:00:00. > :00:00.David Mandel, and his ministerial team. The first question today
:00:00. > :00:09.concerns money given to galleries and museums in Scotland. Order,
:00:10. > :00:12.order. Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland, Stuart Malcolm
:00:13. > :00:31.MacDonald. Mr Speaker, lots of good causes
:00:32. > :00:34.applet bids into the Treasury for funds but we will need to be patient
:00:35. > :00:38.and wait until this afternoon for the Autumn Statement to hear which I
:00:39. > :00:45.been successful. He knows there is no greater cause in my constituency
:00:46. > :00:52.than that of Holmwood house, a fine piece of architecture. Given that
:00:53. > :00:57.next year is the bicentenary of the architect's birth and he knows how
:00:58. > :01:01.keen eye and the Thomson Society are to promote about rape in the UK and
:01:02. > :01:08.internationally, will he ensure the full weight of his office in making
:01:09. > :01:19.that happen. -- are to promote about that in the UK and internationally.
:01:20. > :01:23.He is perhaps an underappreciated icon of Scottish architecture and I
:01:24. > :01:27.can assure the honourable gentleman, particularly after my own visit to
:01:28. > :01:31.Holmwood house and meeting with the Thomson Society, that the UK
:01:32. > :01:40.Government will do all it can to support and promote the bicentenary.
:01:41. > :01:44.I've written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer suggesting that libel
:01:45. > :01:47.money can be used for restoration in Scotland. At the Secretary of State
:01:48. > :01:54.had any similar discussions with the Chancellor or had he had done
:01:55. > :01:58.nothing about the 2015 pledge? Mr Speaker, the honourable gentleman
:01:59. > :02:04.knows that I and indeed the UK Government have done a great deal to
:02:05. > :02:09.work with East Ayrshire Council to ensure that opencast restoration
:02:10. > :02:14.could proceed in that area following the collapse of various companies
:02:15. > :02:17.involved in opencast mining. We continue that dialogue with both the
:02:18. > :02:21.Scottish Government and East Ayrshire Council in order to try to
:02:22. > :02:27.being this matter to a satisfactory resolution. The honourable gentleman
:02:28. > :02:32.was a bit tardy in standing but we will hear from him anyway. Scotland
:02:33. > :02:37.has some wonderful tourist attractions, many in the border
:02:38. > :02:41.region, and the same applies to Cumbria. But the Secretary of State
:02:42. > :02:48.agree that there are real opportunities to promote tourism in
:02:49. > :02:52.the border area but that means close cooperation from all councils, not
:02:53. > :02:58.just finance. The honourable gentleman knows that I am very keen
:02:59. > :03:02.to promote cross-border working between Cumbria County Council, his
:03:03. > :03:08.own local authority, Dumfries and Galloway Council and the Borders
:03:09. > :03:10.council. That is why I'm a big supporter of the borderlands
:03:11. > :03:17.initiative which would bring those councils together to try to secure
:03:18. > :03:25.economic development for the area, of which tourism would play a very
:03:26. > :03:30.important part. Mr Speaker, we have made significant
:03:31. > :03:34.progress to transport powers in the Scotland act to the Scottish
:03:35. > :03:37.parliament, with a large number of provisions already in force and we
:03:38. > :03:44.continue to work with the Scottish Government on the smooth transition
:03:45. > :03:48.of remaining powers. As the SNP Government has failed to introduce a
:03:49. > :03:52.single piece of legislation in the last six months, with the First
:03:53. > :03:58.Minister preparing to grandstand across Europe about Brexit, isn't it
:03:59. > :04:03.about time she used the powers devolved to her under the Scotland
:04:04. > :04:12.act to start governing rather than engaging in pointless photo
:04:13. > :04:15.opportunities? Mr Speaker, I can update the honourable gentleman. The
:04:16. > :04:22.Scottish Government have now brought forward one piece of legislation.
