:00:08. > :00:13.Wait Mac good morning and wdlcome to BBC Parliament's live cover`ge of
:00:14. > :00:18.the Commons and with the Lords is still in recess and he's once again
:00:19. > :00:23.have Westminster to themselves for another day. In half an hour labour
:00:24. > :00:29.-- David Cameron will face Labour's Jeremy Corbyn and assorted backbench
:00:30. > :00:32.MPs. After that the Liberal Democrat Norman Lamb will introduce `
:00:33. > :00:37.backbencher 's bill concernhng the NHS and social care in Engl`nd. The
:00:38. > :00:42.main business in the chamber today are too Labour alleged debates, the
:00:43. > :00:45.first on forthcoming benefits changes, the second GB sincd severe
:00:46. > :00:50.flooding in the north of Brhtain. If you are away from your TV btt want
:00:51. > :00:56.to keep up with events in the chamber you can find full coverage
:00:57. > :01:03.online on BBC .co .uk/Parli`ment. Do join me for a round-up of the day at
:01:04. > :01:04.11pm tonight. First questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland
:01:05. > :01:29.David Mundell. Order! Order! Questions to the
:01:30. > :01:38.Secretary of State for Scotland Question number one. Can I begin by
:01:39. > :01:43.wishing you a very happy New Year, and in light of the recent flooding
:01:44. > :01:48.in Scotland can I also pay tribute to all of those in the emergency
:01:49. > :01:53.services and local authorithes and volunteers who have dealt whth these
:01:54. > :01:57.challenging circumstances, to say that the thought of the whole house
:01:58. > :02:01.are with those who have had their homes and businesses flooded. With
:02:02. > :02:08.permission Mr Speaker I will answer questions one, two, five and ten
:02:09. > :02:10.together. The UK and Scottish governments are discussing the
:02:11. > :02:14.fiscal frameworks of the gi`nt extender committee, there h`ve been
:02:15. > :02:18.five meetings between the Ddputy First Minister and the chief
:02:19. > :02:20.secretary of the Treasury to discuss the fiscal framework, the ndxt
:02:21. > :02:27.meeting is due to take placd on Friday. I thank the Minister for
:02:28. > :02:30.that answer, and I associatd with what he says about the flooding
:02:31. > :02:33.many of my colleagues have been affected and we are very
:02:34. > :02:37.appreciative of the work behng done by emergency services. The clock
:02:38. > :02:40.that will need to be adjustdd to take into account the revente
:02:41. > :02:45.raising powers being devolvdd, but has agreed in the the Smith
:02:46. > :02:48.Commission the Scottish Govdrnment should not be financially
:02:49. > :02:51.disadvantaged by the transfdr of new powers, will the Minister ghve us
:02:52. > :02:58.his views into what would bd a fair indexation of that adjustment? Mr
:02:59. > :03:02.Speaker my understanding is that the Deputy First Minister of Scotland
:03:03. > :03:06.John Swinney, who I had a vdry productive meeting with just before
:03:07. > :03:11.Christmas, is actually condtcting these negotiations on behalf of the
:03:12. > :03:15.Scottish Government, and Mr Swinney had my meeting assured me that his
:03:16. > :03:18.objective was exactly the s`me as that of the United Kingdom
:03:19. > :03:26.government, a settlement th`t is fair to Scotland and fair to the
:03:27. > :03:30.whole of the United Kingdom. Thank you Mr Speaker. If their model of
:03:31. > :03:32.block that adjustment will dnsure that Scotland is now worse off
:03:33. > :03:39.financially as a result of the transfer of new powers, does the
:03:40. > :03:43.Minister agree with the cross-party view and that of Anton musc`tel
:03:44. > :03:46.lake, Jim Cuthbert had the ST you see that only the model of hndex
:03:47. > :03:51.deduction per capita would adequately deliver -- adequ`tely
:03:52. > :03:58.deliver this to no detriment? What I have said, Mr Speaker in my previous
:03:59. > :04:04.answer, is that we are involved in an ongoing negotiation. Mr Swinney
:04:05. > :04:11.is conducting that negotiathon, I have tremendous respect for Mr
:04:12. > :04:15.Swinney and his ability to reach a fair settlement for Scotland, I have
:04:16. > :04:18.a tremendous respect for thd chief secretary to beat a fair settlement
:04:19. > :04:22.for the rest of the United Kingdom, I am confident on the basis of the
:04:23. > :04:26.discussions which took placd between the First Minister and the Prime
:04:27. > :04:31.Minister, my own discussions with the Deputy First Minister and the
:04:32. > :04:38.meeting that is due to take place on Friday, that we will be abld to
:04:39. > :04:43.achieve a fair settlement. @ good New Year to you, Mr Speaker. I think
:04:44. > :04:46.many people will find it bizarre and frankly quite unacceptable that the
:04:47. > :04:52.Secretary of State for Scotland is not even attending the negotiations.
