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public safety. Join me for a round-up of the day from both Houses

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of Parliament at 11pm. First, questions for Secretary of State for

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Scotland, David Mundell. Order. Questions to the Secretary of State

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for Scotland. Mr Speaker, before I answer this question can I begin by

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commending you not just on your attendance at the Davis Cup

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semifinal in Glasgow, but for the enthusiasm with which you got behind

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Team GB in that momentous win. I'm sure you will join me in not only

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wishing are Team GB the best in the final, but also confirming that

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Glasgow has once again demonstrated with the world gymnastic

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Championships, and is a great sporting city. The UK Government has

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given local communities the final say on new onshore wind development

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in England. Planning for onshore wind is a matter devolved to the

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Scottish parliament, and sadly the Scottish Government kept it to

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themselves. I would ask them to look closely at the policy of

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protect our natural landscapes. I protect our natural landscapes. I

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will be there in person to support the team, all being well. True

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as closely as possible with the as closely as possible with the

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people, in Scotland, in Wales, and in Northern Ireland. Does the

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Secretary of State deplore the centralising policies of the current

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Scottish and Welsh governments, who Scottish and Welsh governments, who

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seem to think they know better than the people in the communities of

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Scotland and Wales? I absolutely Scotland and Wales? I absolutely

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current Scottish Government is one current Scottish Government is one

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of the most centralising government is on record, routinely

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the wishes of local people and the wishes of local people

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authorities. We are delivering authorities. We are delivering

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devolution to Scotland. Let us see devolution delivered within

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Scotland. The Secretary of State will be aware of the case of the

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eco-park in my constituency, which has the support of the local

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community. Developers worked diligently to secure planning

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permission from the council. Despite the support, the development is

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threatened by the regressive approach his government has taken,

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putting local jobs at risk. Would he agree to look again at this case

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which has been penalised by its responsible approach to community

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engagement around planning issues? I am always happy to look at

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individual cases and I would be delighted to meet with her and hear

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more about the case she is setting out. Would he agree that the

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Scottish parliament could learn a lot from the devolution debate

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within England... LAUGHTER

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And would he encourage the Scottish parliament to devolve more

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responsibilities and powers to local government, including elected mayor

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is for the cities of Scotland? I absolutely agree with him, and that

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response of SNP members says it all, they know better than local people.

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Let us see decision-making and Lord Smith's individual recommendations

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honoured in Scotland. In addition to honoured in Scotland. In addition to

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this question, there is question after question today from the

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Nationalists questioning the powers Nationalists questioning the powers

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of the Scottish Parliament. But the truth is this, they have missed

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accident and emergency waiting time in Scotland for six years, more than

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6000 children leave primary school unable to read properly, and

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Scotland is facing a housing crisis. When I visited Edinburgh a

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week or so ago, I was stunned at the level of wrath speaking in the city,

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more than compatible cities. Shouldn't they be sorting out things

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for which they are responsible instead of demanding more powers? I

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have been generous. The Scotland Bill will make the Scottish

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Parliament the most powerful devolved parliament in the world.

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What is required now is to hear from the SNP and the Scottish Government

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has the will use these parliaments. They provide arguments about

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process, but they do not want to tell us what they will do or follow

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it through with action. It is difficult to hear with the noise

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from the Labour Party. The only damage to onshore wind comes from

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the honourable members' government. If only they would take control of

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inter-island freights -- flights. You can learn a lot from the number

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of SNP people who won the boats. He could learn a lot from the leader of

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the Western Isles Council, who is keen to have confirmation that the

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Scottish Government will devolve responsibility for the Crown estate

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to the Western Isles, a measure which the honourable gentleman does

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not appear to support. The honourable gentleman is the chair of

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the energy and climate change committee, and I ask him to behave

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in the statesman-like manner that would be expected of such a high

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officeholder as he is. We might learn about onshore wind

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Michelle Thompson. The provision of Michelle Thompson. The provision of

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an extra runway for either Gatwick an extra runway for either Gatwick

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or Heathrow will likely require related infrastructure improvements

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to be met from the public purse. Given that the money spent will

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include a population share, a financial consideration from

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Scottish taxpayers, will it be taxation without representation, or

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can the Secretary of State guarantee that Scottish MPs in this House will

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have a vote... Order. I am genuinely trying to be helpful to members. But

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can I ask members to look at the terms of the question on the paper.

