Angus MacDonald
MP for Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire
Lib Dem
Questions Asked by This MP
Parliamentary questions and government responses.
Response classifications show how directly each question was answered.
According to the Office for National Statistics, 174,000 people under the age of 35 moved abroad in the year ending June 2025. In the highlands, the problem is especially acute: demographic statistics show that young people are not staying in rural communities and pupil numbers in schools are down by 40% to 50% in the past 20 years. Rural depopulation and youth emigration are two sides of the same story: lack of opportunity. We have a demographic crisis. What is the Prime Minister doing to ensure that the UK offers strong apprenticeship and skills pathways for young people? Does he agree that the SNP’s failure in Scotland, diverting away £170 million intended for apprenticeships and skills development, shows exactly what happens when opportunity is not delivered?
Context
According to ONS statistics, a significant number of young people are leaving the UK for opportunities elsewhere. The situation is particularly acute in rural highlands, where school enrolment has dropped by 40-50% over two decades.
The Prime Minister (Keir Starmer)
I thank the hon. Member. Alongside the record settlement that we have put in place for the Scottish Government, we are delivering huge investment in apprenticeships and offering a paid placement for every young person, which is vital. The SNP, on the other hand, blocked a welding facility in the Clyde, because apparently it was related to defence. The SNP does not back Scottish industry, young people or national security—we do.
Assessment
Did not directly address how UK offers strong apprenticeship and skills pathways for young people but criticized SNP’s actions in Scotland.
Session: PMQs
View Full Session -->
Successive Governments have imposed massive environmental tariffs on customers using UK-produced renewable electricity, but far less on imported carbon fuel mains gas. This is not fair. Will the Prime Minister acknowledge this injustice and commit his Government to addressing this?
Context
The MP highlighted the environmental tariffs imposed on customers using UK-produced renewable electricity compared to imported carbon fuel mains gas.
The Prime Minister (Keir Starmer)
I absolutely recognise the need to address the imbalance between electricity and gas prices. We are exploring options to create a fairer system, and I am happy for Ministers to keep the hon. Member updated on what we are looking at.
Session: PMQs
View Full Session -->
Will the Minister acknowledge that the highlands and islands produce a disproportionately large amount of our renewable energy? Will he also acknowledge that last week's Ofgem go-ahead for three pumped storage schemes will produce almost no jobs, no legacy housing and no community benefits, along with minimal, if any, advantage to the highlands of Scotland?
Context
Concern over the lack of jobs and community benefits from renewable energy storage projects.
Michael Shanks
First, we are delighted to be building the first long-duration energy storage in Britain in 40 years, including pumped hydro storage projects that will help us store renewable energy for when we need it. Secondly, there will be local benefits from that and I do not agree with the hon. Gentleman's point about jobs. These are big construction projects and there will be jobs relating to running them afterwards. However, I will look further at his point on community benefits, because the community should benefit from such projects being built.
Session: Topical Questions 2026-07-07
View All Questions -->
The Department is reviewing community benefits, and there are concerns that it will produce negative outcomes for rural areas. The questioner asks if representations can be made on this issue.
Context
Concern about a poor outcome from a community benefits review affecting rural Scotland's interests.
Douglas Alexander
Offers to make representations to colleagues within Government, especially with the Energy Minister who is also Scottish. Welcomes communication for further details.
Session: Promoting Scottish Interests Abroad
View All Questions -->
I welcome the UK Government's support for heating oil customers in my constituency and the follow-up support from the Scottish Government. However, I am slightly baffled that the Scottish Government have chosen to centralise support through Advice Direct Scotland instead of entrusting local authorities with it. Will the Minister urge the Scottish Government to use local expertise such as Tighean Innse Gall and Point and Sandwick Trust?
Context
The Scottish Government's decision to centralise support through Advice Direct Scotland is questioned, with local authorities and organisations noted as having better knowledge of hard-to-reach customers.
Martin McCluskey
The hon. Friend joined me in Stornoway last week, where we met those organisations. It is crucial to take advantage of local knowledge to ensure that the support reaches people who need it, whether through schemes run by local government or the centralised scheme run by the Scottish Government.
Session: Heating Oil Rural Homes
View All Questions -->
What steps are being taken to support rural homes that use heating oil? In the remote highlands and islands, where mains gas is not available, where we have the highest level of fuel poverty in Britain, does the Minister accept the unfairness of a highlander having to pay a multiple of what those in cities pay for energy?
Context
High costs of heating oil impact many households in remote areas. The question follows a government announcement of £53 million support for those who heat their homes with heating oil.
Martin McCluskey
We understand the situation. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor has announced £53 million of support for those who heat their homes with heating oil, and £4.6 million will be delivered by the Scottish Government. The Competition and Markets Authority's investigation into heating oil is welcomed, and a trial for free wind power for people living near infrastructure was also announced.