:04:23. > :04:25.That is since the Scottish Parliament elections in May and he
:04:26. > :04:31.may be interested that this Government currently has 19 pieces
:04:32. > :04:37.of legislation before this Parliament. Of course I agree with
:04:38. > :04:40.him and I think the majority of people in Scotland who want the
:04:41. > :04:44.First Minister and the Scottish Government to get on with the day
:04:45. > :04:52.job of running Scotland and the devolved responsibilities and not
:04:53. > :04:55.constantly talk about independence. The Scottish Government has
:04:56. > :05:01.announced that the new powers over benefits will be used to end the
:05:02. > :05:04.misery being meted out on disabled Scots by the UK Government. The
:05:05. > :05:07.First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has pledged to reduce the need for
:05:08. > :05:10.assessments for personal independence payments and disability
:05:11. > :05:16.living allowance, particularly for those with long-term illness. Will
:05:17. > :05:19.the Secretary of State take the opportunity to welcome this and urge
:05:20. > :05:27.to the UK Cabinet colleagues to follow suit? Mr Speaker, what I will
:05:28. > :05:33.welcome when I see it is some detail behind these bind words -- fine
:05:34. > :05:39.words. We have heard lots and lots of fine words but, to date, on
:05:40. > :05:45.welfare, we have absolutely no detail as to what the Scottish
:05:46. > :05:49.Government plan to do. I suppose we should view it as progress that he
:05:50. > :05:51.believes that they are buying words. Perhaps he will follow the
:05:52. > :05:56.initiative of the Scottish Government. It's bad to say that the
:05:57. > :06:00.majority of welfare and economic powers are not being devolved to the
:06:01. > :06:03.Scottish Parliament, so will the Secretary of State confirm that he
:06:04. > :06:08.has no plans to devolve powers to deal with Scottish legal
:06:09. > :06:11.partnerships and the risks that they pose in the fight against global
:06:12. > :06:15.money-laundering and organised crime. I have raised this with my
:06:16. > :06:21.minister, I have spoken to him about this, so will he now tell the House
:06:22. > :06:26.what he and the UK will actually do about this? As the honourable
:06:27. > :06:33.gentleman knows, the settlement in relation to the Scotland act 2016
:06:34. > :06:36.was the outcome of the Smith commission and the Scottish legal
:06:37. > :06:41.partnerships issue was not part of that arrangement and will not be
:06:42. > :06:45.devolved. I do take the issue extremely seriously, I commend him
:06:46. > :06:49.for the way in which he has highlighted it in this House and
:06:50. > :06:53.elsewhere. I commend the Herald newspaper for the way in which they
:06:54. > :06:57.have highlighted the issue and colleagues within the UK Government
:06:58. > :07:03.are looking at how we can best take the situation forward to end the
:07:04. > :07:07.abuses which are evident. I was concerned to read in the Sunday
:07:08. > :07:11.Times that the Scottish Government are delaying the introduction of the
:07:12. > :07:17.devolved welfare powers. Can my right honourable friend confirm if
:07:18. > :07:22.this is the case? Mr Speaker, all members will have access to the
:07:23. > :07:28.minutes of the last meeting of the joint welfare group between myself
:07:29. > :07:33.and the Scottish Government ministers and those minutes confirm
:07:34. > :07:43.that the introduction of the welfare powers in Scotland are indeed being
:07:44. > :07:47.delayed, potentially until 2020. Would he consider the transfer of
:07:48. > :07:54.powers over visas to the Scottish Government? Currently in the Outer
:07:55. > :08:01.Hebrides, the fishing boats are restricted because non-EU fishermen
:08:02. > :08:05.cannot work on fishing boats, with people under threat and threatening
:08:06. > :08:10.jobs and industries in the Outer Hebrides. Will he do something about
:08:11. > :08:16.it or nothing, like usual? I recognise the concerns that he has
:08:17. > :08:20.expressed. Others have expressed those concerns. There are specific
:08:21. > :08:26.issues and rolled around he can and cannot work on fishing boats but
:08:27. > :08:32.immigration remains the responsibility of the Home Office.