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Is very specifically about onshore wind planning. We must move on. As

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part of its ongoing transformation, HMRC will be making face-to-face

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announcements to all 170 officers, to all staff, describing weird it's

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offices will be. -- at its 170 officers. The office in Cumbernauld

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is in serious danger because of debt management and privatisation and

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proposed office Mergers. What will he do to protect the jobs of these

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employees? HMRC will be making an announcement in the next few days in

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terms of its long-term plan, but it is right that they seek to find

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savings in terms of its property costs to ensure that the money can

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be used to improve customer service and get taxes in. The Scotland Bill

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delivers the Smith Commission agreement in full. I have tabled

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amendments that strengthen the bill, and look forward to returning it to

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the House for debate next week. It represents another milestone in

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making the Scottish Parliament one of the most powerful devolved

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parliaments in the world. The Smith Commission identified that

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Scotland's budget should be no larger or smaller as a result of the

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initial transfer of new powers, and recommended that the Scottish and UK

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governments work together to agree a funding framework for Scotland. Can

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he reassure my constituents that this framework will be in place to

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accompany the devolution of further powers so that the funding is not at

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first affected? Yes. Would my right honourable friend agree that rather

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than relying on subsidies from London, the Scottish Government

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should use its tax-raising powers to pay for the services provided to the

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people of Scotland? I do not recognise the honourable

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gentleman's description of the Barnett formula, which will remain

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in place. But the reality now is that the Scottish Parliament will

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have significant powers over tax, or over welfare, and it is time that

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the SNP told us what they will do with them. It is interesting that he

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did not take the opportunity to condemn the views of his

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conservative colleagues who believe that Scotland is subsidised. Only 9%

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of people in Scotland believe that the Barrow has been delivered. --

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vow. The financial framework of the bill is crucial. He was only able to

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give a 1 word answer to my colleague, so will he elaborate and

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tell us when the UK Government will update this Parliament on the

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progress that has been made on the fiscal framework? I am sorry that he

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did not read my written ministerial statement which was lodged in the

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House on Monday, which up dated the House on the progress of the fiscal

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framework, but what I recognise in relation to his comments are these

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words from the Daily Record editorial, Morden, moan, whinge,

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does not want the new powers because does not want the new powers because

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it makes them accountable to the it makes them accountable to the

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people of Scotland. The Secretary of State for Scotland has had a second

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opportunity to condemn the views from his own backbenchers that

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Scotland is subsidised. I challenge him to come to the dispatch box and

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this associate himself with these views. Can he give us some detail on

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what is going on between the Treasury and the Scottish Government

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and give and I shouldn't that there will be no detrimental implications

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for people in Scotland? Not only does the right honourable

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gentleman not read written ministerial statements, he didn't

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even listen to my answer to my colleague. He didn't listen to the

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answer to my colleague, so perhaps he can read Hansard. But the reality

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is, the powers that are being delivered to the Scottish Parliament

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will make it the most powerful will make it the most powerful

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devolved parliament in the world. But rather than tell us what they'll

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do with those powers, it is grievance and grudge. So we'll tax

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credits, which the Scottish Parliament themselves acknowledge

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can be topped up, be topped up by the SNP, yes or no? Thank you, Mr

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Speaker. Can I take this opportunity to pay tribute to our Armed Forces?