Session: Heating Oil Rural Homes
View All Questions -->
Will the Minister acknowledge the unfairness that my constituents in Skye, and indeed people all across rural Scotland and rural Great Britain, are paying four times as much to heat their houses using locally generated renewable electricity—often while looking at wind turbines outside their windows—than those in cities who heat their houses using imported high-carbon gas, which is largely due to the fact that the environmental tariffs fall wrongly on the renewables and not on the carbon fuel gas?
Context
The MP highlighted the disparity between energy costs for rural residents using locally generated renewable electricity compared to city dwellers using imported high-carbon gas. He cited constituents in Skye who are paying significantly more despite looking at wind turbines.
The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr Douglas Alexander)
Communities can feel tangible benefits, but those community benefits are largely voluntary at the moment. The hon. Gentleman makes an important point; that is why this Government are considering mandating the provision of community benefit funds for low-carbon energy infrastructure across the United Kingdom. We will have more to say in our plans when they are set out later this year.
Session: Energy Prices
View All Questions -->
The domestic user of electricity pays 24p per kilowatt; the domestic user of mains gas pays 6p. People who live in urban Britain buy their energy for a quarter of the price paid by people in rural Britain. This is a massive problem, and I wonder whether the Minister could explain how the Government will address it.
Context
The electricity price disparity between urban and rural Britain is highlighted as a major issue by the questioner. The average domestic user of electricity pays 24p per kilowatt, whereas mains gas users pay 6p.
The Minister for Industry (Sarah Jones)
I thank the hon. Gentleman for that question, though it was not quite about the National Wealth Fund. He is right to highlight electricity prices. This is a challenge for industry and one we inherited from the previous Government. The best way to bring those bills down is to secure clean power by 2030, but he is right to highlight the challenges, and that is what we are trying to fix.
Session: National Wealth Fund Opportunities for Industry
View All Questions -->
The domestic user of electricity pays 24p per kilowatt; the domestic user of mains gas pays 6p. People who live in urban Britain buy their energy for a quarter of the price paid by people in rural Britain. This is a massive problem, and I wonder whether the Minister could explain how the Government will address it.
Context
The electricity price disparity between urban and rural Britain is highlighted as a major issue by the questioner. The average domestic user of electricity pays 24p per kilowatt, whereas mains gas users pay 6p.
The Minister for Industry (Sarah Jones)
I thank the hon. Gentleman for that question, though it was not quite about the National Wealth Fund. He is right to highlight electricity prices. This is a challenge for industry and one we inherited from the previous Government. The best way to bring those bills down is to secure clean power by 2030, but he is right to highlight the challenges, and that is what we are trying to fix.
Session: National Wealth Fund Opportunities for Industry
View All Questions -->
Other Parliamentary Activity
Debates led and petitions presented.
Community Helipads: Rural Access
15 October 2025
Responding: Lilian Greenwood
Main Concerns
["Community helipads are crucial for search and rescue operations but regulations have led to non-compliance issues. For example, the Portree and Braes Community Trust's helipad in Portree is not used by Bristow search and rescue helicopters due to legal liability concerns despite being fully compliant with safety standards."]
Specific Asks
['The MP asks for clarification on regulations to ensure that search and rescue helicopters can use community helipads without fear of litigation or over-regulation. He requests a derogation from the Health and Safety Executive and the Civil Aviation Authority to allow Bristow helicopters to land at compliant but non-CAP1264 sites.']
Renewable Energy Projects: Community Benefits — [Dr Rupa Huq in the Chair]
15 October 2024
Responding: Michael Shanks
Main Concerns
['Mr. MacDonald is worried that the benefits of renewable energy projects in rural areas are not being shared equitably with local communities. He mentions that locals suffer visual impacts from wind turbines and solar panels while paying higher electricity connection fees compared to city dwellers. The highlands and islands, Scottish Borders, Wales, Cumbria, and the west country are among the poorest regions suffering from fuel poverty, poor infrastructure, lower wages, and worse services than cities. He highlights that rural areas pay a premium for renewables despite generating significant electricity. In 2023, Octopus Energy research showed that 87% of people would support turbines in their community if it decreased their bills.']
Specific Asks
['Mr. MacDonald proposes that 5% of revenue from all newly consented renewable energy projects should be paid to community energy funds. For onshore projects, two-thirds of this should go to the affected council board and one-third to a strategic fund; for offshore projects, it would all go to the strategic fund. He suggests this financial proposal could translate into about a 1.25% increase in electricity prices but argues that such a move is crucial for community benefits.']
Puberty Blockers
23 June 2026
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
As a consultant paediatrician, Caroline Johnson highlights the ethical concerns surrounding the PATHWAYS clinical trial that involves administering puberty-suppressing hormones to children with gender...