:04:53. > :04:55.Can the Right Honourable gentleman explained why his office as
:04:56. > :04:58.Secretary of State seems to have been deemed irrelevant to these
:04:59. > :05:01.critical negotiations and ghven he is not directly involved in the
:05:02. > :05:05.negotiations can he shared his personal view of whether he agrees
:05:06. > :05:10.with the Lego professors and the ST you see on the preferred model? I
:05:11. > :05:15.think what many people in Scotland will find bizarre at a sesshon in
:05:16. > :05:21.Parliament that is called Scottish questions that the Scottish National
:05:22. > :05:28.party could come up with only one question, which they were clearly
:05:29. > :05:33.all called to ask, but I know, Mr Speaker, I know it may impinge on
:05:34. > :05:39.the self-importance that sole SNP MPs are tributes to themselves, but
:05:40. > :05:44.it is the Deputy First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney, who is
:05:45. > :05:52.negotiating the agreement. Not SNP MPs. The model of index dedtction
:05:53. > :05:57.for the adjustment of the block grant might result in the Scottish
:05:58. > :06:00.block grant falling substantially without consideration of thd
:06:01. > :06:05.different rates of population growth north and south of the borddr. Does
:06:06. > :06:10.the Minister agree with me that this or any other model of block grant
:06:11. > :06:14.adjustment that result in a diminished Scottish Governmdnt year
:06:15. > :06:20.on year will not fulfil the Smith Commission's principle of no
:06:21. > :06:24.detriment? Mr Speaker, I am disappointed with the honourable
:06:25. > :06:31.gentleman's analysis, because the new powers, the new powers which are
:06:32. > :06:35.being delivered by the Scotland Bill gives the opportunity for Scotland's
:06:36. > :06:41.economic growth to increase for Scotland's population to increase
:06:42. > :06:44.and I am very surprised that he has such a negative view of the use of
:06:45. > :06:48.those powers that it would be impossible to increase the
:06:49. > :06:56.population or economic growth in Scotland and therefore incrdased tax
:06:57. > :06:58.take. Thank you Mr Speaker. Does my right honourable friend agrde that
:06:59. > :07:02.with the transfer of the new extensive powers which my rhght
:07:03. > :07:07.honourable friend has just `greed will be given to the Scottish
:07:08. > :07:11.Parliament, it will for oncd put the SNP government truly to be
:07:12. > :07:15.accountable to the Scottish people and that this talk of a second
:07:16. > :07:23.referendum is just a smoke screen to take away their accountabilhty to
:07:24. > :07:29.the Scottish people? Absolutely I agree with my honourable frhend that
:07:30. > :07:35.the impression created again today Mr Speaker by the SNP is th`t they
:07:36. > :07:39.are entirely driven by procdss arguments, not about getting on
:07:40. > :07:43.with getting an agreement on the fiscal framework, about getting the
:07:44. > :07:49.new powers in place and then getting something positive for the people of
:07:50. > :07:55.Scotland with those powers. Can my right honourable friend confirm that
:07:56. > :07:59.whilst the fiscal framework has been agreed, the devolution of t`x powers
:08:00. > :08:06.to the Scottish Parliament can begin quickly? I am absolutely colmitted
:08:07. > :08:13.to delivering the powers set out in the Scotland Bill once it bdcomes an
:08:14. > :08:16.act of Parliament as quicklx as possible, we want to see th`t act on
:08:17. > :08:20.the statute books ahead of the Scottish parliamentary elections
:08:21. > :08:23.sure it can shape those elections, the parties can actually set out
:08:24. > :08:28.what the intent to do with the powers and I would like to see the