:08:33. > :08:36.It is always a pleasure to follow hurricane Angus. Mr Speaker, can I
:08:37. > :08:41.thank you for your generous indulgence in allowing me to appear
:08:42. > :08:46.at the box today in the absence of my honourable friend. I have been
:08:47. > :08:53.immersing myself in Scottish legislation and Irn-Bru for the last
:08:54. > :08:56.week. Can I tell the Secretary of State that many of us on this side
:08:57. > :09:01.would give our high teeth to have the powers contained in the Scotland
:09:02. > :09:06.act 2016. Does he build the apparent reluctance of the Scottish
:09:07. > :09:15.Government indicates a surfeit of modesty or is it, perhaps, a lack of
:09:16. > :09:18.ambition? I welcome the honourable gentleman to the dispatch box on
:09:19. > :09:22.behalf of the Labour Party at Scottish questions, although the one
:09:23. > :09:29.question I would have is, who next, because we have had a selection of
:09:30. > :09:32.individuals. What I would say to the honourable gentleman is these are
:09:33. > :09:37.very significant powers over tax and welfare and although today the
:09:38. > :09:40.Autumn Statement here in this House is a very important event, on the
:09:41. > :09:47.15th of December, we will see the Scottish budget for the first time,
:09:48. > :09:52.the Scottish Government able to raise income taxes at its will in
:09:53. > :09:56.relation to the Scottish budget, and that, I think, is a very significant
:09:57. > :10:05.moment in taking responsibility and accountability. Thank you, Mr
:10:06. > :10:10.Speaker. The Government will continue to provide an environment
:10:11. > :10:16.where as an evil everywhere can thrive. That means cutting red tape,
:10:17. > :10:20.keeping taxes low and improving access to finance. We are committed
:10:21. > :10:25.to ensuring the whole of the UK is a great place to start and grow the
:10:26. > :10:30.business. Mr Speaker, figures produced by the Scottish Government
:10:31. > :10:35.show that small businesses constitute over 50% of employment in
:10:36. > :10:41.Scotland. If the -- the economy suffers any kind of setback, and the
:10:42. > :10:45.Chancellor is projecting one, these will be hardest bit. Given that,
:10:46. > :10:46.what is the Chancellor doing to encourage their growth and support
:10:47. > :10:55.them? The UK economy is strong in spite of
:10:56. > :11:00.uncertainty, Scottish MPs are benefiting from nearly ?400 million
:11:01. > :11:03.of investment from the British business bank and innovate UK to
:11:04. > :11:12.help them grow, capitalise on new technologies and an new export
:11:13. > :11:18.markets. Does the Minister agree that if the UK market is for teams
:11:19. > :11:23.the size of the EU market for Scotland as a slow-down that it is
:11:24. > :11:26.clear why businesses say they do not want to talk of another independent
:11:27. > :11:30.referendum but instead want stability to strengthen the economy?
:11:31. > :11:36.I quite agree with my honourable friend. SMEs in Scotland trade four
:11:37. > :11:40.times as much in the single market of the United Kingdom and the do
:11:41. > :11:45.with the European Union. And indeed the trade more with market in the
:11:46. > :11:52.rest of the world and they do across the entire EU. One of the key thing
:11:53. > :11:55.is that the Scottish Government and the UK Government could do to take
:11:56. > :11:59.away uncertainty for SMEs and businesses across Scotland is to
:12:00. > :12:06.take off the table a second independent referendum. Something
:12:07. > :12:13.else the government could do is to conclude the Edinburgh city deal, so
:12:14. > :12:17.will the Scottish Secretary in -- meet with the Chancellor to make
:12:18. > :12:21.sure we hear that in the next few minutes? You like I share the
:12:22. > :12:26.Alderman's enthusiasm, we have to wait for another hour to you more
:12:27. > :12:29.detail on that. I could not agree with him or. The uncertainty in
:12:30. > :12:39.Scotland is coming far more from talk of another referendum that it
:12:40. > :12:43.is from the EU referendum outcome. Yesterday it was announced that over
:12:44. > :12:50.500 jobs in the tanning area in my constituency are under threat.
:12:51. > :12:54.Kwik-Fit insurance have announced plans to axe the entire Scottish
:12:55. > :12:58.operation and if these plans proceed it would be a devastating blow to
:12:59. > :13:02.the local community before Christmas. What assistance can the
:13:03. > :13:08.Secretary of State for Scotland provided for these constituents?
