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have questions to the secretary of the skate for Scotland. -- Secretary | :00:00. | :00:00. | |
of State. I hope the House will join le in mum | :00:00. | :01:00. | |
coming to the Sergeant 's chair the new Sergeant on the occasion of his | :01:01. | :01:11. | |
first Prime Minister's Questions. An exceptional day and an exceptional | :01:12. | :01:16. | |
response. Secondly, I hope the House might wish to join me and | :01:17. | :01:21. | |
congratulations very warmly Kim Sears and Andy Murray on thd birth | :01:22. | :01:26. | |
of their baby daughter. Orddr, order. Motion on the Committee of | :01:27. | :01:35. | |
Selection. The question is `s on the order paper. | :01:36. | :01:47. | |
Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland. We don't take points | :01:48. | :01:58. | |
of order now. Later. Points of order come after questions and st`tements. | :01:59. | :02:07. | |
We start with questions. I `m sure everyone, particularly in Scotland, | :02:08. | :02:11. | |
will share your warm wishes to Andy Murray and Kim Sears on the birth of | :02:12. | :02:18. | |
their daughter. Latest official statistics published last month | :02:19. | :02:24. | |
showed that in 2014, around 42% of all Scottish international dxports | :02:25. | :02:27. | |
were destined for countries within the European Union, the valtes of | :02:28. | :02:32. | |
these were estimated at arotnd 11.6 billion. Does the Secretary of State | :02:33. | :02:39. | |
agree with me that the pack`ge the Prime Minister will be disctssing in | :02:40. | :02:43. | |
more detail with his colleagues on the European Council will bring | :02:44. | :02:47. | |
about much-needed reform and actually be a catalyst for lore | :02:48. | :02:49. | |
performing the future making it quite clear the single markdt is | :02:50. | :02:53. | |
good for the UK and good for Scotland. In a reformed EU, we could | :02:54. | :03:04. | |
have the best of both worlds. Access to the single market while not being | :03:05. | :03:08. | |
a member of the euro or Schdngen. And I believe that would be good for | :03:09. | :03:19. | |
Scotland and the rest of thd UK Single European market and the | :03:20. | :03:22. | |
ability to impact the legislation that governs it is hugely ilportant | :03:23. | :03:27. | |
to the Scottish economy, especially the exporting sectors such `s | :03:28. | :03:32. | |
whiskey. All the Secretary of State confirm that regardless of the | :03:33. | :03:35. | |
ongoing biggest nations, he will personally campaign for Scotland and | :03:36. | :03:42. | |
the UK to remain within the EU. The honourable gentleman will know, and | :03:43. | :03:45. | |
I'm sure will be pleased to have heard that the leader of thd | :03:46. | :03:49. | |
Scottish Conservative and Unionist party has expressed exactly that | :03:50. | :03:59. | |
position. I get a second bite at the cherry. Perhaps at the end of the | :04:00. | :04:04. | |
question, he can answer whether he will support Scotland and the UK | :04:05. | :04:09. | |
remaining in the EU? Making a positive case for remaining in the | :04:10. | :04:12. | |
EU will be crucial in the wdeks and months ahead so will the Secretary | :04:13. | :04:17. | |
of State give a commitment not to repeat the grinding negativhty, and | :04:18. | :04:25. | |
repeat ridiculous scare stories such as those from the Prime Minhster | :04:26. | :04:28. | |
about refugees and the immigrant camp in Calais. I will make my | :04:29. | :04:34. | |
position known when the negotiations have been concluded. I make this | :04:35. | :04:38. | |
offer to the honourable gentleman, if the reform package goes `head and | :04:39. | :04:44. | |
if I am campaigning to keep Scotland in the United Kingdom, I wotld be | :04:45. | :04:51. | |
delighted to join him, and the First Minister, on a platform to lake that | :04:52. | :04:58. | |
case. I had the pleasure last night of meeting with the Scotch Whisky | :04:59. | :05:03. | |
Association who introduced le to some of the finer products from | :05:04. | :05:10. | |
across the border. Would thd Minister ... Expansion into new | :05:11. | :05:23. | |
markets which have nothing to do with the EU is the growth area for | :05:24. | :05:30. | |
the whiskey industry. There arch and as opportunities for the development | :05:31. | :05:34. | |
of the Scotch whiskey industry and it is an issue on which I think both | :05:35. | :05:39. | |
the Scottish Government, UK Government, all parties in this | :05:40. | :05:43. | |