:08:29. > :08:33.tax powers in place by April 20 17. The success of the fiscal framework
:08:34. > :08:37.is absolutely vital to the future success of the tax powers which have
:08:38. > :08:41.been devolved, confidence in the framework is vital for individuals
:08:42. > :08:45.and businesses, particularlx in the border region. Does the Minhster
:08:46. > :08:49.actually believe that the Scottish Government is approaching these
:08:50. > :08:55.discussions in good faith, which would be fair to people of both
:08:56. > :08:59.sides of the border? Absolutely am, Mr Speaker, because from thd
:09:00. > :09:02.discussions which Nicola Sttrgeon had with the Prime Minister, from
:09:03. > :09:05.the discussions I have had with the Deputy First Minister, we h`ve to
:09:06. > :09:10.remember that these are the people who are determining what will be
:09:11. > :09:14.agreed in relation to the fhscal framework, their view is cldar and I
:09:15. > :09:20.take it as a sincere that they want to achieve a fiscal framework
:09:21. > :09:23.agreement within the near ftture, and that we can move forward with
:09:24. > :09:26.enacting the bill and cancelling those powers which can make such a
:09:27. > :09:39.difference to the people of Scotland. The Smith Commisshon
:09:40. > :09:43.recommended that the cost of establishing the infrastructure for
:09:44. > :09:47.the collection of the newly evolved taxes would be huge for the Scottish
:09:48. > :09:51.Government, and the Secretary of State for Scotland and not the
:09:52. > :09:55.Deputy First Minister of Scotland confirmed that they accept this
:09:56. > :09:58.recommendation? What I can confirm to the honourable gentleman is that
:09:59. > :10:02.this is one of the items th`t as part of the discussion betwden the
:10:03. > :10:07.UK Government and the Scotthsh Government, but, Mr Speaker, it is
:10:08. > :10:12.so surprising the SNP MPs h`ve such little confidence in Mr Swinney and
:10:13. > :10:17.the Scottish Government in the negotiation to hold out for
:10:18. > :10:24.positions that would be bendficial to Scotland, I find it's st`ggering.
:10:25. > :10:28.I wonder if the Secretary of State agrees with the First Minister, with
:10:29. > :10:32.Professor Moscow telly and with the ST is even more powers for Scotland
:10:33. > :10:35.cannot come at any price, that the fiscal framework settlement must
:10:36. > :10:40.deliver fairness for Scotland and will recommit to a date to ht before
:10:41. > :10:46.the Scottish election where an agreement must be reached? H
:10:47. > :10:49.absolutely agree that the arrangement must be fair, f`ir to
:10:50. > :10:54.Scotland, fair to the rest of the United Kingdom, I think that this is
:10:55. > :10:56.perfectly achievable, the negotiations and discussions that
:10:57. > :11:02.have taken place while not providing a running commentary has bedn
:11:03. > :11:07.productive. I think that thd comments made by mistress when a for
:11:08. > :11:09.example to the finance commhttee and the Scottish parliament werd the
:11:10. > :11:13.clearly says that the Scotthsh Government should benefit from the
:11:14. > :11:17.positive decisions they havd taken but accept the consequences of bad
:11:18. > :11:21.policy decisions is one that I am absolutely in agreement with and
:11:22. > :11:27.that should apply to the UK Government, too, in allusion to our
:11:28. > :11:31.responsibilities. May I takd this opportunity in wishing you `nd all
:11:32. > :11:34.the staff of the housing happy New Year and to the Secretary of State
:11:35. > :11:38.in his office as well. You would have thought that pattern in season
:11:39. > :11:42.was over but judging by tod`y's questions it clearly hasn't, there
:11:43. > :11:47.is no shortage of things th`t they can be... Or yes it is cert`inly as!
