:00:00. > :00:11.question for David Mundell, about the effect on Scotland of the UK
:00:12. > :00:18.leaving the EU. Order. Order. I have to tell the House that yesterday,
:00:19. > :00:24.together with other right honourable and honourable members, I attended
:00:25. > :00:28.upon Her Majesty The Queen to deliver the House's message of
:00:29. > :00:36.congratulations on her 90th birthday. Her Majesty made the
:00:37. > :00:41.following reply, members of the House of Commons, I am most grateful
:00:42. > :00:48.to you for your address on the occasion of my 90th birthday. I have
:00:49. > :00:51.been deeply touched by the many messages of congratulations, which I
:00:52. > :00:55.have received on this particular birthday. And I warmly reciprocate
:00:56. > :01:04.the good wishes of members of the House of Commons at this time.
:01:05. > :01:13.Order. Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland. Question number
:01:14. > :01:19.one. Can I begin by congratulating Nicola Sturgeon and the Scottish
:01:20. > :01:25.National Party on achieving the largest number of seats in last
:01:26. > :01:30.week's Scottish Parliament elections, and say that I look
:01:31. > :01:33.forward to working with her and the new Scottish Government for the
:01:34. > :01:39.benefit of the people of Scotland. With permission I would like to
:01:40. > :01:47.answer questions one, two, three, six, seven and eight together. The
:01:48. > :01:51.government's position is that Scotland and the United Kingdom will
:01:52. > :01:55.be stronger, safer, and better off remaining in a reformed EU.
:01:56. > :01:59.Membership reduces costs for British businesses, supports jobs in
:02:00. > :02:05.Scotland and provides an export market currently worth ?11.6
:02:06. > :02:13.billion. -- reduces costs for Scottish businesses. This will not
:02:14. > :02:15.win the European referendum. Stories of war, genocide and economic
:02:16. > :02:21.crashes are not in keeping with making a positive case for the EU.
:02:22. > :02:27.Can the Secretary of State tell us when we will hear the positive case
:02:28. > :02:32.for remaining in the EU? Can I also add my congratulations to the
:02:33. > :02:34.Honourable Lady's husband on his re-election to the Scottish
:02:35. > :02:47.Parliament, where I am sure his witty town will be welcomed. She and
:02:48. > :02:50.her colleagues continue to call for a campaign for Scotland to remain in
:02:51. > :02:55.the EU, but all we hear from them is process and calls for a second
:02:56. > :03:01.referendum. I call on them to disregard that approach and actually
:03:02. > :03:09.start setting out the positive case themselves. The UK Government has
:03:10. > :03:14.shown disregard for Scotland's highly education -- higher education
:03:15. > :03:21.sector, scrapping the post study work Visa, against all Scottish
:03:22. > :03:26.political parties. Does here realise the crippling effect this is having
:03:27. > :03:32.on attracting young talent to Scotland? What I believe is that the
:03:33. > :03:37.biggest issue that faces Scotland currently is the uncertainty over
:03:38. > :03:43.the Scottish Government's inability to rule out a second independence
:03:44. > :03:49.referendum, which they could quite easily do. I look forward to the
:03:50. > :03:56.First Minister, if she is re-elected to that post, setting out clearly
:03:57. > :03:59.that we are not going to have a second independence referendum.
:04:00. > :04:05.Regarding work-study Visa, the work select committee have carried out a
:04:06. > :04:11.very good report into that issue, and the government is looking at it.
:04:12. > :04:17.Does the Secretary of State consider the 60% of the UK landings in
:04:18. > :04:24.Scotland Scottish fisheries minister should lead during the period of the
:04:25. > :04:29.UK presidency of the EU. Would such an initiative not be widely welcomed
:04:30. > :04:36.by Scottish fishermen, or is he still stuck in this rat of some
:04:37. > :04:43.nations being more equal than others? My position is that Scotland
:04:44. > :04:51.voted to remain part of the United Kingdom, and the United Kingdom
:04:52. > :05:01.represents Scotland's division. We have been up in discussions on
:05:02. > :05:05.issues of representation at the EU, and how they should work. My
:05:06. > :05:14.understanding is the previous lead Scottish Government were agreed with
:05:15. > :05:18.these proposals. This week's even wired report was critical of the
:05:19. > :05:23.approach to the energy sector. Is stating it is not only stalling
:05:24. > :05:31.investment by jeopardising energy security. -- EY report. Does he
:05:32. > :05:38.agree that the best way for Scotland's energy policy to develop
:05:39. > :05:41.is within the EU? I agree it is within the best interests of
:05:42. > :05:46.Scotland to remain in the EU, and the best interest of Scotland to
:05:47. > :05:51.remain in the UK. It has been clearly set out that the best way
:05:52. > :06:03.forward for Scotland's energy sector is to have a UK wide common market.