House are united. We recently, when the president of China what here in | :05:44. | :05:48. | |
the UK, had the opportunity to present the President's wifd with | :05:49. | :05:53. | |
her favourite bottle of malt whiskey from Scotland and both the president | :05:54. | :05:59. | |
and his good lady wife were able to set out how important that product | :06:00. | :06:06. | |
is to developing markets in China. I wonder if the Secretary of State | :06:07. | :06:10. | |
could tell me what discussions he has had with Scottish busindsses | :06:11. | :06:14. | |
about the possibility of thd UK exit from the EU and what concerns they | :06:15. | :06:17. | |
have raised about the impact this would have on their ability to | :06:18. | :06:22. | |
access and export to single markets? The clearest message I get from | :06:23. | :06:27. | |
businesses in Scotland is that they want a short EU referendum campaign | :06:28. | :06:31. | |
so that we have the minimum amount of uncertainty. Question nulber two. | :06:32. | :06:43. | |
I have regular discussions with the Deputy First Minister to discuss the | :06:44. | :06:45. | |
Frisco framework, the joint ticks decker committee met on Monday and | :06:46. | :06:54. | |
these are on going. The First Minister route to the Prime Minister | :06:55. | :06:57. | |
and set out areas where agrdements needs to be reached. He listed those | :06:58. | :07:06. | |
as capital and revenue borrowing, fiscal oversight and disputd | :07:07. | :07:09. | |
resolution. Can the Secretary of State confirm these are all the | :07:10. | :07:12. | |
outstanding issues where agreements needs to be reached? Then n`ture of | :07:13. | :07:18. | |
the discussions is that it was agreed at the start until everything | :07:19. | :07:23. | |
is agreed, nothing is agreed. Considerable progress has bden made | :07:24. | :07:27. | |
on all of those issues. I'd very much welcome what the First Minister | :07:28. | :07:32. | |
says in that letter, that the finance secretary is going to bring | :07:33. | :07:37. | |
forward revised proposals from the Scottish Government. That is what a | :07:38. | :07:42. | |
negotiation involves, it involves both parties bringing forward | :07:43. | :07:45. | |
revised proposals as the negotiation progresses and that is exactly what | :07:46. | :07:47. | |
the UK Government is committed to doing. The starting point of the | :07:48. | :07:55. | |
fiscal framework discussions is the Barnett Formula which means that | :07:56. | :07:59. | |
Scotland has 15% extra publhc spending per capita than thd UK as | :08:00. | :08:04. | |
an average. Could the Secretary of State informed the House whdther he | :08:05. | :08:07. | |
believes that differential will maintain in perpetuity? The | :08:08. | :08:14. | |
honourable gentleman's views on the Barnett Formula are well-known. I | :08:15. | :08:18. | |
don't agree with them, nor does the government. The government's | :08:19. | :08:21. | |
position is that the Barnett Formula will remain, even in the fiscal | :08:22. | :08:32. | |
framework environment. The negotiations about the fisc`l | :08:33. | :08:35. | |
framework are a very sensithve and fragile state. We have to bd careful | :08:36. | :08:40. | |
about the language that is tsed The Secretary of State was using in | :08:41. | :08:48. | |
which like Luke is ludicrous -- I would like ludicrous. It is | :08:49. | :08:53. | |
profoundly unhelpful. If he has nothing to offer these negotiations | :08:54. | :08:56. | |
and discussions, will he offer to stay out of it? I find it otght to | :08:57. | :09:10. | |
take a lecture from that particular honourable gentleman on moddrate | :09:11. | :09:18. | |
language. But I don't think anybody can doubt my commitment to dnsuring | :09:19. | :09:23. | |
that we have a negotiated fhscal framework. I am delighted that the | :09:24. | :09:27. | |
First Minister in her letter to the Prime Minister set out her strong | :09:28. | :09:32. | |
commitment to achieve that agreement. That is the Primd | :09:33. | :09:37. | |
Minister's position. As I s`id, both sides have done the dance, let's do | :09:38. | :09:42. | |
the deal. With my right honourable friend agree that if we are to have | :09:43. | :09:47. | |
a successful devolution agrdement that we all want, it does nded a | :09:48. | :09:53. | |
firm and sensible framework, fiscal discipline, so it will last and | :09:54. | :09:59. | |
stand the test of will be on no economic issues that may hit the | :10:00. | :10:04. | |
country. Can he assure us that we won't repeat the mistakes of Spain | :10:05. | :10:09. | |
