:00:00. > :00:00.appropriation, brackets, Main Estimates, close brackets, act 2017.
:00:00. > :00:09.Motion for an unopposed return. Thank you. Questions to the
:00:10. > :00:16.Secretary of State for Scotland, Mr Angus Brendan MacNeil. Mr one Byrne
:00:17. > :00:24.number one, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, I am sure you will graduate me in
:00:25. > :00:28.congratulating Jamie Murray and Gordon Reid to once again ensuring
:00:29. > :00:34.we had Scottish champions at Wimbledon, where your enthusiasm for
:00:35. > :00:38.tennis was once again in evidence. Mr Speaker, the Barnett Formula
:00:39. > :00:41.applies to changes in UK Government funding and will not be impacted by
:00:42. > :00:48.Scottish Government decisions on public sector pay. Mr Speaker, his
:00:49. > :00:56.constituents and mine have benefited from the SNP, ending the public
:00:57. > :01:00.sector pay cap. The SNP voted to help public sector workers in
:01:01. > :01:05.England and across the UK by voting to end that public sector pay cap
:01:06. > :01:11.too, however Scottish Tory MPs voted against helping workers in England.
:01:12. > :01:15.Given that the S are helping workers in his constituency and
:01:16. > :01:19.mine, are he and his colleagues not ashamed of voting not to remove the
:01:20. > :01:24.public sector pay cap in England to help those workers? What has he got
:01:25. > :01:32.against English workers? Mr Speaker, you wouldn't think from that
:01:33. > :01:36.question that since 2007, the SNP government in Scotland has been
:01:37. > :01:45.responsible for public sector pay, during most of which a public sector
:01:46. > :01:53.pay cap has applied. As far as I am aware, the SMT government have not
:01:54. > :01:54.lifted the public pay freeze in Scotland. They have announced a
:01:55. > :02:14.cultivation. Tommy Sheppard. Thank you Mr
:02:15. > :02:17.Speaker, might I just place on record the Scottish women's football
:02:18. > :02:22.team, to wish them best in their endeavours. I don't think the
:02:23. > :02:27.Secretary of State fully appreciates the sense of grievance in
:02:28. > :02:34.hard-working public sector workers in Scotland at the pay gap. -- pay
:02:35. > :02:41.cap. Will he argue within the United Kingdom government of the same
:02:42. > :02:45.policy? Can I first welcomed the honourable gentleman to his new
:02:46. > :02:48.place, although when the new SNP leader here at Westminster said he
:02:49. > :02:52.was reluctant, I didn't realise he would be reluctant to do Scottish
:02:53. > :03:04.questions and downgrade Scottish questions. I am quite clear, Mr
:03:05. > :03:08.Speaker, on this issue, that hard decisions have to be taken in the
:03:09. > :03:13.sector pay. And if the Scottish Government in their responsibilities
:03:14. > :03:16.are saying that they are going to increase public sector pay, they
:03:17. > :03:29.have got to identify where those funds are coming from. Mr Speaker, I
:03:30. > :03:32.thank the Secretary of State for his kind words... LAUGHTER
:03:33. > :03:37.He and I will get on a lot better in this process if he does move the
:03:38. > :03:42.courtesy of answering the question. I asked him to state his intention
:03:43. > :03:45.to argue within cabinet and the British government to end the pay
:03:46. > :03:49.cap in Scotland so that workers in Scotland in the public sector will
:03:50. > :03:54.get the same rate of pay for the job whether they work for the Scottish
:03:55. > :03:58.Government for his government. Mr Speaker I think I did answer the
:03:59. > :04:04.honourable gentleman's question, I think the government has struck the
:04:05. > :04:08.right balance, in terms of pay, and ensuring continued employment, and
:04:09. > :04:11.we see that in Scotland with the lowest unemployment figures on
:04:12. > :04:17.record. It is better that more people are in work in the public
:04:18. > :04:26.sector than we had changed the public sector pay cap in previous
:04:27. > :04:29.years. Lesley Laird. First of all, I would just like to add my best
:04:30. > :04:35.wishes to the Scottish women's football team for the night. I would
:04:36. > :04:39.also like to congratulate our tennis players for a wonderful tournament.