:06:04. > :06:08.While we want the UK to remain part of the EU, I am wondering if the
:06:09. > :06:12.Secretary of State's mission is to antagonise as many Scots as possible
:06:13. > :06:18.before the referendum. But will he agree that if Scotland should be
:06:19. > :06:22.dragged out against its will, that would be a major constitutional
:06:23. > :06:30.change? He might be interested to know that tomorrow I am sharing a
:06:31. > :06:34.platform with the former Deputy Leader, Jim Sillars, where I will
:06:35. > :06:38.make the positive case for Scotland remaining in the EU, and I
:06:39. > :06:49.understand he will make the case for Scotland leaving. The president of
:06:50. > :07:04.the Royal College of psychiatry has warned that the UK with drawing
:07:05. > :07:09.would remove safeguards for psychiatric users. Would he support
:07:10. > :07:16.me in stopping them removing such human rights? The honourable lady is
:07:17. > :07:23.aware that the government is going to bring forward a consultation on a
:07:24. > :07:26.Bill of Rights post the EU referendum, but I do agree with her
:07:27. > :07:37.that the United Kingdom remaining within the EU is for the benefit of
:07:38. > :07:43.everyone in Scotland. With the Secretary of State agree that the
:07:44. > :07:47.government is split on the issue of whether we should remain in the
:07:48. > :07:57.European Union, just as the SNP are, with Jim Sillars speaking for the
:07:58. > :08:08.leave campaign? It is somewhat embarrassing for the government to
:08:09. > :08:14.be associating with that lot. What the Scottish National Party doesn't
:08:15. > :08:19.always do is respect that people have different opinions. My view is
:08:20. > :08:24.very firmly that Scotland should remain in the EU, but I recognise
:08:25. > :08:29.and respect that there are people in Scotland, including SNP voters and
:08:30. > :08:35.supporters, who want Scotland to leave the EU, and therefore that is
:08:36. > :08:42.why we're having a referendum and debate, and people have their say.
:08:43. > :08:48.Why hasn't my right honourable friend emphasised that when we leave
:08:49. > :08:51.the European Union, the Scottish parliament, Scottish Government and
:08:52. > :08:58.Scottish people will have sole control over Scottish fishing
:08:59. > :09:02.waters? I do not believe that the best interests of Scottish
:09:03. > :09:07.fishermen, Scottish farmers or the general population of Scotland would
:09:08. > :09:13.be served by leaving the EU because, as my honourable friend, who now
:09:14. > :09:20.serves on the select committee will know, large amounts of fish,
:09:21. > :09:27.particularly shellfish caught off the west coast of Scotland goes to a
:09:28. > :09:32.European market. Does my right honourable friend agree that
:09:33. > :09:40.Scotland, like the rest of the United Kingdom, would be safer if it
:09:41. > :09:48.left the European Union because the former head of MI6 has said, Britain
:09:49. > :10:00.is Europe's leader in intelligence, security matters, and gives much
:10:01. > :10:04.more than it gets in return. No. What assessment has the Secretary of
:10:05. > :10:09.State undertaken as to why the SNP are so keen on the EU, when it is
:10:10. > :10:14.clear that they are in the economic slow lane, when the unemployment
:10:15. > :10:20.rates as much higher, youth unemployment of over 50% in certain
:10:21. > :10:22.countries, and when it is a fact that the Common fisheries policy has
:10:23. > :10:35.over the years decimated the Scottish fishing fleet? I note the
:10:36. > :10:39.inherent contradiction in the SNP position because every argument they
:10:40. > :10:42.use for Scotland remaining in the EU where arguments they dismissed in
:10:43. > :10:47.relation to Scotland remaining in the United Kingdom, but in this
:10:48. > :10:51.occasion I will forgive them because I believe, like them, that it is in
:10:52. > :11:00.the best interests of Scotland to remain in the EU. A pensioner in my
:11:01. > :11:12.right honourable friend's constituency, she would like to say
:11:13. > :11:26.that she is very pleased to have two EY to deal with -- Mundells to deal
:11:27. > :11:32.with, but... I am sure the reforms will bring benefits for pensioners,
:11:33. > :11:38.and I also believe it is not the end of this free-form process. The EU is
:11:39. > :11:43.not perfect, even after these reforms, but it is up to the UK to
:11:44. > :11:51.lead in reforming the EU, not withdraw from it.