where devolved provinces run up unsustainable debts which they would | :10:10. | :10:13. | |
then blame on Madrid and catse difficulty for the Spanish | :10:14. | :10:18. | |
government seeking recovery? Has my honourable friend will recognise, | :10:19. | :10:23. | |
the settlement within Spain is quite different. I do agree with him on | :10:24. | :10:28. | |
the need for the sustainability of the fiscal framework. What the | :10:29. | :10:34. | |
government has made quite clear in terms of the negotiations, hs our | :10:35. | :10:38. | |
willingness to see the arrangements, reviewed within a few years to make | :10:39. | :10:42. | |
sure that they do stand up to the scrutiny of being fed to Scotland | :10:43. | :10:50. | |
and fair to the rest of the UK. I'd like to join you in congrattlating | :10:51. | :10:53. | |
Andy Murray and Kim Sears on the birth of their baby daughter. | :10:54. | :10:57. | |
Actually, their baby daughtdr may be winning Wimbledon by the tile we get | :10:58. | :11:02. | |
a deal on the fiscal framework. The UK and Scottish governments have | :11:03. | :11:05. | |
been negotiating for over shx months. Longer than it took to | :11:06. | :11:10. | |
negotiate the Scotland Bill itself, to strike the historic international | :11:11. | :11:13. | |
climate change agreement and longer it took the G20 leaders to `gree on | :11:14. | :11:22. | |
the global economy. Can the Secretary of State tell the House | :11:23. | :11:25. | |
why he thinks the per capit` index model isn't the appropriate for the | :11:26. | :11:29. | |
block grant? I have made it clear that wd're not | :11:30. | :11:38. | |
going to have the detailed negotiation in relation to this | :11:39. | :11:43. | |
matter on the floor of this House. What I said earlier was I vdry much | :11:44. | :11:47. | |
welcome the fact that the Fhrst Minister has indicated that the | :11:48. | :11:52. | |
Scottish Government is going to bring forward a revised proposal, | :11:53. | :11:58. | |
through the negotiations we have brought forward proposals, `nd I | :11:59. | :12:01. | |
believe we are in touching distance of striking a deal and me not to | :12:02. | :12:06. | |
miss the people do so. The Secretary of State says he will not provide a | :12:07. | :12:11. | |
running commentary on the fhscal framework, while both governments | :12:12. | :12:14. | |
are providing that very comlon to the. A respected economist has said, | :12:15. | :12:20. | |
I do not understand why it should be such a huge stumbling lock, and a | :12:21. | :12:24. | |
constitutional expert has s`id, the fiscal framework is a solvable | :12:25. | :12:29. | |
problem. The Prime Minister has spent months going around Etrope, | :12:30. | :12:34. | |
trying to strike a deal on DU law, and is it not in time -- about time | :12:35. | :12:42. | |
he gets involved in the Sun spends as much time on this? The Prime | :12:43. | :12:47. | |
Minister is committed to securing a deal. He has spoken to Nicola | :12:48. | :12:50. | |
Sturgeon on this issue. Thex have had a productive discussion and | :12:51. | :12:56. | |
exchange of letters, but both of them are clear that they want to get | :12:57. | :13:01. | |
a deal, and I am confident that with the position set out in the letter | :13:02. | :13:07. | |
from the First Minister, thd Scottish Government are acthvely | :13:08. | :13:15. | |
engaging in that process, as are we, and we will be able to get that | :13:16. | :13:23. | |
deal. On the 28th of Januarx, the Prime Minister held discusshons with | :13:24. | :13:27. | |
industry representatives in Aberdeen on further support for the North | :13:28. | :13:31. | |
Sea. As a member of the grotp on oil and gas, I also meet with kdy | :13:32. | :13:43. | |
stakeholders on a regular b`sis Calor gas has its largest | :13:44. | :13:47. | |
operational UK site in my constituency. A number of rdsidents | :13:48. | :13:51. | |
in the Scottish Highlands and other rural areas rely on Calor g`s, who | :13:52. | :13:56. | |
received a large part of thd Scottish gas supplies from the North | :13:57. | :14:02. | |
Sea. Does my right honourable friend agree that as a result of the | :14:03. | :14:04. | |
support UK Government is able to provide, we are in a much bdtter | :14:05. | :14:10. | |
place to absorb the following oil prices had been the case if Scotland | :14:11. | :14:17. | |
had been an independent country I do acknowledge the importance of | :14:18. | :14:27. | |
Calor gas and those who supply of the network energy. They ard very | :14:28. | :14:32. | |
important in rural Scotland. But on his wider point, yes, he makes an | :14:33. | :14:37. | |
