Live Scotland Questions House of Commons

the recent budget to the European Union. Do not forget to join Alessio

McCarthy for a round-up at 11 o'clock tonight. First it is

questions to the Scottish Secretary, David Mundell.

The question is that the bill Rigby now considered. I think that the

Ayes have it, the Ayes have it. Questions to the Secretary of State

for Scotland. Antoinette Sandbach. Secretary of State for Scotland,

Secretary David Mundell. As the Prime Minister has said, at

the heart of the United Kingdom is the unity of our people, unity of

interests, Outlook and principles. This transcends politics and

institutions, the Constitution and the economy, it is about the values

that we share, our solidarity. I will never stop making the

passionate and positive case for our United Kingdom and look forward to

having the opportunity to do so during the forthcoming general

election. Antoinette Sandbach. While the Defence Secretary confirmed that

a ?1.7 billion investment in Scottish military bases, does my

right honourable friend agree that Scotland plays a crucial role in

defending my constituents in Eddisbury, the whole of the UK, from

growing threats at sea, in the air and Atlanta and that divisive

policies of the nationals threaten that crucial role?

I absolutely agree with my honourable friend, Scotland is on

the front line of defending the UK from these growing threats at sea,

in the air and online. It is the essential capabilities that we have

that help to do this and we have increased investment with better

infrastructure for our Armed Forces to help them keep the whole of the

UK say. Iain Murray. Given in the last quarter that this got this

economy contracted by zero point 2%, is it not time that we got of the

independents merry-go-round and the general election and got the Prime

Minister and the First Minister to both concentrate on what is

important and that is the economy of Scotland? Mr Speaker, I would give

the honourable gentleman more credibility with that statement and

he was not standing on the ticket of a leader who has said that he has no

problem with another independence referendum and clearly would do a

deal with the SNP to get the keys of Number Ten.

Will the Secretary of State confirm that Scotland's membership of the

single market of the UK is more important to Scotland than

membership of the single market of the European Union? Mr Speaker, my

honourable friend is correct and absolutely right to highlight that

the market for Scottish goods and services in the rest of the UK is

four times greater than the market in the EU, it is the vital union for

Scotland. Mr Speaker, in the last few years,

Ireland has leapfrogged the UK in terms of GDP growth. The oil fund is

920 billion. The equivalent figures for the UK are zero, zero and zero.

Does the Secretary of State not agree that Iceland and Ireland could

be matched by Scotland, what is he scared of? Mr Speaker, I well

remember when the SNP advocated the art of prosperity with Ireland,

Scotland and Iceland and I very, very much doubt that the people of

Scotland would want to endure the pain that the people of both Iceland

and Ireland have endured to ensure their economy is back on a stable

footing. Angus Robertson. At least all of us on this House can

agree that the greatest contribution from Scotland is to show that there

is actually an alternative and constructive policies to this UK

Tory government. It is worth remembering that in Scotland we have

free prescriptions, free eye tests and childcare, the university

tuition. We have scrapped bridge tolls, we opened railways, invested

in infrastructure, we are building more council houses than any UK

nation. That is what the SNP has delivered in government in Scotland.

Does he not agree that this stands in marked contrast to the Tory's

mismanagement and can -- disruption of public services south of the

border? Mr Speaker, what I see in my constituency is falling educational

standards, Scotland's once proud education system having the lowest

international ratings ever, what IT my constituents having increasing

waiting times for the health service and what I see them doing is dealing

with inadequate infrastructure. I do not believe that the SNP Government

in Scotland is focusing on the day job, they are focusing on their

independence obsession. Talking about doing the day job when you are

calling an early general election! Let us rest on a neutral observer,

not the research Officer of the Tory Party but the director of the

Institute of health and society and I quote his words, "Scotland is any

much stronger position than England with respect to both health social

care, the problem at the moment is that the English government is not

committed to a National Health Service." If this is not another

example that the real alternative to the Tory UK Government is the

Progressive policies of the SNP? Absolutely not, Mr Speaker, and I

look forward to debating these subjects over the next six weeks. I

think the Right honourable gentleman was very, very careful not to

mention education standards in Scotland. The latest international

figures demonstrate that education standards in Scotland are at their

lowest ever on record. I do not think that that is a proud record of

the Scottish Government and I look forward to holding it to account

over the next six weeks. Mr Speaker in our negotiations with

the EU we will seek the best deal for all parts of the UK.