:11:48. > :11:50.I was expecting that. I was expecting that by someone whth no
:11:51. > :11:54.jokes whatsoever. There is no shortage of things we could question
:11:55. > :11:58.the government on but this Secretary of State has created this sham by
:11:59. > :12:02.keeping the fiscal framework secret. What is ludicrous is that the SNP
:12:03. > :12:05.finance secretary negotiating the very fiscal framework we ard
:12:06. > :12:09.discussing, they could ask `bout what is in it but what is clear is
:12:10. > :12:13.that the people of Scotland are being kept in the dark so whll the
:12:14. > :12:16.Secretary of State that an dnd to this pantomime of manufactured
:12:17. > :12:17.grievance and be completely transparent about the fiscal
:12:18. > :12:26.framework? The Government is completelx
:12:27. > :12:32.transparent about its posithon in relation to the fiscal framdwork and
:12:33. > :12:35.we want it agreed as soon as possible and scrutinised by both
:12:36. > :12:40.parliaments. When I was in the Scottish Parliament I had the
:12:41. > :12:43.opportunity to meet with thd convener of the devolution further
:12:44. > :12:49.powers committee and he asstred me he is satisfied that there will be
:12:50. > :12:59.adequate opportunity to scrttinise the fiscal framework and I `m clear
:13:00. > :13:05.there will be an opportune June and the Mac opportunity in the other
:13:06. > :13:07.place as well and the Scotthsh office select committee are
:13:08. > :13:11.currently conducting an enqtiry I do not believe the people of
:13:12. > :13:15.Scotland will be in any way in the dark about the fiscal framework and
:13:16. > :13:18.it will also be subject to proper scrutiny. I do not think thd
:13:19. > :13:21.secretary of state understands the process and how important this is.
:13:22. > :13:28.The Scotland Bill constitutds the largest transfer of powers to
:13:29. > :13:32.Scotland ever by the underphnning it had been heading from the Scottish
:13:33. > :13:34.people. I have written to both governments to try and get
:13:35. > :13:39.transparency and the response from both has been low. The Scottish
:13:40. > :13:42.Government are also threatening to veto the bill. Whilst these
:13:43. > :13:46.negotiations are conducted hn secret or the governments can blamd each
:13:47. > :13:50.other with manufactured gridvances and the people of Scotland leave
:13:51. > :13:56.out. Can the secretary of state assure us that negotiations as
:13:57. > :14:02.important as this and relathon to Scotland's finances are conducted
:14:03. > :14:06.with a greater democratic scrutiny? I have no grievance, manufactured or
:14:07. > :14:11.otherwise, because I am confident the Scottish Government want to
:14:12. > :14:13.achieve an agreement, the UK Government wants to achieve an
:14:14. > :14:20.agreement based on fairness to Scotland and the rest of thd UK I
:14:21. > :14:24.can get an absolute commitmdnt that the fiscal framework will bd subject
:14:25. > :14:35.to full parliamentary scruthny and Westminster and in the Scottish
:14:36. > :14:41.Parliament. Number three, please. May I start by adding to yotr
:14:42. > :14:44.comment just now in introducing question number three by
:14:45. > :14:48.congratulating my honourabld friend body recognition he received last
:14:49. > :14:53.week for some 30 year service to this house and the people of
:14:54. > :14:59.Norfolk. It is a great pleasure he had that recognition. In response to
:15:00. > :15:03.his question, the Minister of defence engages with the Scottish
:15:04. > :15:07.Government about defence matters at many levels, both official `nd
:15:08. > :15:21.ministerial. The Under-Secrdtary of State for Scotland, ... The defence
:15:22. > :15:24.Minister for Reserves as met the Scottish Cabinet twice prevhously
:15:25. > :15:30.and has agreed to meet the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretarx soon.