Road Safety 2026-02-05
05 February 2026
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
Road safety is a personal issue for me as my grandfather died in a road accident. Despite improvements, four people still die on our roads every day and 76 more are injured seriously. The fatal five c...
War in Ukraine 2025-12-04
04 December 2025
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
The Russia-Ukraine war is an existential clash between competing visions of global security. It is not a regional territorial dispute but rather a conflict about the nature of society, with Putin and ...
Northern Ireland Troubles Bill 2025-11-18
18 November 2025
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Asylum Seekers MOD Housing 2025-10-29
29 October 2025
Urgent Question
Led by this MP
Will the Minister confirm plans for the temporary use of Ministry of Defence sites at Cameron barracks in Inverness and at Crowborough training camp in East Sussex to house asylum seekers. The MP rais...
North Sea Oil and Gas Industry 2025-10-27
27 October 2025
Urgent Question
Contributed to this debate
Will the Minister confirm that the UK Government will support the North Sea oil and gas industry, particularly in light of Petrofac's entry into administration? The MP raises concerns about job losses...
Hospitality Sector 2025-09-03
03 September 2025
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
The motion regrets the combination of catastrophic choices made by the Government, leading to closures and downsizing of pubs, restaurants, hotels, and hospitality businesses with an estimated 84,000 ...
Crime and Policing Bill 2025-06-17
17 June 2025
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Planning and Infrastructure Bill 2025-03-24
24 March 2025
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
High Streets Autumn Budget 2024 2025-01-23
23 January 2025
Adjournment Debate
Contributed to this debate
It is an honour to secure this debate on the autumn Budget’s impact on high streets as my first Adjournment debate, not just because it is such a vital topic but because it is a topic dear to my heart...
Attendance
54.1%
53 of 98 votes
Aye Votes
38
38.8% of votes
No Votes
15
15.3% of votes
Abstentions
45
45.9% of votes
11 Sep 2026
VOTED NO
Closure motion
Ayes: 293
Noes: 218
Passed
11 Sep 2026
VOTED NO
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: Second Reading
Ayes: 270
Noes: 286
Failed
10 Sep 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Social Housing Bill [Lords]: Reasoned Amendment to Second Reading
Ayes: 77
Noes: 292
Failed
09 Sep 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Draft Plant Health, Seeds, Seed Potatoes and Plant Propagating Material (Ame...
Ayes: 371
Noes: 100
Passed
08 Sep 2026
VOTED AYE
Health Bill: Report Stage: New Clause 140
Ayes: 79
Noes: 300
Failed
08 Sep 2026
VOTED AYE
Health Bill: Report Stage: New Clause 142
Ayes: 108
Noes: 357
Failed
08 Sep 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Health Bill: Report Stage: New Clause 143
Ayes: 106
Noes: 302
Failed
08 Sep 2026
VOTED AYE
Health Bill: Report Stage: Amendment 1
Ayes: 162
Noes: 297
Failed
07 Sep 2026
VOTED AYE
Health Bill: Report Stage: New Clause 6
Ayes: 77
Noes: 317
Failed
07 Sep 2026
VOTED AYE
Health Bill: Report Stage: New Clause 145
Ayes: 170
Noes: 316
Failed
04 Sep 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Motion to sit in private
Ayes: 1
Noes: 79
Failed
02 Sep 2026
VOTED AYE
Representation of the People Bill: Report Stage: New Clause 65
Ayes: 166
Noes: 346
Failed
02 Sep 2026
VOTED NO
Representation of the People Bill: Report Stage: New Clause 67
Ayes: 105
Noes: 410
Failed
02 Sep 2026
VOTED AYE
Representation of the People Bill: Report Stage: New Clause 88
Ayes: 85
Noes: 427
Failed
02 Sep 2026
VOTED AYE
Representation of the People Bill: Third Reading
Ayes: 411
Noes: 102
Passed
01 Jul 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Employment Tribunal (Extension of Time Limits) (Miscellaneous Amendments and...
Ayes: 322
Noes: 107
Passed
01 Jul 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Employment Tribunals Extension of Jurisdiction (England and Wales) (Amendment...
Ayes: 318
Noes: 107
Passed
01 Jul 2026
VOTED AYE
Taxation (Energy and Vehicles) Bill Committee: New Clause 2
Ayes: 80
Noes: 281
Failed
01 Jul 2026
VOTED AYE
Taxation (Energy and Vehicles) Bill Committee: New Clause 4
Ayes: 173
Noes: 282
Failed
01 Jul 2026
VOTED AYE
Taxation (Energy and Vehicles) Bill Committee: New Clause 5
Ayes: 177
Noes: 308
Failed
24 Jun 2026
VOTED NO
Customs (Tariff and Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 4) Regulations 2026
Ayes: 323
Noes: 160
Passed
24 Jun 2026
VOTED AYE
Draft Carbon Budget Order 2026
Ayes: 332
Noes: 94
Passed
24 Jun 2026
VOTED AYE
Draft Climate Change Act 2008 (International Aviation and International Shipp...