:11:52. > :11:57.What assessment has the Secretary of State made over last week 's
:11:58. > :12:01.Scottish Parliament election results, over removing the prospect
:12:02. > :12:07.of Scotland having to join as a new member?
:12:08. > :12:11.What I would say to my honourable friend is that there was one clear
:12:12. > :12:17.message from last week's elections, the people of Scotland do not want
:12:18. > :12:22.another referendum. And I hope that the First Minister has heard that
:12:23. > :12:27.message loud and clear. The EU referendum is about the UK's
:12:28. > :12:34.membership of the EU, it is not a rerun of the Scottish independence
:12:35. > :12:38.referendum. Speaker-macro, can I also take this
:12:39. > :12:43.opportunity to congratulate all MSP is elected last week and the SNP on
:12:44. > :12:49.their historic third term in Government. -- Mr Speaker. I do have
:12:50. > :12:57.to say that my own seed was a net gain from the SNP on that evening.
:12:58. > :13:01.-- seat. Can I also congratulate the Secretary of State on his son
:13:02. > :13:05.Oliver, being elected to the Scottish parliament, there are now
:13:06. > :13:13.not only two elected members, but they also both have fetching beards.
:13:14. > :13:19.The evidence is clear that the UK and Scotland are stronger in the UK,
:13:20. > :13:26.in the EU. In the Scottish context for example, 42% of exports, a
:13:27. > :13:30.quarter of a million jobs, 10% of higher education spending, so can
:13:31. > :13:34.the Secretary of State give this assurance that all conservative and
:13:35. > :13:41.-- MSPs will be campaigning to stay in the EU?
:13:42. > :13:44.I thank the honourable gentleman for his congratulations, and their
:13:45. > :13:48.congratulations to my son. The high point of the election for me was
:13:49. > :13:54.when somebody on the door that, you look a lot like your dad. But that
:13:55. > :14:03.aside, what I can assure him is that there will be a proper debate in
:14:04. > :14:06.Scotland. Ruth Davidson, head of the beginning of this referendum
:14:07. > :14:10.process, made her position very clear on supporting Scotland
:14:11. > :14:14.remaining in the EU. But we cannot hide the fact that there are people
:14:15. > :14:17.in Scotland who would like to leave the EU, and I think their views
:14:18. > :14:22.should be reflected. They Conservative Party is not frightened
:14:23. > :14:28.to hide the fact there are different views, there are different views
:14:29. > :14:33.across Scotland. The Secretary of State hasn't told
:14:34. > :14:36.us what Oliver's response was when that man said you look like your
:14:37. > :14:44.dad. Everybody knows this referendum is all about settling old scores in
:14:45. > :14:49.the Conservative Party. We also know that the SNP are desperate for any
:14:50. > :14:54.excuse to trigger another independence referendum. But the
:14:55. > :14:58.truth is that the UK is better in the EU, and Scotland is better off
:14:59. > :15:02.in the UK. So isn't it the case that this Secretary of State and his
:15:03. > :15:06.Government have taken a huge gamble with the UK's future and a huge
:15:07. > :15:10.gamble with Scotland's future as well?