The joint ministerial committee on EU negotiations was established to

facilitate engagement between the UK Government and devolved

administrations and has had regular substantive and constructive

discussions. I thank you for that answer. If he

is so keen and supportive of the JMC, why did they vote against the

statutory footing for the Brexit negotiations during the article for

the bill? Secondly, when was the last time a positive idea, I am sure

there are many from the devolved administrations, was taken on board

to form part of the Brexit negotiations to improve the exit

from the EU of the devolved nations? Mr Speaker, we have been very clear

that Scotland's place in Europe, a contribution of the Scottish

Government to the discussions, as has been constructive and its --

discussions from the Welsh Government and indeed from the

Northern Irish executive. We have set out many things that have formed

part of the White Paper, part of the Prime minister's speech and will be

part of the future discussions as we continue our negotiations over the

exit from the EU. This is not a really important issue about the

role played by machinery of government and helping hold together

the UK? Does my right honourable friend agree that a priority for the

new government should be to take a long, hard look at developing new

ways of working between ministers and civil servants across the

devolved administrations to strengthen our United Kingdom? Mr

Speaker, I absolutely agree with my right honourable friend. He has

considerable experience because despite what we here at these

questions, despite what we see in the media, actually, the UK

Government and devolved administrations are able on a range

of issues to work very closely and constructively together and that is

the element that we should be supporting and promoting. Pete

Wishart. Now is not the time is what the Prime Minister said to the

Scottish Parliament when Scotland wants to decide its own future with

Europe. But now is it time for the screeching U-turn in this

opportunistic general election. Do you also believe it is time for the

Scottish Government to reject this desire to drive Scotland over the

cliff edge for this hard Brexit? Mr Speaker, I acknowledge that the

honourable gentleman is an expert on screeching but what I would say to

him is that the proposal by the Prime Minister to have a general

election in six weeks' time to ensure certainty, clarity and

security for the period of the Brexit negotiations is quite

different from the proposal to have a disruptive referendum campaign

during the period of those negotiations.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Common commercial policy is for the UK to

pursue as we leave the EU, for example, an animal health and food

safety, are as essential to Scotland as they are the Somerset. How can

the JMC help ensure that they will be adopted?

Mr Speaker, I would certainly hope that the JMC will be involved in the

discussion of the repatriation of important powers from the EU to the

Scottish Parliament and the other devolved administrations, I

recognise more than anyone how important it is to have common

animal welfare arrangements. The main livestock market for my

constituency is one mile south of the Scottish border in England.

Scotland voted to remain in the EU and the single market but the

Scottish Government's paper that would have kept Scotland in the

single market and the UK was roundly ignored by the Tory UK Government

intent on pursuing a reckless hard Brexit. Can the Secretary of State

for Scotland tell us what personal action he took to convince the Prime

Minister to take account of the views of the people of Scotland and

can you provide an explanation for why he failed? Mr Speaker, I have

been quite clear that the place of Scotland and Europe did play an

important part in the government's thinking and just so the heckler

opposite are clear, the government has formally responded to the

Scottish Government in relation to the place of Scotland and

surprisingly the Scottish Government asked us not to publish our

response. In his assessment of the effectiveness of the Joint

Ministerial Council, did he show my conclusion that actually it could be

more effective of all parties were focusing on building a strong UK

after Brexit, not pursuing separatist agendas? Absolutely, Mr

Speaker. As we head into what will be unprecedented peacetime

negotiations with the EU, it is vital that all parts of the United

Kingdom pulled together to take a Team UK approach and by doing so we

will get the best possible deal for Scotland and the whole of the UK.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The JMC is supposed to be the platform for the

devolved administrations to have their voices not just heard what

responded to. The Secretary of State paint a rosy picture but the

Northern Ireland voice is not hurt, the Scottish boys is clearly being

ignored and the Welsh fuel at best less than impressed. When will this

government give this boy did it either needs, put in a statutory

footing to allow it to do its job properly -- Bourdy. The purpose of

the JMC is to bring together the UK Government and the devolved

administrations and to work together and vomiting our position as we go

forward in these negotiations. I very much regret the fact that the

Northern Ireland executive has not been able to be politically present

in recent times and that is something that we all want to see

brought to a conclusion, but these meetings have been robust and I

believe, certainly in terms of the actions that have flowed from them,

they have been constructive. An and you. With initial viral and

the questions for an age to get there. The UK and Scottish

Government continue to engage closely on the devolution of new tax

powers. The Scottish Government is now responsible was setting the

rates and threshold of income tax and it is incumbent of them to use

their powers to make Scotland an attractive place to live and work.