:13:09. > :13:12.Obviously this will be a very difficult time for the Kwik-Fit
:13:13. > :13:17.workforce and their families, particularly as the Alderman
:13:18. > :13:20.mentions in the run-up to Christmas. I understand Kwik-Fit are consulting
:13:21. > :13:26.on closure by the end of March next year and I hope the workers will be
:13:27. > :13:30.able to quickly move into alternative employment. The UK
:13:31. > :13:34.Government will assist with support from the job centre plus rapid
:13:35. > :13:41.reaction service, working also with North Lanarkshire Council to help
:13:42. > :13:46.all those being made redundant. Given the importance of the export
:13:47. > :13:49.to England from Scotland, what is my honourable friend's estimate of the
:13:50. > :13:54.number of jobs that are actually involved in this process? And
:13:55. > :13:57.doesn't that demonstrates the importance to Scotland in the
:13:58. > :14:06.economy of Scotland of staying in the United Kingdom? I would like to
:14:07. > :14:10.limit this specifically to SMEs, which I sure the honourable
:14:11. > :14:13.gentleman wanted to mention. The unemployed and great in Scotland is
:14:14. > :14:17.lower than that in the rest of the UK and SMEs benefit from this as
:14:18. > :14:24.much as any other business in Scotland. On the 12th of October in
:14:25. > :14:28.response to a question about the deal struck at Nissan the Secretary
:14:29. > :14:33.of State stood at the dispatch box and set and I quote, whatever
:14:34. > :14:36.support is put in place for businesses in the north-east of
:14:37. > :14:40.England will be put in place for Scotland. Is the Secretary of State
:14:41. > :14:45.or Minister willing to confirm that this is the case? And if you will
:14:46. > :14:54.she provide more detail? SMEs needs to know. My right honourable friend
:14:55. > :14:57.is exactly right in what he said about the Nissan deal, indeed that
:14:58. > :15:01.level of support will be available to Scottish businesses but after the
:15:02. > :15:06.detail right honourable gentleman will have to wait for another hour
:15:07. > :15:11.to hear the Autumn Statement. I am grateful especially for the
:15:12. > :15:13.promotion to the Privy Council. In welcoming the commitment and I'm
:15:14. > :15:17.sure SMEs and businesses from all sides will be reassured, but in view
:15:18. > :15:22.of the commitment they must have been an analysis of the cost. Will
:15:23. > :15:27.the Minister therefore inform the house of what assessment has been
:15:28. > :15:32.made of the cost of this? My right honourable friend will be making an
:15:33. > :15:44.assessment of the cost and benefits of all such deals on an ongoing
:15:45. > :15:47.basis. Mr Speaker, the Secretary of State for Scotland has had numerous
:15:48. > :15:52.discussions with me about the entry UK planetary allocations under the
:15:53. > :15:56.Common agricultural policy and I have had discussions on this issue
:15:57. > :15:59.with the National farmers union for Scotland, Scottish members of
:16:00. > :16:05.Parliament and the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for
:16:06. > :16:09.rural economy and connectivity. The convergence uplift is worth 230
:16:10. > :16:14.million euros, UK Government is that money that should be supporting
:16:15. > :16:21.Scotland's rural economy. Scotland's farmers deserve fairness. When will
:16:22. > :16:26.the Secretary of State for Scotland do something about this? Will he
:16:27. > :16:29.continue to do nothing? I simply say to the honourable gentleman we will
:16:30. > :16:33.be giving an update on the review of cat allocations before the end of
:16:34. > :16:36.this year but I would look -- I would also say that the context has
:16:37. > :16:41.changed fundamentally since the decision to leave the EU, some argue
:16:42. > :16:47.that the area based payments have never suited Scotland very well and
:16:48. > :16:50.indeed few in Scotland have previously laid -- raised concerns
:16:51. > :16:55.about payments going to large landowners and they have argued that
:16:56. > :17:00.we should direct support to farmers and producers of livestock. I will
:17:01. > :17:09.be working closely with NFU Scotland and the talented team of officials.