Ayes: 329
Noes: 94
Passed
24 Jun 2026
VOTED AYE
Draft Climate Change Act 2008 (Credit Limit) Order 2026
Ayes: 330
Noes: 93
Passed
23 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Opposition day: Defence spending and readiness
Ayes: 108
Noes: 307
Failed
23 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Opposition Day Motion: Defence spending and readiness - Prime Minister's Amen...
Ayes: 294
Noes: 110
Passed
23 Jun 2026
VOTED AYE
Opposition Day: Puberty blockers
Ayes: 112
Noes: 283
Failed
22 Jun 2026
VOTED AYE
Armed Forces Bill Report Stage: New Clause 4
Ayes: 164
Noes: 311
Failed
22 Jun 2026
VOTED NO
Armed Forces Bill Report Stage: New Clause 11
Ayes: 104
Noes: 391
Failed
22 Jun 2026
VOTED AYE
Armed Forces Bill Report Stage: New Clause 22
Ayes: 74
Noes: 323
Failed
22 Jun 2026
VOTED AYE
Armed Forces Bill Report Stage: Amendment 11
Ayes: 171
Noes: 322
Failed
17 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
National Security (State Threats) Bill: Allocation of Time motion
Ayes: 233
Noes: 94
Passed
17 Jun 2026
VOTED NO
National Security (State Threats) Bill Committee: Amendment 3
Ayes: 85
Noes: 317
Failed
17 Jun 2026
VOTED AYE
National Security (State Threats) Bill Committee: Amendment 8
Ayes: 143
Noes: 249
Failed
17 Jun 2026
VOTED AYE
National Security (State Threats) Bill Committee: Amendment 13
Ayes: 135
Noes: 258
Failed
17 Jun 2026
VOTED AYE
National Security (State Threats) Bill Committee: New Clause 3
Ayes: 144
Noes: 244
Failed
16 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill Remainin...
Ayes: 77
Noes: 255
Failed
16 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill Remainin...
Ayes: 151
Noes: 258
Failed
16 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill Remainin...
Ayes: 162
Noes: 246
Failed
16 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Draft Clean Air Zones Central Services (Fees) (England) (Amendment) Regulatio...
Ayes: 262
Noes: 86
Passed
24 Feb 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Opposition Day: Protections for children from online harms
Ayes: 69
Noes: 279
Failed
23 Feb 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Industry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill Committee: Amendment 1
Ayes: 161
Noes: 272
Failed
23 Feb 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Industry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill Committee: New Clause 2
Ayes: 156
Noes: 273
Failed
23 Feb 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Industry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill Committee: New Clause 3
Ayes: 77
Noes: 280
Failed
23 Feb 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill Committee: New Clause 3
Ayes: 73
Noes: 256
Failed
23 Feb 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill: Third Reading
Ayes: 361
Noes: 84
Passed
11 Feb 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Draft Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (Extension to Marit...
Ayes: 362
Noes: 107
Passed
11 Feb 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Local Government Finance Report (England) 2026-27
Ayes: 277
Noes: 143
Passed
11 Feb 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Referendums Relating to Council Tax Increases (Principles) (England) Report 2...
Ayes: 279
Noes: 90
Passed
04 Feb 2026
VOTED AYE
Draft Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) Order 2026
Ayes: 392
Noes: 116
Passed
2
PMQs Asked
7
Ministerial Questions Asked
17
House of Commons Debates Involved
2
Westminster Hall Debates Led
0
Statements / Bills
0
Petitions Presented
98
Voting Record
Activity Compared to Peers
How does this MP's parliamentary activity compare to the national average across 1370 MPs?
Prime Minister's Questions
-45% below average
This MP:
2
Average:
3.7
Ministerial Questions
-48% below average
This MP:
7
Average:
13.4
Westminster Hall Debates Led
-20% below average
This MP:
2
Average:
2.5
Commons Chamber Debates
+250% above average
This MP:
17
Average:
4.9
Statements / Bills Proposed
-100% below average
This MP:
0
Average:
9.5
Petitions Presented
-100% below average
This MP:
0
Average:
2.5
Voting Attendance Rate (%)
-22% below average
This MP:
54.1
Average:
69.2
Important Context
- - Ministers answer questions rather than asking them, so have different activity patterns
- - Activity quantity doesn't measure quality or effectiveness of representation
- - Some MPs focus more on constituency work than parliamentary questions
- - Newly elected MPs will have less parliamentary history
About This Page
This page tracks Angus MacDonald's parliamentary activity including questions asked, debates (Commons Chamber + Westminster Hall), statements/bills, and petitions presented.