Thank you. Now that the Scottish Government is dot-mac has

unprecedented ballad to shake the economy of Scotland, will the call

on the SNP to solve economic growth rather than focusing on an

independence referendum? Mr Speaker, the shouts from the opposition

benches just highlight the complacency of the SNP in relation

to the Scottish economy. It is contracted by 2% in the fourth

quarter of 2016 compare to the UK economy which and grew by 7%. Now

the Scots can be proud of that comparison. Does my right old friend

agree that it is terrible that middle earners in Scotland are being

penalised by the Scottish Government, ?400 this year and up to

?1400 by 2021 compares to an England where we have higher tax threshold

to help hard-working families? By honourable friend is right to

highlight that point alone, while I might not like the plans to make

school on the highest taxed part of the UK, I do acknowledge it is a

matter for the Scottish Government. They will have to account for

themselves in relation to the taxation policies in the forthcoming

general election, that will highlight those issues. The average

band D council built in Scotland is almost ?400 although there than it

is in England. Will these discussions include how local

authorities in England provide local and national services while

maintaining the lowest council tax rates in the UK? -- will learn from

Scotland. The honourable lady may have spoken GPS NP press office, but

she certainly hasn't spoken to councils up and down Scotland who

are absolutely uniform in their negativity of the Scottish

Government's approach to the funding of local governments. Thank you very

much, Mr Speaker. As a last act of kindness and while he still has his

seat and his position, will he addressed the issue of closure of

the HM RC of this in my Livingston constituency threatening 1000 jobs

being moved to Edinburgh, cross-party politicians have written

to him, including his own party. He has ignored this. In his swansong,

will he come to Livingston and save those jobs? As the honourable lady

knows, I have set out clearly in correspondence with all of those who

have been in touch with me, the rationales for the move and the

change in the arrangements for HM RC. Many of which have been caused

by cross this house in terms of efficiency and effectiveness of HMRC

working. Nobody wants to see significant change in employment

patterns in their constituency. I commend your honourable lady for the

way she has pursued the issue. Mr Speaker, with your permission, I

will answer questions five and seven together. The UK governments's plan

for Britain seeks to help businesses across the UK to trade beyond Europe

and make Britain a leading advocate for free trade across the world.

Ministers have had meetings with several businesses across Scotland

since last summer's referendum and only last month, my honourable

friend, the Secretary of State for International Development was in

Glasgow to meet innovative Scottish businesses trading with the world. I

thank my honourable friend for that response. What steps is he taking to

support international trade and development in devolved nations? I

thank my honourable friend for that question. The Department for

International Trade is quite clear. We are a Department for the whole of

the United Kingdom. All of our services are accessible to companies

in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland, including the

great campaign, including our cause, gov.uk and we have had more of

investments coming into more parts of the United Kingdom are reviewed

recent months. Thank you. Good my honourable friend tell you how is

his view on the damage to Scottish business if Scotland left the United

Kingdom. -- Could. Well, my honourable friend has hit the nail

on the head. If Scotland were to leave the UK, the potential damage

to Scottish business and Scottish trade would be huge. The Scottish

Government's and figures showed that 64% of goods and services leaving

Scotland get into the UK, can purge to only 15% going to the rest of the

EU. 49.8 billion versus ?23 billion. Mr Speaker, Can the Minister tell us

what assessment he has made to the conservation of Scotland to the EU's

single market? I think the honourable gentleman is missing the

point. The point is surely the centrality and importance of the UK

single market. As we go forward from here. I will give him the figures

again. It is 49.8 billion going to the rest of the UK, only 12.3

billion going to the EU. It is clear that it is the union matters knows

the man that is the United Kingdom. The Secretary of State has

previously said he supports the European single market. They have

been part of that and it was clearly the best possible deal for Scotland.

I wonder if the Secretary of State determines constituents, will he now

stand on a manifesto to take Scotland out of that single market?