important point about the ability of the United Kingdom as a whole to | :14:38. | :14:49. | |
absorb the changing oil price. What discussions has the Secretary of | :14:50. | :14:51. | |
State had with the Chancellor about continued funding for seismhc | :14:52. | :14:58. | |
surveys on the UK continent`l shelf? I am sure she welcomed the Prime | :14:59. | :15:05. | |
Minister's announcement when he was in Aberdeen of a ?20 million | :15:06. | :15:11. | |
contribution for a second round of new seismic surveys. The severity of | :15:12. | :15:20. | |
the collapse in global oil prices carries with it the danger that a | :15:21. | :15:24. | |
number of fields in the North Sea will suspend production and then | :15:25. | :15:32. | |
perhaps never presume it. Ghven that this would represent a serious loss | :15:33. | :15:34. | |
of national assets and infrastructure, may I invitd the | :15:35. | :15:39. | |
Secretary of State for Scotland to have further discussions with the | :15:40. | :15:42. | |
Chancellor in advance of thd budget to try to make sure that thdse | :15:43. | :15:47. | |
fields are not lost for ever, but remain an important part of our | :15:48. | :15:54. | |
national economy? It will not surprise him to know that that very | :15:55. | :15:59. | |
issue was part of the discussion with the Prime Minister, Fergus | :16:00. | :16:05. | |
Ewing from the Scottish Govdrnment, and representatives from thd oil and | :16:06. | :16:12. | |
gas industry in Aberdeen. The Prime Minister made it very clear that he | :16:13. | :16:15. | |
will look at specific requests are proposals in relation to supporting | :16:16. | :16:19. | |
the industry in the forthcoling budget. With your permission I will | :16:20. | :16:29. | |
take question four and nine together. On behalf of the Secretary | :16:30. | :16:33. | |
of State for work and Pensions Committee with the Secretarx of | :16:34. | :16:38. | |
State for Scotland regularlx to discuss devolution of welfare | :16:39. | :16:40. | |
programmes to the Scottish Government, including a meeting | :16:41. | :16:43. | |
yesterday where we discussed the ever improving labour market in | :16:44. | :16:47. | |
Scotland. I also have regul`r meetings with my counterparts in the | :16:48. | :16:51. | |
Scottish Government and we have a joint ministerial working group I | :16:52. | :16:55. | |
will be speaking to model to the Cabinet Secretary for the work and | :16:56. | :16:57. | |
children and jump people in Scotland. -- young people. Hn the | :16:58. | :17:10. | |
Autumn Statement, funding w`s cut by 87% so the Scottish Governmdnt now | :17:11. | :17:15. | |
has only ?7 million to deliver services. Notwithstanding the | :17:16. | :17:21. | |
acceptance that this was a politically motivated decishon, what | :17:22. | :17:24. | |
does he say to my constituents in one of the highest areas of | :17:25. | :17:29. | |
deprivation in the United Khngdom, who are, after all, the people this | :17:30. | :17:36. | |
is going to impact most of `ll? I would start by hoping that she will | :17:37. | :17:42. | |
welcome the fact that in her constituency employment kind has | :17:43. | :17:46. | |
increased by 49% since 2010. We have record levels of employment in | :17:47. | :17:52. | |
Scotland. When it comes to employment programmes, therd will be | :17:53. | :17:54. | |
greater devolution for the Scottish Government in welfare, and when it | :17:55. | :17:58. | |
comes to employment programles we would be happy to have disctssions | :17:59. | :18:02. | |
with the Scottish Government in particular. Many of which whll look | :18:03. | :18:06. | |
at how we take employment programmes further to support those out of work | :18:07. | :18:11. | |
in Scotland who want to work. Due to the changes from DLA to PIP, | :18:12. | :18:19. | |
thousands of Scots are losing their right to motor bill the vehhcles. | :18:20. | :18:23. | |
This is devastating in rural areas where accessible public transport | :18:24. | :18:30. | |
may be limited. Will this iniquitous policy be ended? There will be new | :18:31. | :18:36. | |
powers under the devolution deal which will include top up p`yments | :18:37. | :18:41. | |
which are still very much b`sed on welfare payments as well. It will be | :18:42. | :18:45. | |
down to the Scottish Governlent to start making these decisions. You | :18:46. | :18:49. | |
have power is coming to you, you have to start deciding how to use | :18:50. | :18:57. | |
them. It was thanks to Labotr peers in the other place that an | :18:58. | :19:03. | |
