future of the Grangemouth site, following confirmation of Petroineos’ decision to close the oil refinery next year. This Government is committed to working with the Scottish Government. By working collaboratively together, we will deliver the change that the people of Scotland expect.