Written questions by Gethins.

What was the total expenditure on press and communications, including staffing costs, for financial year 2024/5, and for 2026 for the office of the Secretary of State for Scotland.

The total expenditure on press and communications, including staffing costs, for financial year 2024/25 was £1.944m. Departmental spend on communications staff for financial year 2024-25 was £1.744m, including all on-costs such as pension contributions, national insurance and VAT. The total Communications budget for the financial year 2025-26 is £1.949m.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of undertaking a strategic review of her Department's priorities.

The Foreign Secretary has recently concluded the process of updating the FCDO’s priorities for the next financial year, alongside the department’s senior management team. The Foreign Secretary will write to the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee shortly setting out the conclusions of that process, and we look forward to making progress on the updated list of priorities over the year ahead.

How many people in Arbroath and Broughty Ferry constituency have been affected by the issues with administering the Civil Service Pension Scheme.

We are unable to provide a breakdown of the number of people affected in the Arbroath and Broughty Ferry constituency. Capita does not provide data on the administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme at this specific geographic or constituency level. The latest position of the Civil Service Pension Recovery Plan Update (2 March 2026) is available at this weblink: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-pension-recovery-plan-updates/civil-service-pension-recovery-plan-update-2-march-2026 The pension scheme continues to make monthly pension payments to approximately 730,000 existing pensioner members on time.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of leaving the EU on conservation transfers between zoos in the UK and the EU.

Since leaving the EU, live animal movements between zoos have continued in line with the EU’s importation requirements for Third Countries. Defra continues to work closely with the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA), to address immediate challenges to the cross-border movement of endangered species. This Government is pursuing an SPS Agreement that will establish a UK-EU Sanitary Zone aimed at reducing trade barriers and includes facilitating the safe and efficient movement of terrestrial and aquatic zoo animals for conservation. The principles and framework of a future agreement have been established and negotiations are ongoing. Our aim is to reduce regulatory barriers while maintaining the UK’s high biosecurity standards. We expect the SPS agreement to reduce costs and delays associated with certification and border checks, easing burdens on UK zoos and aquariums.

What discussions he has had with representatives of the Scotch Whisky industry on US tariffs.

We have had extensive and regular discussions with representatives of the Scotch Whisky industry throughout our negotiations with the US, as we do in relation to many other markets around the world. This engagement has helped us secure significant tariffs cuts in our other trade deals like with India.

What discussions he has had with her Ukrainian counterpart on the import of Ukrainian drones to the UK.

Although the Government works closely with the Government of Ukraine to share knowledge and insight around the use of drones, neither I nor the Secretary of State for Business and Trade have had discussions on the import of drones from Ukraine with our counterparts.

Whether there was ant cost to the public purse of settling the case in the United States between Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Virginia Giuffre in 2022.

No public money was used to pay the legal or settlement fees to which the Hon Member refers.

When he will answer Questions 111166 and 111167 on the administration of the civil service pension scheme.

A response has been issued here 111166 and 111167

What assessment his Department has made of the potential physical and psychological impact for those who faced financial exclusion from the Covid‑19 Business Support schemes during the pandemic.

Module 10, the final module of the Covid Inquiry, will consider impact on mental health and wellbeing. There was however a wide range of support available to businesses during Covid delivered by the Devolved Administrations in their areas. The Covid-19 Business Support Grant Schemes which the Department for Business and Trade was responsible for, were delivered via Local Authorities across England, included discretionary allocations which allowed each authority to consider applications from those businesses which did not fit the eligibility criteria for the mainstream schemes. The Scottish Government were responsible for Covid Business Support in Scotland.

What discussions he has had with his counterparts in the devolved Administrations on treatment for people with pulmonary fibrosis.

Department ministers have regular discussions with their counterparts in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland on matters of cross border interest. There have been no specific meetings held recently on treatment for people with pulmonary fibrosis.

Pursuant to the answer of 20 October 2025 to question 82343, what steps her Department is taking to help customers in receipt of PIP to transact with the DVLA.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) remains committed to working with the Department for Work and Pensions to review and improve the process for customers who receive the standard rate mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which entitles them to a 50 per cent reduction in the rate of vehicle excise duty payable. Customers who receive the enhanced rate mobility component of PIP and whose vehicles are licensed in the disabled taxation class can already renew their exemption online. The DVLA will develop and introduce a digital service for customers in receipt of the standard rate of PIP. This work will not start until after the delivery of electric Vehicle Excise Duty changes in 2028. In the interim the DVLA is developing a temporary solution for customers in receipt of the standard rate of PIP that will allow them to submit their application through digital means. The technical discovery on this work is expected to start shortly.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, on what legal basis Peter Mandelson was dismissed from his post as Ambassador to the USA.

I refer the Hon. Member to the Government's response to the Urgent Question tabled on 12 February, the Written Ministerial Statement in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister that same day, and Oral Statement on the 23 February which set out an update on the Government's process. We will set out further details in due course. The Government wishes to ensure that Parliament's instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.

How many (a) press, (b) media and (c) other communications job posts there are in his Department; and what the salary band is for each post.

The Scotland Office communications team currently has 16 posts, carrying out a wide range of communication functions.There are currently five press/media posts. PostsCivil Service Salary Band (Government Communication Service Bands)Head of Communications/ Head of DigitalSCS1Press and MediaGrade 6, Grade 7, Grade 7, EO, EODigitalSEO, SEO, EOStrategic Engagement/ Visits and EventsGrade 6, SEO, SEO, SEO, HEO, HEO, EO

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will publish what assistance UK Embassies have provided to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor since July 2024.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office staff overseas would not normally provide any assistance to non-working Royals on private visits overseas, and we can find no record of any contact between Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and our overseas network during the period in question.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when she will answer Question 110820 relating to Peter Mandelson which was due for answer on the 9th of February.