:17:10. > :17:13.In this session what we are really seeking in Scottish questions is the
:17:14. > :17:16.confirmation that the Scottish Secretary of State backs Scottish
:17:17. > :17:22.farmers and will get the promised money delivered. It is fantastic we
:17:23. > :17:28.have the farming minister here but we have had so far is no detail,
:17:29. > :17:36.just one word to coin the Secretary of State. Can we have the detail? I
:17:37. > :17:40.completely disagree with the honourable gentleman, as I made
:17:41. > :17:43.clear the Secretary of State for Scotland discusses this issue with
:17:44. > :17:47.me regularly, I am passionate about Scotland and discuss this issue with
:17:48. > :17:52.NFU Scotland from January onwards. We are working on joint agreements
:17:53. > :18:05.when it comes to post Brexit agricultural policy. Number six, Mr
:18:06. > :18:10.Speaker. My right honourable friend has held 60 meetings with well over
:18:11. > :18:15.100 Scottish organisations since the referendum to hear the views. In
:18:16. > :18:18.addition my right honourable friend the Business Secretary as net
:18:19. > :18:25.businesses in Aberdeen and the Trade Minister has met business leaders in
:18:26. > :18:29.Edinburgh. Will my honourable friend encourage Scottish businesses to
:18:30. > :18:34.seize opportunities of our new relationship with Europe? And the
:18:35. > :18:39.wider world, including of course my own constituency of mouth and
:18:40. > :18:46.Horncastle and will she urge the Scottish Government to support the
:18:47. > :18:53.businesses, stop moaning about referendums and get on with
:18:54. > :18:58.governing? I thank my honourable friend that I am happy to give that
:18:59. > :19:00.encouragement. The message that the UK Government has heard loud and
:19:01. > :19:05.clear is that businesses in Scotland want stability and not another
:19:06. > :19:11.divisive referendum. Talk of Independence is destructive and what
:19:12. > :19:26.people want now is the economic stability that can only be provided
:19:27. > :19:29.by Scotland remaining in the UK. Mr Speaker, in July the Secretary of
:19:30. > :19:33.State's party leader told the BBC I want to stay in the single market
:19:34. > :19:38.even if the consequence of that is remaining -- retaining free movement
:19:39. > :19:45.of labour. Ruth Davidson was 100% correct. In the Secretary of State
:19:46. > :19:50.explain the shoddy U-turn? No U-turn on that whatsoever, the UK
:19:51. > :19:53.Government will seek the best possible deal for all parts of the
:19:54. > :20:00.United Kingdom and that will include limits on free movement and the best
:20:01. > :20:07.possible access to and trade within the single market for British
:20:08. > :20:09.companies. The creative industries in Scotland are one of the most
:20:10. > :20:15.successful areas of Scottish business. There is real concern
:20:16. > :20:21.about the regulatory regime that off, preside over and its future
:20:22. > :20:24.relationship with the European Union and what that actually looks like.
:20:25. > :20:32.What discussions has she had concerning that regular Tory regime?
:20:33. > :20:35.My ministerial colleagues in the Department for Culture, Media and
:20:36. > :20:38.Sport will have had discussions and I will ask one of them to another
:20:39. > :20:46.five honourable member of the outcome of those discussions. Some
:20:47. > :20:49.of our most important exporting businesses are in the very
:20:50. > :20:53.successful food and drink sector, and they tell me that it is almost
:20:54. > :20:59.impossible for them to plan for the future until they know what access
:21:00. > :21:03.they will have two EU markets. Will the Minister ensure that their
:21:04. > :21:06.voices are heard in these negotiations as well as the big boys
:21:07. > :21:13.in financial services in the automotive industries? My right
:21:14. > :21:16.honourable friend, the gaffer Minister has regular meetings with
:21:17. > :21:22.the Scottish fishing industry and the agricultural sector and across
:21:23. > :21:25.government there are many discussions with the Scottish was
:21:26. > :21:29.the association about how they continued to build on the strengths
:21:30. > :21:37.of the exports beyond the EU as well as within the single market. During
:21:38. > :21:43.a live televised debate two days before Brexit vote, the Scottish
:21:44. > :21:47.Tory leader Ruth Davidson said that the EU provides a level playing
:21:48. > :21:52.field for small businesses and that if the UK were to leave the EU the
:21:53. > :21:57.rest of the EU would impose tariffs and taxes. And the Secretary of
