Written questions by Logan.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the decision to not include the North East Scotland Regional Economic Partnership in the Local Growth Fund.

The UK Government is providing targeted funding to the places in Scotland that need it most, while simultaneously delivering the largest Block Grant settlement for the Scottish Government in the whole history of devolution, which they can use to improve general funding settlements for local government services and priorities. The Local Growth Fund is targeting five regions that contain the local authorities with the lowest Real Disposable Household Income per capita (RDHI) in Scotland, which is an established metric for measuring spatial disparities in living standards across the country. The local authorities in the North East Scotland region had higher living standards and so did not meet the threshold for funding from this programme. The Local Growth Fund is just one UK Government investment programme and the North East region is benefiting from more than £200m in other investments, including the North East Scotland Investment Zone; Pride in Place Programme funding for Peterhead and Aberdeen; Local Regeneration Fund projects in Peterhead and Macduff; support for the Energy Transition Zone; and the completion of the Aberdeen City Region Deal. Other rural areas of Scotland, including the Highlands and Islands and South of Scotland, are benefitting significantly from more than £400m in UK Government investment.

If he will make it his policy to ensure equitable distribution of the Local Growth Fund to rural areas.

The UK Government is providing targeted funding to the places in Scotland that need it most, while simultaneously delivering the largest Block Grant settlement for the Scottish Government in the whole history of devolution, which they can use to improve general funding settlements for local government services and priorities. The Local Growth Fund is targeting five regions that contain the local authorities with the lowest Real Disposable Household Income per capita (RDHI) in Scotland, which is an established metric for measuring spatial disparities in living standards across the country. The local authorities in the North East Scotland region had higher living standards and so did not meet the threshold for funding from this programme. The Local Growth Fund is just one UK Government investment programme and the North East region is benefiting from more than £200m in other investments, including the North East Scotland Investment Zone; Pride in Place Programme funding for Peterhead and Aberdeen; Local Regeneration Fund projects in Peterhead and Macduff; support for the Energy Transition Zone; and the completion of the Aberdeen City Region Deal. Other rural areas of Scotland, including the Highlands and Islands and South of Scotland, are benefitting significantly from more than £400m in UK Government investment.

What the evidential basis is for not including the North East Scotland Regional Economic Partnership in the Local Growth Fund.

The UK Government is providing targeted funding to the places in Scotland that need it most, while simultaneously delivering the largest Block Grant settlement for the Scottish Government in the whole history of devolution, which they can use to improve general funding settlements for local government services and priorities. The Local Growth Fund is targeting five regions that contain the local authorities with the lowest Real Disposable Household Income per capita (RDHI) in Scotland, which is an established metric for measuring spatial disparities in living standards across the country. The local authorities in the North East Scotland region had higher living standards and so did not meet the threshold for funding from this programme. The Local Growth Fund is just one UK Government investment programme and the North East region is benefiting from more than £200m in other investments, including the North East Scotland Investment Zone; Pride in Place Programme funding for Peterhead and Aberdeen; Local Regeneration Fund projects in Peterhead and Macduff; support for the Energy Transition Zone; and the completion of the Aberdeen City Region Deal. Other rural areas of Scotland, including the Highlands and Islands and South of Scotland, are benefitting significantly from more than £400m in UK Government investment.

What discussions he has had with the Scottish fishing sector on the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund since 5cc Memb September 2025.

The Secretary of State for Scotland regularly engages with industry stakeholders in Scotland, including the fishing sector. Decisions over how the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund is spent in Scotland are devolved, granting the Scottish Government discretion to allocate funding in line with local priorities and the specific circumstances of Scotland’s fishing and coastal communities. As fisheries overall is devolved, the Scottish Government also has an important role in engaging with industry and other stakeholders.

What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the allocation of the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund to Scotland.

I recognise Scotland’s key role in the UK fishing industry. The Scotland Office has engaged with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs regarding the allocation of the Fisheries and Coastal Fund. The funds awarded sit in addition to the baseline funding provided to the Scottish Government through their block grant. The Scottish Government has received the biggest funding settlement since devolution, with Scotland generally receiving around 20% more per capita. This funding can be allocated to other priorities, including fisheries.

Whether funding will be made available to the Scottish Government under the Barnett Formula from the New Hospital Programme.

Since the election, the UK Government’s plan for change has delivered an extra £5.2 billion for the Scottish Government. In June 2025, the Spending Review announced an additional £9.1 billion in funding for the Scottish Government over the spending review period. This included almost £5.8 billion in Barnett consequentials as a result of additional UK Government funding for the Department of Health and Social Care.

What estimate he has made of the potential impact of the reduction in spend on Carers Allowance on Scotland’s Block Grant.

In Scotland, Carers Allowance is a devolved benefit. Individual block grant adjustments linked to individual policy decisions will be published in due course. The Spending Review set a three year envelope and guarantees that the block grant will be at least £52 billion by 2029, with an additional £9.1 billion in Barnet consequentials over that time period.

What discussions he has had with the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice to ensure that changes for claimants who depend on both reserved and devolved social security are understood.

UK Government Ministers regularly meet with their Scottish government counterparts to discuss social security and claimants. Scotland Office Ministers also attend the Joint Ministerial Working Group on Welfare, alongside Ministers from the Department of Work and Pensions and Scottish Government Ministers. The most recent meeting was held on 18 June 2025. The Pathways to Work Green Paper states that interactions between the reserved and devolved systems in Scotland will need to be considered before reforms are implemented. Officials are already engaging on this.

What estimate he has made of the potential impact of proposed reductions in Personal Independence Payment on Scotland’s Block Grant.

In Scotland, Adult Disability Payment, a devolved benefit, replaced Personal Independence Payment. Individual block grant adjustments linked to individual policy decisions will be published in due course. The Spending Review set a three year envelope and guarantees that the block grant will be at least £52 billion by 2029, with an additional £9.1 billion in Barnet consequentials over that time period.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the proposed disability benefit reforms on claimants in Scotland.

Universal Credit is a reserved matter in Scotland, so the changes to Universal Credit will apply in Scotland. Personal Independent Payment (PIP) is an extra costs disability benefit and is a devolved matter in Scotland. By the time the Personal Independence Payment changes come into effect, PIP will have been fully replaced by the Scottish Government’s Adult Disability Payment. The changes to PIP eligibility therefore will not apply in Scotland. The interactions between the reserved and devolved systems in Scotland will need to be considered before these reforms are implemented and officials are already engaging on this.  DWP has engaged with the Scottish Government on the reforms set out in the Pathways to Work Green Paper, at both an official and Ministerial level. They will continue to work closely as they develop detailed proposals for the White Paper.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of changes to alcohol duties on Scotch whisky at the Autumn Budget 2024 on the Government’s plans for Brand Scotland.

I am proud to champion Scotland’s products and services, including whisky, globally through Brand Scotland. I have just returned from a visit to South East Asia where I was pleased to support the Scotch Whisky industry at a range of meetings with industry and Government in this key market. 90% of Scotch Whisky is already exported and therefore pays no duty. Increases on duty are in line with inflation and under the previous Government, duty was increased by 10.1% following the duty review. This does not detract from my support of the industry and I will continue to work closely with it to maximise opportunities and growth through Brand Scotland.