:15:11. > :15:17.Absolutely not, we have allowed the people of Scotland and the people
:15:18. > :15:23.across the UK to have their say on this important issue, and they will
:15:24. > :15:26.do, and we need to have a debate in Scotland, I am campaigning
:15:27. > :15:31.vigorously as he appears to be for Scotland to remain in the EU, the
:15:32. > :15:35.SNP parliamentary party here at Westminster is campaigning for that.
:15:36. > :15:40.People like Jim Sellers are campaigning for Scotland to leave
:15:41. > :15:45.the EU. Let's have a vigorous debate in Scotland over the next few weeks,
:15:46. > :15:51.and I look forward to sharing a platform with him and SNP
:15:52. > :15:55.colleagues. -- Sillars. May I add my congratulations to the
:15:56. > :16:00.election of all over to the parliament. Can he confirmed to the
:16:01. > :16:04.House that he will continue to champion the Scotland Bill, which he
:16:05. > :16:07.passed through this House, which has given so many powers to the Scottish
:16:08. > :16:11.Parliament, to ensure that the Scottish people continue to benefit
:16:12. > :16:21.not just being in the UK but within the EU as well?
:16:22. > :16:27.Thank you for that, I must get my son elected more often, because
:16:28. > :16:34.there are more plaudits today than I recall ever previously! What I would
:16:35. > :16:39.say to him is that of course we will move forward with the implementation
:16:40. > :16:43.of the Scotland Bill, but we will also work hard to achieve a positive
:16:44. > :16:48.outcome for Scotland in the EU referendum on 23rd of June.
:16:49. > :16:51.Does the Secretary of State agree that the already high levels of
:16:52. > :16:57.support in Scotland for remaining in the EU could be improved further
:16:58. > :17:07.still if Scottish farmers could become -- could be confident they
:17:08. > :17:14.will hit their CAP payments? The reason that CAP payments have
:17:15. > :17:17.not been made is entirely due to the previous SNP Scottish Government.
:17:18. > :17:24.And any attempt to suggest that it was the EU is incorrect. I think
:17:25. > :17:29.that farmers and others know the benefits to Scotland of being in the
:17:30. > :17:35.EU and will vote to remain. If the UK were to withdraw from EU,
:17:36. > :17:39.what impact would this have on Scotland and the EU's relationship
:17:40. > :17:42.with Malawi, which I know my right honourable friend has recently been
:17:43. > :17:47.to? My honourable friend knows I did
:17:48. > :17:53.recently visit Malawi, and without being indiscreet I can firmly say
:17:54. > :17:57.that the Malawi Government are in favour of Scotland and the EU --
:17:58. > :18:02.Scotland and the UK remaining in the EU.
:18:03. > :18:06.There is very little evidence that Scotland wanted this story is you
:18:07. > :18:11.referendum. There only seems like a minority want to leave the EU. What
:18:12. > :18:16.is his message is the Secretary of State, when he has put this message
:18:17. > :18:21.to the Scottish people, if we are taken out of the EU, against our
:18:22. > :18:26.national collective will? Thank you, I think that is another
:18:27. > :18:33.positive campaigning point from the SNP. It is not for me to give the
:18:34. > :18:37.SNP advice. But if my vote had fallen by 500,000 between the
:18:38. > :18:41.General Election and the Scottish regional list, I would be focusing
:18:42. > :18:49.on getting my supporters out to vote on the 23rd of June, to ensure that
:18:50. > :18:56.Scotland votes to remain. We on these benches are delighted in
:18:57. > :19:00.the run up to the European Union referendum, the Scottish electorate
:19:01. > :19:06.has returned a pro-European SNP Government. Return with the highest
:19:07. > :19:12.vote of any party currently anywhere in the national elections anywhere
:19:13. > :19:17.in Western Europe. -- returned. Most people in Scotland are also very
:19:18. > :19:19.pleased that when given the opportunity as the Scottish
:19:20. > :19:25.electorate didn't return a single MSP from the Europhobic UK
:19:26. > :19:28.irrelevance party, and that there is a majority of the Scottish
:19:29. > :19:38.parliament for Scottish independence as a member... On the powerful case,
:19:39. > :19:45.Mr Speaker, for remaining, will the UK Government concentrate plays on
:19:46. > :19:49.making a positive and inspiring case to remain, rather than reheating
:19:50. > :19:54.endless scare stories? I think I have made it clear to the
:19:55. > :19:58.honourable gentleman that that is exactly what my intention is, and
:19:59. > :20:04.perhaps he could undertake today to stop obsessing about process and a
:20:05. > :20:06.second Scottish independence referendum, and concentrate himself
:20:07. > :20:12.entirely on the positive reasons for Scotland remaining in the EU.