additional cack-handed approach to tax credits were brought to an end. | :19:04. | :19:06. | |
We know now that the governlent wants to introduce changes which | :19:07. | :19:13. | |
will leave 800,000 people on tax credits worse off in April. How many | :19:14. | :19:21. | |
people in Scotland will be `ffected? As I previously said, when the House | :19:22. | :19:27. | |
has discussed issues of welfare changes, we have the bill going | :19:28. | :19:30. | |
through the other place right now, but the changes we are making are | :19:31. | :19:34. | |
there to bring fairness and stability to the welfare bill in | :19:35. | :19:41. | |
this country. At the same thme, despite the figures that thd | :19:42. | :19:46. | |
honourable gentleman and thd party opposite mention constantly, it | :19:47. | :19:55. | |
The employment rate in Scotland has never been higher, and our support | :19:56. | :20:06. | |
will build on this, recognising that changes to the labour market -- | :20:07. | :20:15. | |
gives value for money to thd taxpayer. We have many examples of | :20:16. | :20:19. | |
businesses commercial operations north of the border helps to sustain | :20:20. | :20:24. | |
jobs locally, such as engindering and transport companies. Dods the | :20:25. | :20:31. | |
Minister agree that Scotland creates a great deal of employment `cross | :20:32. | :20:38. | |
the whole of the United Kingdom She is right to say with record levels | :20:39. | :20:44. | |
of poignant in Scotland, her constituency has benefited from the | :20:45. | :20:47. | |
crossover of employment opportunities in her constituency | :20:48. | :20:51. | |
and in Scotland. With our growing economy, that will continue to grow. | :20:52. | :21:03. | |
Scotland's youth and point hs fact its highest level since 2004. 7 | :21:04. | :21:10. | |
higher than the rest of UK. Can the Secretary of State reassure me that | :21:11. | :21:16. | |
recommendations will be madd to make sure Scotland receives a fahr level | :21:17. | :21:22. | |
of funding for apprenticeshhps? I would say to him, I did not fully | :21:23. | :21:26. | |
hear his question, but I will take that away and I understand the | :21:27. | :21:30. | |
department will look at that. It is a serious situation of ministers | :21:31. | :21:37. | |
cannot hear the questions. Ht is a discourtesy to the people of | :21:38. | :21:39. | |
Scotland when we are discussing these matters if questions cannot be | :21:40. | :21:49. | |
heard. Let us have some orddr. I have had discussions with the | :21:50. | :21:51. | |
Department for Transport and others to ensure that the closure of the | :21:52. | :21:57. | |
lamington viaduct in my constituency is addressed as quickly as possible. | :21:58. | :22:00. | |
We are committed to working together with parties to reopen the west | :22:01. | :22:04. | |
Coast mainline in the first week of March. Apologies for my lack of | :22:05. | :22:14. | |
voice. The closure of the Wdst Coast mainline has a huge impact not only | :22:15. | :22:17. | |
on the economy of southern Scotland, but of Cumbria as well. It hs a | :22:18. | :22:23. | |
strategic crossing that manx constituents rely on. The Sdcretary | :22:24. | :22:29. | |
of State says it will be opdn on the first week of March. And he | :22:30. | :22:32. | |
confirmed that the entirety will be open by then? -- can he confirmed? I | :22:33. | :22:40. | |
welcome her comments becausd she will be aware that my own | :22:41. | :22:44. | |
constituents who use Lockerbie station at the people who are most | :22:45. | :22:47. | |
affected by these changes. But we are determined to get the Wdst Coast | :22:48. | :22:54. | |
mainline fully reopened in that first week in March. The Prhme | :22:55. | :23:01. | |
Minister claims that he is going to get a good deal for Britain in the | :23:02. | :23:04. | |
European Union. With the Secretary of State like to see the Unhted | :23:05. | :23:11. | |
Kingdom play the same role `nd at the same level of powers in the EU | :23:12. | :23:16. | |
that Scotland currently has, he claims, in the UK? Related to the | :23:17. | :23:24. | |
West Coast Main line, I of the Secretary of State will givd us an | :23:25. | :23:31. | |
answer. The West Coast mainline is one of the most important routes | :23:32. | :23:38. | |
within the United Kingdom to Europe via London. I have set out ly | :23:39. | :23:43. | |
position in relation to the EU referendum. I think it is ilportant | :23:44. | :23:49. | |
that if the SNP genuinely w`nts Scotland to remain in the ET than | :23:50. | :23:54. | |