:15:31. > :15:33.Can I thank the Minister for his generosity. Given the decishon on
:15:34. > :15:38.Faslane will sustain the largest employment site in Scotland for
:15:39. > :15:45.decades to come, is it not clear that Scotland is the biggest
:15:46. > :15:52.beneficiary and surely this makes their stance on Trident even more
:15:53. > :15:56.perivascular damaging. My honourable friend is quite right that tnder
:15:57. > :16:02.this Government we are investing significantly in defence and
:16:03. > :16:08.only will we be spending sole ? 00 only will we be spending sole ? 00
:16:09. > :16:13.million at Faslane and what one of the largest employment site on
:16:14. > :16:18.Scotland, with currently 6800 military and civilian jobs. This
:16:19. > :16:23.will increase to over 8000 `s we move all our submarines to be based
:16:24. > :16:29.there by 2022, and Scotland will also be home to our new marhtime
:16:30. > :16:38.patrol aircraft, when some 400 extra personnel will be stand at
:16:39. > :16:44.Lossiemouth. Scotland is by a vital strategic location and as the SNP
:16:45. > :16:49.has been pointing out for a long time it has been negligent for a
:16:50. > :16:52.maritime state like the UK not to have maritime patrol aircraft so we
:16:53. > :16:59.welcome the recent Government you'd done on the procurement of this
:17:00. > :17:03.maritime patrol aircraft. C`n he come from the house when thd entire
:17:04. > :17:13.fleet will be operational? What we made clear in the SDSR is wd will be
:17:14. > :17:19.procuring nine maritime patrol aircraft and the fleet will be
:17:20. > :17:23.procured through a procuremdnt contract, the letter form which has
:17:24. > :17:30.already been submitted to the United States and the first aircraft will
:17:31. > :17:35.be operational in 2019. The Minister was not able to answer the puestion
:17:36. > :17:40.of when the full fleet will be operational. Perhaps after ly second
:17:41. > :17:45.question he will answer the first. The RAF is currently maintahning its
:17:46. > :17:50.skill base by trimming on ahrcraft with the United States, Can`da and
:17:51. > :17:54.New Zealand so does the Minhster acknowledge the importance of
:17:55. > :18:03.training that was scheduled to be base in Kinross before the scrapping
:18:04. > :18:08.of the RAF fleet. Will he ensure training for this link is b`sed at
:18:09. > :18:14.RAF Lossiemouth, as it currdntly is thought Tornadoes and Typhoon. As we
:18:15. > :18:18.are currently in negotiations for procurement it would be wrong to
:18:19. > :18:21.pre-empt the outcome of those negotiations so I cannot answer his
:18:22. > :18:27.initial question as to how lany aircraft will be available `nd when
:18:28. > :18:32.until the contract is concltded As to training, he is right to reflect
:18:33. > :18:38.the fact we have crews in the service on this platform with other
:18:39. > :18:42.users in the United States `nd the training will be established as part
:18:43. > :18:50.of the procurement process hn the coming months. Number four, please.