:20:13. > :20:16.Scotch whiskey is the largest net goods exported to the European
:20:17. > :20:22.Union, both from Scotland and for the United Kingdom as a whole. Does
:20:23. > :20:27.the Secretary of State agree that the European single market is
:20:28. > :20:31.profoundly important and positive, for the ?1 billion trade, meaning
:20:32. > :20:36.that there is no need for customs forms, duplication of labelling and
:20:37. > :20:41.safety requirements, so will he stress the positive advantages to
:20:42. > :20:45.the whiskey industry, and all exporters from Scotland, to jobs and
:20:46. > :20:48.to profitability, by remaining within the European single market
:20:49. > :20:55.and EU? I am absolutely clear that -- what
:20:56. > :21:01.the honourable gentleman States is the case, and I am sure he will have
:21:02. > :21:04.welcomed the visit yesterday to Scotland by my right honourable
:21:05. > :21:08.friend the Secretary of State for Defra to stress the importance to
:21:09. > :21:12.the whiskey industry of remaining in the single market, and the
:21:13. > :21:16.particular points he makes about duplication in relation to
:21:17. > :21:19.labelling, certification and licensing -- licensing are ones
:21:20. > :21:22.which the Scotch Whisky association have made and I am sure the public
:21:23. > :21:30.will take into account when they vote in the referendum.
:21:31. > :21:35.With your permission, could I answer this question with question 11. This
:21:36. > :21:39.is an important sector, and that is why I am delighted that the
:21:40. > :21:44.Chancellor announced ?1 billion package in the budget, reducing
:21:45. > :21:49.headline rates of tax, major investment opportunities and
:21:50. > :21:53.encouragement and exploration, infrastructure, and of course a
:21:54. > :21:58.quarter of ?1 billion Aberdeen City Deal, along with the creation of an
:21:59. > :22:04.interministerial group specifically targeting the oil and gas sector.
:22:05. > :22:09.Does the Minister agree that we need a long-term approach to secure the
:22:10. > :22:13.future of the jobs in the oil and gas sector in the North Sea, and
:22:14. > :22:17.that part of the future is making sure the skills that have been
:22:18. > :22:26.developed over many decades are not lost? I couldn't agree with my
:22:27. > :22:30.honourable friend more. That is why as I say we have established an
:22:31. > :22:35.interministerial group specifically looking at this and many other
:22:36. > :22:43.issues, and we will shortly publish our workforce plan. The gas industry
:22:44. > :22:49.provides vital home-grown feed stocks to Britain's camel --
:22:50. > :22:53.chemical industry. Can the Minister assure us that the Government will
:22:54. > :23:00.continue to stake -- take steps to support as many jobs which depend on
:23:01. > :23:05.this sector? Of course, yes. I would like to pay tribute to my honourable
:23:06. > :23:09.friend for the work he does in relation to chemicals, it is a very
:23:10. > :23:19.important sector. I am very pleased to see the sort of work but they are
:23:20. > :23:23.doing to increase exports. Last week I raised concerns related to the
:23:24. > :23:27.transatlantic trade and investment partnership, and the threat to our
:23:28. > :23:33.public services, only for these to be dismissed by the Prime Minister
:23:34. > :23:40.as a red herring. Since then several high profile organisations including
:23:41. > :23:43.Unite have rebuked his claims. Will the Secretary of State make
:23:44. > :23:48.representations to the Prime Minister to insist on specific
:23:49. > :23:54.exemptions, to protect Scotland's NHS and public services? At this
:23:55. > :24:02.dispatch box I and other ministers repeatedly have said that these
:24:03. > :24:07.sorts of claims... I am waiting for the member to take his seat. This is
:24:08. > :24:12.absolute rubbish that the honourable lady puts forward, that my right
:24:13. > :24:17.honourable friend the Prime Minister is right, this is a red herring. I
:24:18. > :24:22.undertake to share with her all the letters from impartial sources, that
:24:23. > :24:25.have been written to support our contention that public services
:24:26. > :24:33.especially the NHS have no threat whatsoever from this, it is a good
:24:34. > :24:37.idea. The minister I am sure am aware of the anxiety of Scottish
:24:38. > :24:42.workers about reductions in investment in safety on shore, and
:24:43. > :24:46.the failure of companies to work cooperatively with trade unions
:24:47. > :24:51.safety representatives. What representation has she made on
:24:52. > :24:55.safety onshore? And can she reassure his constituents -- my constituents
:24:56. > :24:59.that the Government is on the case? I thank the honourable gentleman for
:25:00. > :25:04.his question, he makes some important points and I am more than
:25:05. > :25:07.happy to meet with him to discuss these, including any allegations
:25:08. > :25:11.that the unions are not being fully engaged with. I don't have any
:25:12. > :25:17.difficulty with trade unions, more than happy to discuss this important
:25:18. > :25:27.matter. Despite the worst elements... Thank you, Mr Speaker.