I apologise for the delay in responding to the Hon Member. The question was answered on 27 February.

Pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2025 to Question 93760 on Driving Tests: Scotland, what progress she has made on the recruitment of driving examiners for driving test centres in (a) Arbroath and (b) Dundee.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is continuing with recruitment campaigns across the country to provide as many tests as possible. A full-time driving examiner (DE) can be expected to add approximately 1,200 tests per year to the booking system.For Arbroath and Dundee driving test centres (DTC), whilst one candidate did not successfully complete their training earlier this year, DVSA successfully recruited an additional DE for Dundee DTC during the summer.DVSA is in the process of a new recruitment campaign for 5 DE positions at Dundee in the coming weeks, with the aim for successful candidates to be in place by early 2026.Additionally, to further support test availability in Dundee and Arbroath, DVSA has transferred an examiner to Dundee DTC from December 2025. DVSA is also in the process of a reinstatement of an examiner in Dundee to be in place in early 2026.

Whether his Department is providing support to Capita to assist in clearing the backlog of Civil Service pension cases.

The Cabinet Office awarded the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme to Capita in November 2023 under the previous government. The issues and delays facing a number of civil servants and pension scheme members in accessing their pensions are unacceptable. Cabinet Office officials are in daily contact with Capita to progress the recovery plan, and keep Ministers informed of progress regularly. The Minister for the Cabinet Office has also met with the Capita CEO, both before and after the transition. In response, we have set up a dedicated team to work urgently with Capita, with 650 full time staff from across Government and Capita and restoring normal service as soon as possible. We have agreed a clear recovery plan with Capita, which includes specific milestones and accountability targets for delivery. It includes specific commitments to restore service levels for priority cases, deploy additional resources, and improve communication with affected colleagues, so that staff, both former and serving, receive the quality of service and support they deserve. Capita has prioritised the most urgent cases and by the end of February, all death in service cases were either settled or progressed to the final stage or awaiting a member response. A similar position will be reached for ill health retirement applications by mid-March Alongside these arrangements, Capita has prioritised payment of tax-free pension lump sums for members who had received quotations but were not in receipt of their benefits, with the vast majority of these having been paid in February.The Cabinet Office has set out arrangements whereby employing departments are able to make interest-free hardship loans to those who are waiting for their pension benefits. The pension scheme continues to make monthly pension payments to approximately 730,000 existing pensioner members on time.The latest position of the Civil Service Pension Recovery Plan Update (9 February 2026) is available at this weblink: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-pension-recovery-plan-updates/civil-service-pension-recovery-plan-update-9-february-2026

Whether he has had discussions with Capita on the administration of Civil Service pensions.

The Cabinet Office awarded the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme to Capita in November 2023 under the previous government. The issues and delays facing a number of civil servants and pension scheme members in accessing their pensions are unacceptable. Cabinet Office officials are in daily contact with Capita to progress the recovery plan, and keep Ministers informed of progress regularly. The Minister for the Cabinet Office has also met with the Capita CEO, both before and after the transition. In response, we have set up a dedicated team to work urgently with Capita, with 650 full time staff from across Government and Capita and restoring normal service as soon as possible. We have agreed a clear recovery plan with Capita, which includes specific milestones and accountability targets for delivery. It includes specific commitments to restore service levels for priority cases, deploy additional resources, and improve communication with affected colleagues, so that staff, both former and serving, receive the quality of service and support they deserve. Capita has prioritised the most urgent cases and by the end of February, all death in service cases were either settled or progressed to the final stage or awaiting a member response. A similar position will be reached for ill health retirement applications by mid-March Alongside these arrangements, Capita has prioritised payment of tax-free pension lump sums for members who had received quotations but were not in receipt of their benefits, with the vast majority of these having been paid in February.The Cabinet Office has set out arrangements whereby employing departments are able to make interest-free hardship loans to those who are waiting for their pension benefits. The pension scheme continues to make monthly pension payments to approximately 730,000 existing pensioner members on time.The latest position of the Civil Service Pension Recovery Plan Update (9 February 2026) is available at this weblink: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-pension-recovery-plan-updates/civil-service-pension-recovery-plan-update-9-february-2026

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information her Department holds on the date Peter Mandelson ceased being employed by her Department.

I refer the Hon. Member to the Government's response to the Urgent Question tabled on 12 February, the Written Ministerial Statement in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister that same day, and Oral Statement on the 23 February which set out an update on the Government's process. We will set out further details in due course. The Government wishes to ensure that Parliament's instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had discussions with European counterparts on the potential merits of introducing sanctions against refineries that are buying Russian crude oil.

In 2025 we sanctioned several refineries and terminals in third countries for importing Russian energy. Our action, and that of our partners, is having an impact. Russia's oil export revenues are now at their lowest since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and Russia's overall energy revenues fell by over 24 per cent in 2025 compared to the year before. In October 2025, we also announced our intention to ban the import of oil products refined in third countries from Russian-origin crude oil.On the question of potential further sanctions, we keep these matters under constant review, but it has been the long-standing policy of the UK under successive governments not to comment on specific future designations as to do so would risk lessening their impact.