:04:40. > :04:43.I think it is a pity, however, that the SNP have bounced Labour's
:04:44. > :04:52.proposal on lifting the public sector pay cap in November. At my
:04:53. > :04:57.question to the secretary of state is, can you tell me what assessment
:04:58. > :05:04.has been made of the government's pay cap on the living standards of
:05:05. > :05:08.public sector workers in Scotland? And does he share the view of the
:05:09. > :05:13.Chancellor, who reported recently that public sector pay workers are
:05:14. > :05:19.overpaid? Mr Speaker, can I begin by welcoming the honourable lady to her
:05:20. > :05:23.place, and congratulate her on her success in the election. I also pay
:05:24. > :05:27.my best wishes to herb predecessor, Dave Anderson, who was one of the
:05:28. > :05:31.members who voluntarily left this Parliament at the last election, and
:05:32. > :05:35.of course, as I should have, in relation to the honourable member's
:05:36. > :05:41.question, I do pass on my best wishes to the Scottish women's
:05:42. > :05:46.football team. I agree with the Chancellor on the basis that we have
:05:47. > :05:51.struck the right balance in public sector pay, in terms of being able
:05:52. > :05:57.to ensure that 200,000 public sector jobs were able to be maintained in
:05:58. > :06:04.this period difficult fiscal conditions. I thank the Secretary of
:06:05. > :06:09.State for that answer, but what is very clear here is that the
:06:10. > :06:17.government on this issue isn't complete disarray. Very much like
:06:18. > :06:26.the SNP, who claimed they will abandon the public sector, despite
:06:27. > :06:33.voting it down by a proposal in May. Is it not the case that public
:06:34. > :06:39.sector workers in Scotland are being let down by two weak and wobbly
:06:40. > :06:45.governments, both with the wrong priorities, and that only a Labour
:06:46. > :06:53.government has the policies and the political will to lift the public
:06:54. > :06:59.sector pay cap, Van austerity and stand up for public sector workers
:07:00. > :07:03.and stand up for Scotland? Mr Speaker, whilst I might be tempted
:07:04. > :07:10.to agree with the honourable lady's comments on the SNP Scottish
:07:11. > :07:13.Government, the position with Labour is absolutely clear, in that no
:07:14. > :07:17.funds have been identified to increase public sector pay the stop
:07:18. > :07:22.the IFF has made it very clear that if you want to make a real
:07:23. > :07:25.difference on public sector pay, you have to do something that hits
:07:26. > :07:29.everybody, which puts a penny or two on the rates of income tax or VAT or
:07:30. > :07:37.something like that, you can't make a big difference just taxing the
:07:38. > :07:41.rich. So the Labour Party in Scotland, here in Westminster, they
:07:42. > :07:43.have the sound bites but they don't have the ability to deliver what
:07:44. > :07:55.they are promising. I would like to answer questions
:07:56. > :07:58.two, four, six and 15 together. We would continue to provide excellent
:07:59. > :08:02.support to those seeking work and those who cannot work through a
:08:03. > :08:15.network of offices which are modern, accessible and meet requirements. As
:08:16. > :08:22.yet, no quality impact has been published, can the government said
:08:23. > :08:26.when it is planning to? In making these decisions, the apartment has
:08:27. > :08:38.fulfilled our duties under the equality act and pay Djourou guard
:08:39. > :08:43.to the impact of proposals. Given that government cuts to social
:08:44. > :08:48.security and sanctions for low-paid workers are due to increase demands
:08:49. > :08:55.for job centres, does the Minister agree with me it is reckless and
:08:56. > :08:58.perverse to close them down? Mr Speaker, I would like to reassure
:08:59. > :09:01.the honourable gentleman that of course in looking forward to the
:09:02. > :09:05.needs we will have on the future, of course we plan for the expected
:09:06. > :09:08.demand on job centres and of course allow for some contingency in that.
:09:09. > :09:13.I would like to reassure him the rate of sanctions has been coming
:09:14. > :09:17.down. As we are in Scottish questions, particularly relative to
:09:18. > :09:22.note that the sanction for Scotland is lower than it is in the rest of
:09:23. > :09:25.the UK. May I ask the Minister if he and his colleagues will consider the
:09:26. > :09:31.term in which the access fares allowance will be paid to members of
:09:32. > :09:35.the DWP across Scotland? They now must forcefully move office. The
:09:36. > :09:41.department has refused to use their discretion to pave the EFA for five
:09:42. > :09:43.years, and will only cover staff for three years, which contrasts with
:09:44. > :09:49.the previous decisions made by the department. Mr Speaker, we do think
:09:50. > :09:52.we have a fair and reasonable approach to relocation. Of course we
:09:53. > :09:57.are seeing some staff to move their office and we try to do every thing
:09:58. > :10:01.we can to facilitate that. Part of that is providing the access fares
:10:02. > :10:05.policy that he mentions, which is greater in its extent than in many
:10:06. > :10:12.other organisations, and we do think it is a reasonable approach. Sandy
:10:13. > :10:18.Martin. The Minister says that there is a lower level of sanctions in
:10:19. > :10:22.Scotland. However, if a substantial number of the job centres are
:10:23. > :10:25.closed, will it not make journey times and routes more complicated,
:10:26. > :10:29.leading to an increase in mist apartment and an increase in
:10:30. > :10:34.sanctions? What mitigating factors will Hill deal with in order to ring
:10:35. > :10:37.deal with that? Missing an apartment or being late for an apartment
:10:38. > :10:41.doesn't automatically result in a sanction. We expect people to make
:10:42. > :10:46.reasonable efforts to make it to appointments. And, as I said before,
:10:47. > :10:50.the rate of sanctions has been coming down, but we do expect people
:10:51. > :10:54.to have time available, the entire working week available, to be
:10:55. > :10:57.seeking work, that involves going to job interviews, and also involves
:10:58. > :11:01.having time available to visit the job centre. If you are an
:11:02. > :11:06.able-bodied person without children, that would be up to 35 hours a week,
:11:07. > :11:11.if you have caring responsibilities, correspondingly less time available.