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We pay tribute to them for their sacrifice to our country this

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Armistice weekend. Scottish and UK ministers have said repeatedly that

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the fiscal framework negotiations will be concluded this autumn. Can

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the Secretary of State explain why they have been delayed until January

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at the earliest? As I set out in my written ministerial statement, the

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position is that the UK government is proceeding at the moment towards

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the Comprehensive Spending Review, which I'm sure the honourable

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gentleman Access is a major task, and shortly thereafter the Scottish

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Government will proceed with the Scottish draft budget. When I met

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with the Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, last week he gave me the

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confidence that he wants to reach a fiscal framework agreement and that

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is certainly the position of the United Kingdom government and that

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is why I was able to answer the honourable lady from Lanark and

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Hamilton East as I did. Mr Speaker, I thank the Secretary of State for

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that answer but Scotland's First Minister has warned that the SNP

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government may reject the Scotland bill if, as I quote, they complain

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framework is not fair to Scotland. It is clear they are looking for any

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excuse to delay further powers for Scotland so I ask the Secretary of

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State, can he assure this has the fiscal framework will be agreed

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before the Scottish Parliament is dissolved in March, and can he

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explain why both he and the SNP are conspiring to make this agreement

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delivered behind closed doors with no public transparency, which begs

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the question, what are they trying to hide? As the honourable gentleman

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well knows, a statement has been published after each meeting of the

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joint exchequer committee. I take John Swinney and the Scottish

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Government at face value that they want to reach a fair agreement for

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Scotland. The UK government wants to reach a fair agreement for

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Scotland. It is in all our interests and I am confident that that will be

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achieved. Number four, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, with permission, I will

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answer questions four and 11 together. I have regular discussions

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with adaptive First Minister John Swinney and our officials are in

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close contact. -- Deputy First Minister. Have having failed to

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acknowledge the question from my honourable friend two times already,

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with the Secretary of State now disassociates himself from the

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comments of his colleague suggested that Scotland is subsidised? And

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beyond that, the fiscal framework that allows the Scottish Government

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the flexibility to pursue separate fiscal policies from the damaging

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policies progressed by this UK government, ensuring the highest

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levels of transparency, will the Secretary of State provide the House

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with a timetable for the publication of a draft fiscal framework? The

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comments that were made in the written ministerial statement on

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Monday set out about the fiscal framework agreement is likely to

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come after the Comprehensive Spending Review and the draft

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Scottish budget has been completed. Thank you, Mr Speaker. This is the

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fourth opportunity now for the Secretary of State to disassociates

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himself with those comments around Scotland being subsidy junkies. Will

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he do so? But will he also confirmed that the negotiations around the

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fiscal framework are happening between the Treasury and the

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Scottish Government and he is relying on a Scottish lord to advise

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those negotiations? Will he confirm that? Mr Speaker, it is obviously

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clear that the Scottish National Party don't listen to answers. If

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they read Hansard, you will see the response that I gave to my

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colleague. In relation to the fiscal framework, it's an agreement and who

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is the guy shooting on behalf of the Scottish Government? John Swinney,

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the Deputy First Minister. -- who is negotiating. They don't have much

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confidence in his ability to reach a fair deal for Scotland. Mr Speaker,

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at the weekend, the leader of the Scottish Labour Party announced that

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a future Scottish Labour government would use the powers of the Scotland

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bill to compensate people for money they will lose because of the

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Tories' cuts to tax credits. I'm sure the Secretary of State would

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not like to see that happen but can he confirm that the new powers

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contained in the Scotland bill will give the Scottish Parliament the

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ability to top up tax credits? I don't agree with cosier Dugdale but

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at least she's got the guts to stand up and say she will put up taxes and

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she will put up tax credits. The SNP have said precisely nothing.

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Instead, they want an argument about process instead of telling us what

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they are going to do with these important new powers. Mr Speaker, it

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is the Secretary of State... Number five. Ministers have had discussions

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with the Leader of the House on English votes and their impairment

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Asian. They are sensible and pragmatic steps but do nothing to

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limit Scottish MPs' rights to represent their constituents.

