Written questions by Blackman.

Whether he has received representations from North Sea operators regarding the offer to invest £17.5 billion in new domestic oil and gas projects in exchange for early implementation of the Oil and Gas Price Mechanism.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the finding by the Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce that fewer than 10% of energy sector businesses are confident the UK will have sufficient skills capacity to deliver its energy transition ambitions; and what steps his Department is taking to address that gap.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department's renewable energy targets that developers in the north of Scotland face higher transmission charges than those in southern England, in the context of the region possessing some of Europe's greatest renewable energy resources.

Awaiting answer.

What comparative assessment his Department has made of the lifecycle emissions of imported liquefied natural gas against domestically produced North Sea gas.

Awaiting answer.

What target timescales his Department has set for the determination of offshore wind and grid connection planning applications; and what steps he is taking to reduce delays in consenting for nationally significant energy infrastructure.

Awaiting answer.

Whether he is taking steps to review and revise the DESNZ North Sea Future Plan in consultation with the sector, in response to feedback from energy sector businesses on that plan.

Awaiting answer.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Foreign Permanent Establishment Exemption on the number of jobs.

Awaiting answer.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Foreign Permanent Establishment Exemption on the economy.

Awaiting answer.

What estimate her Department has made of the cost to the public purse of (a) Universal Credit and (b) other welfare payments made to people who became unable to work as a direct result of delays in DVLA medical licence processing.

Awaiting answer.

Whether her Department has conducted an economic impact assessment of the potential impact of DVLA medical licence delays on workforce productivity.

Awaiting answer.

What discussions she has had with the Home Secretary on the potential impact of earned settlement proposals on stateless people.

Awaiting answer.

What discussions she has had with the Home Secretary on the publishing of an equality impact assessment of the earned settlement proposals.

Awaiting answer.

Whether her Department undertook cost-benefit analysis before launching a new digital medical licensing service on 31 March 2026; and what projected annual savings to the public purse are expected from that system.

Awaiting answer.

What estimate her Department has made of the potential impact of DVLA medical licence delays on costs to the NHS of (a) repeat specialist consultations and (b) administrative work since 2020.

Awaiting answer.

What the administrative cost to the DVLA has been of processing the backlog of medical driving licence applications, including the cost of additional caseworkers recruited since 2023.

Awaiting answer.

What estimate her Department has made of the total income lost by self-employed drivers as a result of delays in processing medical driving licence applications in each of the last three years.

Awaiting answer.

What steps his Department is taking to reform TNUoS charging arrangements ahead of CfD Allocation Round 8.

By law, transmission charging arrangements are a matter for Ofgem as the independent regulator. Ofgem are currently reviewing the arrangements and are holding a call for input. Government is supporting Ofgem closely on the review, as part of our wider Reformed National Pricing programme and our delivery of the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan. We will ensure that transmission charging is reformed as soon as possible.

Communities and Local Government, what funding in real terms was allocated from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to organisations providing support for victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse in Scotland in (a) 2023–24, (b) 2024–25 (c) 2025–26 and (d) 2026-27.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) has a light-touch delegated delivery model, empowering lead local authorities to make decisions on how funding is allocated in their area. As a result, MHCLG does not hold annual project level data.However, lead local authorities have reported investment in five discrete projects supporting victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse in Scotland over the period April 2022 to March 2026, to the value of £307,714 (actual cost). We anticipate that other projects will also have supported victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse as part of their work, but this information is not held by the department. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is ending in March 2026. No new funding has been allocated for the period 2026-27.

(a) how many policy staff job posts there are in his Department and (b) what the salary band is for each post.

The Scotland Office has 30 policy posts which are spread across the following salary bands: Salary BandNumber of PostsSCS12Grade 63Grade 77Senior Executive Officer9Higher Executive Officer9

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of (a) Making Tax Digital and (b) changes in the wear and tear allowance on childminders.

Childminders make a significant contribution to children’s development, learning, and wellbeing. The Government has eased rules on working from schools and community centres and increased early years funding rates above 2023 average fees. These increases reflect increased costs, and from April 2026, local authorities must pass at least 97 per cent of funding to providers. Only a small proportion of childminders with qualifying income over £50,000 will be mandated into Making Tax Digital (MTD) for income tax from April 2026. Childminders moving to MTD for income tax can continue to claim tax relief for household costs, wear and tear of household items and furniture, and food and drink, by deducting actual business costs. This ensures childminders receive tax relief for all of the costs that they incur in relation to their childminding business. The Government will monitor the impact of MTD for income tax on childminders and other home-based childcare providers in the same way as it will for all sole traders moving to MTD for income tax.