Well, the Prime Minister and the whole Government is absolutely clear

on this. Our objective is to secure a comprehensive free trade agreement

with the European Union as we leave the European Union. That will be any

better interests of all part of the UK, including Scotland. What

assessment has my honourable friend made of the opportunities for

increasing the export of whiskey across the world as part of a

free-trade agreement once we leave the European Union? The honourable

gentleman was acting at whiskey exports. That care the Minister. My

honourable friend raises a good point. Exports of whiskey reached

3.9 9,000,000,020 16. A big increase. Actually, Mr Speaker,

whiskey has been a part of quite a view of our trade missions, notably

the Secretary of State international trade and myself were in India, lead

to the Scotch Whisky Association and we have seen increased exports to

India. Mr Speaker, the former Prime Minister David Cameron promised he

would not resign if he lost the EU referendum. They renege on a promise

within Hallows. The current Prime Minister on seven occasions said she

would not call a general election. She renege on yesterday. Will you

renew a commitment given to ours on at least three occasions that,

whatever support is in place, businesses like Nissan, will be put

in place for Scotland? Mr Speaker, we have been absolutely clear that

our support for Nissan and indeed the rest of the automotive sector of

will be in during. That is the most important point and I'm sure it'll

be an important point of the general election campaign as they go forward

from there. I'm looking forward to the Conservatives being competitive

in the north-east in this coming general election and we look forward

to taking the fight to the official opposition there. The question was

whether he would we knew the promise given to Scotland to have the same

deal and, if you will, will you tell the people in the oil and gas supply

chain that the reports from the Robert Gordon University last week

that said Brexit would cost them ?200 million, that money will be

sorted, they will be looked after in the same way and this is prepared to

be, or will he make another promise? Mr Speaker, I'm glad he has raised

the question of oil and gas in Scotland.

CHEERING What I can say to him, Mr Speaker is

that I know he and I would agree that the one being that would be

most disastrous for the Scottish economy, including the oil and gas

sector, would be seeing Scottish separation leading to an overnight

budget deficit of around 9% of GDP. That would be a disaster. Mr

Speaker, with commission, I would -- permission, I will answer questions

nine, ten and 11 together. Cells from Scotland's US and UK with

nearly ?50 billion, a figure increased by a loss by 2002 and

values the export of Scotland to the EU. There is no doubt that the

United Kingdom is the vital union for Scotland. But my honourable

friend agree that the best deal for Scotland is to stay part of the

United Kingdom and to work with the UK governments to do all it can to

support a new free-trade agreement for the EU? Mr Speaker, I absolutely

agree with my honourable friend. Mr Speaker, the IMF predicted dire

consequences for the UK economy if we voted Brexit. They have raided

the growth yesterday for the second time in three months to 2%. Much of

the confident about the growth in UK economy is deserved by Alan

leadership of our Prime Minister. That they agree with me that when

people to buy British and the British as a quality mark... -- our.

Deeply obliged. Yes. Thank you, my constituents have a long and proud

to tradition in the textile industry, many of whom trade with

all part of the United Kingdom. How will these companies in my

constituency be helped by Scotland leaving the hugely successful UK

single market? Obviously, they won't. As the honourable gentleman

will now, in 2015, Scotland exported 49.8 billion to the rest of the UK.

Four times more than that which is exported to the EU and three times

greater than sales to the rest of the world. The benefits to Scotland

are full access to the UK market are Claire. Does my honourable friend

agree that Scottish representation in this Parliament must focus on

what benefits the whole of the UK single market. Absolutely. That is

why I can confirm to my honourable friend that when Bruce Davis and the

Scottish in-service care into the general election, it will be on the

bases of keeping Scotland because my United Kingdom. That when Bruce

Davidson. -- Ruth Davidson. 40% of exports go to the US where is only

63% go to the UK. Canada is a successful independent country. But

the Secretary of State agree that the inaction neighbouring countries

can have trading relations while maintaining sovereignty? Of course

countries can have close... Close trading relationships but what

Scotland benefits from being part of the United Kingdom is in their

barriers in trade, freedom of movement between Scotland and the

rest of the UK, that is good for Scottish business and she should

support it. Scottish exports of food and drink doubled in the past ten

years. James Withers, the chief executive Scott on food and drink

said he was afraid he consequences of leaving the European Union, not

having a trade deal and tariffs. Willie Secretary of State guarantee

the Scottish food and drink sector will not have to deal with that is

your tariffs? -- if you. Their greatest concern is that the SNP

would seek to drag Scotland out of the United Kingdom.

Will he be honest with their constituents and if you eat time, do

they support they in single market are evading with an MP who wants to

go with a damaging hard Brexit. What sizes and followed due when I can

get my constituency in the next general election is knowing exactly

what the position is on the EU. Arlene Foster taking Scotland back

into the EU are they not? I hope we will find out in the next six weeks.

Finally and briefly, Martin Doherty queues. The Tory strategy worked a

treat against the Liberal Democrats, the south-west of England at the

last general election. Is it the same strategy that the Secretary of

State will be urging his colleagues to export in the coming election to

Scotland? Group Davidson has already made it clear that her stands fully

to stand up for Scotland's membership of the United Kingdom and

against a device of second independence