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Forgive my impatience, as ever. If the Secretary of State as concerned

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as I am that the Barnett principles which affect all three devolved

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nations are not clearly spelt out and safeguarded in the new

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arrangements, and will he take this 5th of June two 2 explain what is

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happening with the fiscal compound? -- fifth opportunity to explain. The

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changes to standing orders do not make any difference to the Estimates

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process and I know when my right honourable friend, the Leader of the

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House, challenged honourable members to provide examples of where they

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would be difficulties, nose apples could be provided. Mr Speaker, as

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the procedure committee is planning to hold and inquiry on the manner in

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which this House deals with estimates, can I try are more friend

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to defer having any conversations with his Cabinet colleagues until

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the report is to hand? What I can say is that the government will do

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very carefully at what the procedures committee has to say in

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terms of any reforms of the estimates process, which is

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ultimately a matter for the House. Question six, Mr Speaker. Health

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spending is a devolved matter and the Scottish Government is

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responsible for the NHS in Scotland. It is up to the Scottish

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Government to decide how best to use their funding and deliver health

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services in Scotland. The UK Government is happy to share good

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practice with the Scottish Government to help ensure people

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living in Scotland receive high-quality health care.

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Discussions between UK health ministers take place where

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necessary. I thank the Minister for that answer but has he seen the

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recent Audit Scotland report, which shows that the Scottish Government

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has completely failed to pass on health spending increases from this

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government, resulting in a 0.7% reduction in spending in Scotland

:20:40.:20:47.

between 2008-9 and 2014-15. I have seen that reporter my honourable

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friend is right to bring that report to the attention of the House. The

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reality is that a Conservative government has shown more commitment

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to public spending on the NHS in England than an SNP led government

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has done in Scotland. We now have English votes for English laws on

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issues such as health spending in England. Does the Minister not think

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it is time for Scottish members for Scottish business? Scottish business

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for Scottish ministers, and Scottish ministers to answer Scottish

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questions in this House? I noticed that the honourable gentleman raises

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the issue of English votes for English laws and get very worked up

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about it. Can I just remind him and the House of what he said just a

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year ago, in terms of English votes for English laws, an issue that the

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Scottish people could not care less about. That does not seem to be his

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approach any more. Question seven, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, recorded

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incidents of anti-Semitism in Scotland are thankfully low but I'm

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not complacent. I echo the Prime Minister's view. Tackling

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anti-Semitism goes right in the heart of what we stand for as a

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country. Whatever our politics and our faith, we must look to defeat

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it. 15 Scottish MPs attended a briefing by the all-party group on

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anti-Semitism last week. With the goodwill that clearly exists, will

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be minister talk with the Scottish Government about how the system of

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state funded security in Jewish schools in England could be emulated

:22:28.:22:34.

in Glasgow? I certainly will and I'm very happy to do so, and I should

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say to the honourable gentleman that despite the many robust exchanges

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that we have in this chamber, all MPs from Scotland are united in our

:22:43.:22:46.

view that we cannot tolerate anti-Semitism. The Secretary of

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State will be aware that icon in East Renfrewshire, represent

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Scotlandlargest Jewish community and I was pleased at the briefing to

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hear of the very good intercommunity relations and positive support from

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Police Scotland in my area. I would ask if the Secretary of State would

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join me in applauding our Scottish Jewish communities for their great

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contributions to our country and deploring anti-Semitism and

:23:16.:23:19.

dissemination wherever it occurs. I absolutely do, and I commend the

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honourable lady on her engagement already in her short time as a

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member of Parliament with that important Jewish community in

:23:27.:23:30.

Scotland. I also commend the work of the Scottish Government in that

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regard. As I said earlier, this is a matter on which we are all united,

:23:35.:23:38.

supporting Jewish communities and not accepting anti-Semitism. Number

:23:39.:23:44.

eight, Mr Speaker. The UK Government is delivering the cross-party Smith

:23:45.:23:49.

agreement in full, giving the Scottish Government substantial new

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powers over tax and spending. The Smith agreement stated that the

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devolution of powers should be a company by updated fiscal framework.

:23:57.:24:00.