:18:51. > :18:55.Well defence and national sdcurity in reserve in the UK to the UK
:18:56. > :18:59.Parliament, we recognise thd importance of engaging with the
:19:00. > :19:02.devolved administrations and as I have just said, the parliamdntary
:19:03. > :19:08.undersecretary for Scotland and I have had meetings with the Scottish
:19:09. > :19:15.Government to discuss these matters. UK defence contracts are a lajor
:19:16. > :19:20.source of jobs in Scotland with 2500 employed on Clydeside. Can the
:19:21. > :19:27.minister explain why his Government reduce defence spending by 04% in
:19:28. > :19:30.the last parliament? I'm sorry the honourable gentleman seeks to hark
:19:31. > :19:38.back rather than look for words having just published at thd end of
:19:39. > :19:42.November the SDSR, during which this Government committed to increase
:19:43. > :19:45.defence spending in real terms for each year of this parliament which
:19:46. > :19:50.is what we are looking forw`rd to and much of that will be spdnt in
:19:51. > :19:59.Scotland and in south Wales as we procure the Ajax vehicle. The
:20:00. > :20:03.Government's long-term economic plan has laid the foundations for a
:20:04. > :20:06.stronger economy. The Scotthsh economy has been going for ` living
:20:07. > :20:12.quarters in a row and Scotl`nd continues to benefit from bding part
:20:13. > :20:20.of the UK, the fastest-growhng G-7 economy in 2014 and forecast in the
:20:21. > :20:23.joint fastest in 2015. A nulber of manufacturing companies that do
:20:24. > :20:29.business in Scotland and contribute to the growth, while Mike rhght
:20:30. > :20:37.honourable friend agree this is just one element that makes the tnion so
:20:38. > :20:40.successful? I do agree with the honourable lady. It is a fundamental
:20:41. > :20:48.part of the court but then Scotland economy that we are part of a single
:20:49. > :20:53.market within the UK. I originally met someone from a bus comp`ny in
:20:54. > :20:59.Scotland and they would agrde Scotland is one of the most
:21:00. > :21:06.important markets. Given employment in Scotland is now 53,000 hhgher
:21:07. > :21:11.than it was before the crishs and given output in Scotland is 3%
:21:12. > :21:16.higher than at the crisis point will be secretary of state concours
:21:17. > :21:20.with Scottish business leaddrs are to oppose the savage cuts bx the
:21:21. > :21:29.Treasury in the Autumn Statdment to the UK's trade export agencx? I very
:21:30. > :21:36.much welcome the figures th`t the honourable gentleman set up to, set
:21:37. > :21:40.out in relation to the positive economic position in Scotland. What
:21:41. > :21:44.I do not subscribe to is thd frequently voiced SNP posithon that
:21:45. > :21:47.anything good that happens hn Scotland is in relation to the
:21:48. > :21:54.Scottish Government and anything about it in relation to the UK
:21:55. > :21:59.Government. We have two Govdrnments working together for the benefit of
:22:00. > :22:08.Scotland's economy. The North Sea oil and gas economy is vital to the
:22:09. > :22:11.Scottish economy. Yesterday Scottish Nationalist MSP when there hs no
:22:12. > :22:18.crisis in the industry even though it is estimated 65 thousand jobs
:22:19. > :22:24.have been lost since that 6400 jobs have been lost in the last few
:22:25. > :22:27.years. Can he tell us what they are doing to support the oil industry
:22:28. > :22:34.and the thousands of jobs that depends on it? I'd find it
:22:35. > :22:38.extraordinary that anyone who represents the North East of
:22:39. > :22:43.Scotland could claim there was no crisis in the oil and gas industry.
:22:44. > :22:46.This Government has yet agahn demonstrated in the Chancellor's
:22:47. > :22:52.Autumn Statement we are comlitted to that industry and the thous`nds of
:22:53. > :22:57.jobs it supports, right across the UK, and it will be further dvidence
:22:58. > :23:05.of our commitment to Aberdedn and the North East in the weeks ahead.
:23:06. > :23:10.Number seven, Mr Speaker. The analysis published spending review
:23:11. > :23:15.2015 shows over half of all spending on welfare and public services goes
:23:16. > :23:18.to the poorest 40% of households in the UK and this has not changed at
:23:19. > :23:32.this as a result of Governmdnt policy since 2010. The IFS dstimates
:23:33. > :23:36.that by 2020 more than 2,500,00 families on universal credit will be
:23:37. > :23:42.on average ?1600 a year worse off due to the cuts to the work
:23:43. > :23:46.allowance in a universal crddit My constituents know how that hs going
:23:47. > :23:50.to damage them, but does thd secretary of state and the Linister
:23:51. > :23:53.have the first clue about how many of those families will be in
:23:54. > :23:59.Scotland and what the scale of the impact will be on them? The best way
:24:00. > :24:03.to help working households hn this country is to ensure we havd a
:24:04. > :24:09.job-creating economy that wd see wages go up, we introduce a national
:24:10. > :24:14.living wage to have millions of people and we have a secure and
:24:15. > :24:19.stable economy. That is what this Government is delivering. Household
:24:20. > :24:21.incomes in Scotland will be of intense interest, not least to
:24:22. > :24:31.people living in Scotland and we must cure the questions and answers.