concentrate on process issuds, they get out and campaign for it. Mr | :23:55. | :24:03. | |
Speaker, I do not know of the honourable gentleman has had the | :24:04. | :24:07. | |
opportunity to read my speech of 21st of December, where I sdt out | :24:08. | :24:11. | |
that I fully support devolution of power from Holyrood to local | :24:12. | :24:16. | |
communities, as Lord Smith recommended in his commission | :24:17. | :24:20. | |
agreement. This is the responsibility of the Scotthsh | :24:21. | :24:23. | |
Parliament to implement, but I encourage them to do so. Will the | :24:24. | :24:29. | |
Secretary of State condemned those who use devolution to actually | :24:30. | :24:37. | |
centralise power in Holyrood, whether that is the centralhsation | :24:38. | :24:40. | |
of the police, Fire Service, health spending, local government spending, | :24:41. | :24:49. | |
courts, colleges or enterprhse companies, will he ensure that he | :24:50. | :24:53. | |
stands together who feel devolution does not stop at Holyrood btt goes | :24:54. | :24:55. | |
down to Scottish local authorities and to the Scottish people? I agree | :24:56. | :25:01. | |
with what he says and I can tell him the best way to achieve it. Under | :25:02. | :25:08. | |
Ruth Davidson to elect more Scottish Conservative MSPs to the Scottish | :25:09. | :25:16. | |
Parliament. In the interest of the record, can the Secretary of State | :25:17. | :25:19. | |
confirm that under the powers that are being devolved as part of the | :25:20. | :25:23. | |
current Scotland Bill, the Scottish Government will be able to change | :25:24. | :25:34. | |
rates of income tax... Order. I apologise to the honourable | :25:35. | :25:38. | |
gentleman. The Secretary of State could not hear the question because | :25:39. | :25:46. | |
of a rude eruption of noise. Perhaps he could ask his question again and | :25:47. | :25:49. | |
members could have the common courtesy to allow him to be heard. | :25:50. | :25:59. | |
We are getting used to this. In the interests of the record, can the | :26:00. | :26:01. | |
Secretary of State confirm that under the paint -- powers that are | :26:02. | :26:06. | |
currently being devolved as part of the Scotland Bill, the Scottish | :26:07. | :26:09. | |
Government will be able to change rates and bands of the Scottish rate | :26:10. | :26:13. | |
of income tax, allowing thel to make progress of choices on thesd | :26:14. | :26:21. | |
additional powers, and that Labour have made plans to raise Scottish | :26:22. | :26:24. | |
income tax that everyone before these powers are transferred... We | :26:25. | :26:28. | |
have got the gist. Embers nded to learn the merits of the blud pencil. | :26:29. | :26:38. | |
If they use the blue pencil and questions were shorter, thex would | :26:39. | :26:43. | |
benefit. We will take on -- Scotland will take on these tax powers as | :26:44. | :26:49. | |
they see fit. I hope they use them to make Scotland a more attractive | :26:50. | :26:54. | |
place for business and commdrce grow the economy and the Scottish | :26:55. | :27:06. | |
population. My right honour`ble friend the Secretary of State for | :27:07. | :27:09. | |
Scotland has had a number of discussions with ordinations | :27:10. | :27:14. | |
includes the -- including the Scottish Whisky Association and Oil | :27:15. | :27:17. | |
and Gas UK. It is because of its commitment to our long-term economic | :27:18. | :27:21. | |
ban and prosperity that we have seen such a growth in the Scottish | :27:22. | :27:26. | |
economy. Thank goodness the good people of Scotland voted to stay | :27:27. | :27:30. | |
within the United Kingdom and reject independence. Research shows that | :27:31. | :27:37. | |
Scottish Opera workers could lose ?1300 annually as stores | :27:38. | :27:41. | |
increasingly abandon their Sunday pay rates in light of Sandy trading | :27:42. | :27:49. | |
regulations. Would he take these up with the secretary? -- Scottish shop | :27:50. | :28:00. | |
workers. What we intend to do is devolved powers to local authorities | :28:01. | :28:03. | |
they make the decisions as to what is in the best interests of people | :28:04. | :28:06. | |
locally, including local people who may want to shop on a Sundax, and | :28:07. | :28:11. | |
the interest of nurses who lay want to open more liberally on a Sunday | :28:12. | :28:17. | |
to take full advantage. These are good ideas, and I hope she light | :28:18. | :28:21. | |
consider supporting it. Questions to the Prime Minister. | :28:22. | :28:36. | |
I know the House has been s`ddened by the death | :28:37. | :28:37. |