:21:58. > :22:02.State please advise the house how many of the 1.2 million jobs
:22:03. > :22:07.provided by SMEs in Scotland he estimates to be at risk from these
:22:08. > :22:16.pallisades taxes once they come into place? As I have said, the
:22:17. > :22:19.government is committed to gaining the maximum access to the single
:22:20. > :22:26.market and trade within the single market for all British companies and
:22:27. > :22:31.that includes Scottish SMEs. There is far too much noise in the
:22:32. > :22:33.chamber. A number of very loud private conversations. Let's have
:22:34. > :22:44.some order for the very senior and respected member of the house of 33
:22:45. > :22:54.years standing, Sir David Amis. Question number seven Mr Speaker. My
:22:55. > :22:56.right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Scotland held
:22:57. > :23:00.round tables with the Scottish food and drink industry and -- in August
:23:01. > :23:03.and October and in addition my right honourable friend the Secretary of
:23:04. > :23:06.State for environment and rural affairs met with a range of food and
:23:07. > :23:12.drink businesses during her visit to Scotland this month. Will scotch
:23:13. > :23:15.whiskey -- with Scotch whiskey being the finest in the world in such a
:23:16. > :23:21.valuable export, with my honourable friend agree that as a result of the
:23:22. > :23:28.UK deciding to leave the EU there may be even further export
:23:29. > :23:31.opportunities? I very much agree with my honourable friend and the
:23:32. > :23:36.truth is that Scotch whiskey is a fantastic success story for this
:23:37. > :23:41.country with overseas sales worth 3.9 billion in 2015. Earlier this
:23:42. > :23:45.year I attended an event in Tokyo to promote great British drinks and
:23:46. > :23:58.this includes Scotch whiskey, which is particularly popular in Japan. Mr
:23:59. > :24:03.Speaker, I wondered if... I don't think the honourable lady realised
:24:04. > :24:09.the extent of her own popularity on the government benches! Does the
:24:10. > :24:12.second ferry of state for Scotland realise that the value of exports
:24:13. > :24:18.from the rest of UK to Scotland are worth more than 50 billion, that is
:24:19. > :24:22.more than Scotland exports to the rest of the latest kingdom, with the
:24:23. > :24:25.Secretary of State not agree that regardless of any constitutional
:24:26. > :24:29.arrangements that may come in the future, the Scotland rest of UK
:24:30. > :24:35.trading relationship is in -- is indeed an important one to both
:24:36. > :24:38.parts of the United Kingdom? I think the fact that the honourable lady
:24:39. > :24:42.highlights underlines the fact that the union that is really vital to
:24:43. > :24:51.this country is the United Kingdom, because we have very close trade
:24:52. > :24:54.between us. Number eight. Mr Speaker I have regular meetings with the
:24:55. > :25:01.Scottish Government ministers and I last met the Cabinet Secretary for
:25:02. > :25:07.financing constitution on the 21st of October. Both governments are
:25:08. > :25:09.committed to providing all necessary support for the Scottish Fiscal
:25:10. > :25:14.Commission and office of budget any responsibility. Does my right
:25:15. > :25:17.honourable friend agree that a core principle of stable accountable
:25:18. > :25:23.mature government must be that government should not fiddle
:25:24. > :25:29.forecasts but instead answer for its last -- its choices and listen to
:25:30. > :25:34.the people they govern? Mr Speaker I absolutely agree with my honourable
:25:35. > :25:38.friend and the transfer of income tax and welfare powers to the
:25:39. > :25:43.Scottish Parliament does just that. No longer will the SNP and Scottish
:25:44. > :25:45.Government simply be able to complain if they genuinely have
:25:46. > :25:51.ideas they will be able to do something about it and the people of
:25:52. > :25:52.Scotland will understand what the tax implications are. John
:25:53. > :26:04.Nicholson. Exports from the services sector
:26:05. > :26:09.could be cut by 60% of the UK was out of the single market. That would
:26:10. > :26:13.be a ?2.3 billion hit for Scotland. Given that, can he tell us why his
:26:14. > :26:16.Conservative colleagues in Hollywood voted against the Scottish
:26:17. > :26:26.Government's position to protect their position. I'm sure the
:26:27. > :26:30.Independent fiscal commission will have noted that my colleagues
:26:31. > :26:38.Conservative group in Hollywood voted against the SNP motion because
:26:39. > :26:40.we have absolutely no idea where the SNP stand in relation