:24:32. > :24:36.-- must fear the questions `nd answers. I was never asked the
:24:37. > :24:43.secretary of state what discussions he had had with the secretary of
:24:44. > :24:47.work pensions. His answer w`s a masterful example of how not to
:24:48. > :24:50.answer, which is what we have seen today. What we now take this
:24:51. > :24:55.opportunity to tell the house if he ever bothered to discuss how this
:24:56. > :25:03.new programme will affect mx constituents with DWP? This
:25:04. > :25:07.Government is making reforms to the welfare system, making sure what
:25:08. > :25:12.always pays and we do have two insure it is affordable but may I
:25:13. > :25:15.also remind her that what the powers under The Scotland Bill the Scottish
:25:16. > :25:23.Government does have the power to top of the benefits and introduce
:25:24. > :25:27.new benefits. At regularly discuss a range of matters with the Scottish
:25:28. > :25:31.Government, while higher edtcation is a devolved matter, the available
:25:32. > :25:38.figures show application rates for those aged 18 and 2014 and 09 and
:25:39. > :25:50.2015 was 37% in Scotland colpared to 44% in England.
:25:51. > :25:58.How can it be in the United Kingdom national interest that school
:25:59. > :26:01.leavers from Scotland are bding denied access to their own
:26:02. > :26:06.universities because of the arbitrary cap on numbers imposed by
:26:07. > :26:10.the Scottish Government, whdn school leavers with lower qualific`tions
:26:11. > :26:16.from the rest of the UK are able to gain such access? The honourable
:26:17. > :26:20.gentleman makes an important point. I have had students from my own
:26:21. > :26:25.constituency refused entry to Scottish universities because of the
:26:26. > :26:30.cap imposed by the Scottish Government. We hear a lot about free
:26:31. > :26:35.tuition in Scotland, but thhs is one of the consequences and I al sure it
:26:36. > :26:41.will be part of the debate hn the forthcoming Scottish Parlialent
:26:42. > :26:43.election. As the honourable gentleman from Christchurch knows
:26:44. > :26:47.the Scottish Affairs Committee have been looking into higher edtcation,
:26:48. > :26:53.in particular a poster they work scheme for Scotland. This fhnds
:26:54. > :27:00.everybody, universities, tr`de unions, that will he now be
:27:01. > :27:06.Secretary of State for Scotland and put that case to the Home Office? We
:27:07. > :27:11.always listened with interest and take forward in a positive way
:27:12. > :27:13.anything that is forthcoming from the Scottish affairs select
:27:14. > :27:24.committee and look forward to reading his report. Number nine The
:27:25. > :27:27.administrative cost of runnhng the Scotland Office and the opposite of
:27:28. > :27:36.the Advocate General for Scotland in the financial year 2010-2010 was
:27:37. > :27:39.7.68 8 million. The provision for both offices in 2019 best when they
:27:40. > :27:45.agree that the recent spendhng review is 9.24 million. It will be
:27:46. > :27:49.secretary of state conform to the house of what the percentagd of
:27:50. > :27:57.administrative costs of his department are met by Scotthsh
:27:58. > :28:01.taxpayers? The honourable gdntleman knows the funding arrangements
:28:02. > :28:05.within the UK don't work on that basis. What he also knows if this
:28:06. > :28:08.Government is committed to retaining the Barnett formula which ddlivers a
:28:09. > :28:22.fair allocation of funding to Scotland.
:28:23. > :28:27.This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others
:28:28. > :28:31.and I will further later today.