:25:28. > :25:31.The trade union act is now awaiting Royal assent. But it is about
:25:32. > :25:37.employment and industrial relations law, which will apply constant --
:25:38. > :25:40.consistently across the UK. We have engaged with the Scottish party --
:25:41. > :25:50.Government through the passage of the Bill, and we will carry on with
:25:51. > :25:55.that word. -- work. Despite the trade unions Bill's worst elements
:25:56. > :25:58.being watered down, it is still a bad Bill. Does the Secretary of
:25:59. > :26:03.State agree that a bad Bill will not make for good industrial relations
:26:04. > :26:08.in Scotland? I don't share the honourable gentleman's views at all,
:26:09. > :26:16.I think it is an excellent act, and I fully support it and its aims.
:26:17. > :26:19.Wales and Scotland have developed legislative memorandums on the trade
:26:20. > :26:23.union Bill on the basis that it clearly impinges on devolved
:26:24. > :26:29.competences. Does the Minister not now agree that the Bill should be
:26:30. > :26:32.subject to legislative content -- consent motions, and what action
:26:33. > :26:39.will be Government take to ensure that similar circumstances do not
:26:40. > :26:47.arise in a future? I think the honourable lady is not date on all
:26:48. > :26:52.of this. -- up-to-date. With the relegation of labour to third place
:26:53. > :26:55.in last week's Scottish elections, with the Minister agree that now
:26:56. > :27:09.would be the right time to introduce an opt in system, rather than it be
:27:10. > :27:14.the default position? Could I pay tribute to Ruth Davidson. Like the
:27:15. > :27:19.Prime Minister she is a moderate, sensible conservative, one nation
:27:20. > :27:22.Conservative. She has turned the skies of Scotland blue, with a
:27:23. > :27:33.rather pleasing tinge of pink at the edges. The Government made a number
:27:34. > :27:37.of concessions on the trade union act, but the act still seeks to
:27:38. > :27:41.undermine constrictive social partnership, and is at odds with the
:27:42. > :27:44.democratic will of the people of Scotland and Wales. Given that the
:27:45. > :27:50.Government says what it believes in mutual respect, will it now hold
:27:51. > :28:03.immediately discussions with devolved
:28:04. > :28:06.institutions? This act is good for Britain and
:28:07. > :28:25.trade unions, it is good for future working relations.
:28:26. > :28:32.This morning, I had meetings with ministers and colleagues and I will
:28:33. > :28:37.have further meetings today. Even fantastically corrupt Nigeria
:28:38. > :28:39.is asking Britain to clean up its act and introduce beneficial
:28:40. > :28:44.ownership registers in the overseas territories. We'll be Prime Minister
:28:45. > :28:53.achieve this tomorrow at the anti-corruption Summit? -- will be
:28:54. > :28:58.Prime Minister? I want to check the microphone is on before speaking. I
:28:59. > :29:01.thank him for his question. The answer is yes. We have asked three
:29:02. > :29:03.things of the