The UK and Scottish Government are discussing this. I am going to offer

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the Secretary of State a sixth opportunity to disassociate himself

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from the subsidy claims of his own party. Will he do so? And further,

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does the Secretary of State agree with me that the Treasury's

:24:17.:24:20.

statements of funding policy over the devolution years have been a

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creaking and unstable mess, creating unnecessary friction, and will he

:24:26.:24:29.

recommit to a more open and transparent process, as he refused

:24:30.:24:34.

to do previously for the calculation to underpin that new fiscal

:24:35.:24:42.

framework? There is a process and it involves UK Treasury ministers in

:24:43.:24:45.

negotiations with the Scottish Government, and we are continuing to

:24:46.:24:49.

work on that process. I will update the House when there is further

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news. Question nine. The Smith commission recommended that abortion

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law be devolved to the Scottish Parliament but recognised the issue

:25:01.:25:04.

needed to be handled sensitively between the UK and Scottish

:25:05.:25:08.

governments. Allowing ministerial discussions, I confirm that abortion

:25:09.:25:11.

will be devolved into Scotland bill. As I have confirmed already,

:25:12.:25:17.

there will be ongoing engagement with the women's groups as the

:25:18.:25:25.

matter is taken forward. We believe that the woman's right to choose

:25:26.:25:28.

should be universal. Does the Secretary of State envisaged any

:25:29.:25:37.

change in abortion law in Scotland? I think it would be helpful if I

:25:38.:25:40.

just confirmed that because abortion law is being devolved does not mean

:25:41.:25:44.

that there will be any change to the existing arrangements, which will

:25:45.:25:48.

continue to apply in Scotland until they are changed by the Scottish

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Parliament. I'm very pleased to note that the First Minister of Scotland

:25:53.:25:56.

has confirmed that she has no plans at all to change the existing

:25:57.:26:02.

abortion law in Scotland. Can I urge the Minister to think again about

:26:03.:26:10.

devolution of abortion to Scotland? This is to have smaller

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jurisdictions making decisions that are so sensitive on health care,

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which is deeply unwise and would allow those who want to lobby

:26:19.:26:22.

against the interests of health care to undermine the interests of women,

:26:23.:26:27.

both in Scotland and in England. I would urge him to consult far more

:26:28.:26:31.

widely before he makes this very big step. I recognise, of course, the

:26:32.:26:39.

concerns that the honourable lady shows but the Scottish Parliament

:26:40.:26:43.

already has responsibility for criminal Justice and four health

:26:44.:26:45.

issues and has dealt with some very sensitive issues very well, in my

:26:46.:26:56.

view. I've spoken to women's groups in Scotland and they believe that

:26:57.:27:00.

the devolution can take place but they want to be consulted about that

:27:01.:27:06.

and they will be. I haven't forgotten the honourable gentleman.

:27:07.:27:11.

I never do. Mr Mark Menzies. Thank you very much. Question Number Ten.

:27:12.:27:20.

I'm very pleased to report that the recent UCAS statistics show a record

:27:21.:27:24.

year for university entry for disadvantaged students domiciled and

:27:25.:27:30.

England. 18.2% in 2014, compared to 13.6% in 2009. Unfortunately, the

:27:31.:27:36.

situation in Scotland is not as good. Only 10% of the poorest 20% of

:27:37.:27:43.

Scots attend university. Very concerning. My honourable friend the

:27:44.:27:51.

Minister anticipated my entry. As someone who came from a

:27:52.:27:54.

working-class background of the West Coast of Scotland and went to a

:27:55.:27:57.

university in Scotland, I'm deeply concerned about how Scotland is

:27:58.:28:01.

lagging behind England and working class, to people are losing out. Mr

:28:02.:28:07.

Speaker, it may sound strange, an English Tory elected to a Scottish

:28:08.:28:14.

university, but as a former armoury president of Stirling University, an

:28:15.:28:22.

outstanding university, I share the honourablegentleman's concerns and

:28:23.:28:24.

the Scottish Government could do a great deal of learning from the

:28:25.:28:28.

English universities. Questions to the Prime Minister.

:28:29.:28:41.

I know the whole house will join me in paying tribute to those who have

:28:42.:28:48.

fallen serving our country. They gave their lives so we could live

:28:49.:28:53.

hours in freedom. It is right to reflect on Armistice Day and a

:28:54.:28:56.

contribution to all of those who have served our country. This

:28:57.:28:59.

morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others

:29:00.:29:03.

and in addition to my duties in this House I shall have further meetings

:29:04.:29:09.

today. I would like to associate

:29:10.:29:10.

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