:11:12. > :11:20.Can the Minister reforms to the -- and the Minister confirm reforms to
:11:21. > :11:28.the DWP will not be to a reduction in front line staff? I can get that
:11:29. > :11:31.the sugars and every part of the UK, including Scotland, we are looking
:11:32. > :11:47.to increase the number front line staff -- I can give that assurance.
:11:48. > :11:53.We will move on. It is clear the Minister has put no
:11:54. > :11:58.convincing assurance about the maintenance of access to job centre
:11:59. > :12:02.facilities in Glasgow and Scotland. We have only seen a commitment to
:12:03. > :12:06.cut the number of job centres in Glasgow by six in areas where
:12:07. > :12:12.unemployment is twice the national average and were 35% of people
:12:13. > :12:16.cannot access IT facilities. There is a clear issue about the vision of
:12:17. > :12:24.footprint and we have seen the citizens advice bureau offering a
:12:25. > :12:29.service with community hops and council services. As the minister
:12:30. > :12:33.giving conservative -- given consideration to those mitigating
:12:34. > :12:38.factors or is it merely a cost of effort to abandon unemployed people
:12:39. > :12:45.making it harder to access the services? We do look at
:12:46. > :12:50.opportunities to Colgate or services with other public sector services
:12:51. > :12:54.and third sector services and continue to look at those
:12:55. > :12:58.opportunities -- co-locate. Specifically in job centres where we
:12:59. > :13:02.are moving more than three miles and 20 minutes we're looking at new
:13:03. > :13:08.outreach facilities or I would also like to mention in Glasgow claimant
:13:09. > :13:15.count for unemployment has gone down by 42% since 2010.
:13:16. > :13:24.I was not actually standing, Mr Speaker. Self-awareness is quite an
:13:25. > :13:29.important quality in the house. With the honourable lady -- at the
:13:30. > :13:34.honourable lady does not wish to participate it is quite all right.
:13:35. > :13:39.Number three. With permission I will answer three,
:13:40. > :13:44.five and 12 together. I hold regular discussions with my Cabinet
:13:45. > :13:46.colleagues on a range of matters and the Scottish Government is
:13:47. > :13:53.responsible for Scottish Government pay.
:13:54. > :13:55.I would like to give the Secretary of State for the opportunity to
:13:56. > :13:59.clarify his view on the reported comments of the Chancellor at the
:14:00. > :14:06.weekend. Does he agree public sector workers are overpaid?
:14:07. > :14:10.I think the honourable gentleman would have seen what the Chancellor
:14:11. > :14:14.said on Sunday, he said there are areas in the public servers with
:14:15. > :14:18.recruitment and retention is becoming an issue and areas where
:14:19. > :14:22.public sector wages and private wages are getting out of kilter and
:14:23. > :14:27.the other direction and it is important we have discussion on
:14:28. > :14:30.those issues. Yesterday in this chamber the
:14:31. > :14:35.Treasury minister declined to answer the question on the grounds it was
:14:36. > :14:39.way above his pay grade. Should we not be grateful to our public sector
:14:40. > :14:44.workers they do not take this attitude and isn't that high time
:14:45. > :14:51.they got the pay rise they deserve? I freely acknowledge the
:14:52. > :14:58.contribution public sector workers make here and in particular in
:14:59. > :15:01.Scotland and also across the UK and of course we will carefully listen
:15:02. > :15:09.when the pay boards, forward with their recommendations.
:15:10. > :15:12.66% of public sector workers in Wales and other devolved countries
:15:13. > :15:16.are women and I suspect that is higher in Scotland. In light of this
:15:17. > :15:20.is the Secretary of State agree the public sector pay gap is not
:15:21. > :15:25.fundamentally unsustainable and it's not only in living standards of
:15:26. > :15:32.women and families but also damaging the economy.
:15:33. > :15:37.-- eroding standards. We are all concerned with the gender pay gap
:15:38. > :15:43.and figures released within the last hour by a public sector organisation
:15:44. > :15:49.would suggest there are a very significant gender pay gap issues at
:15:50. > :15:54.the BBC. I set out previously my position, it is for the Scottish
:15:55. > :15:56.Government to determine pay in relation to Scottish Government
:15:57. > :16:04.employees and the Government position has also been set out.
:16:05. > :16:10.Number seven, Mr Speaker. It is perhaps remiss of me not to
:16:11. > :16:12.welcome new members to this house from Scotland and elsewhere,
:16:13. > :16:17.particularly when answering questions from one of the potential
:16:18. > :16:22.Scottish fathers of the house. Since the vote to leave the EU last year I
:16:23. > :16:26.spoke regularly with the Scottish fishermen 's Federation and most
:16:27. > :16:32.recently met with them in Peterhead on the 16th of June. I emphasise to
:16:33. > :16:36.them we will take Scotland out of the field common fisheries policy
:16:37. > :16:42.and extend control of our waters up to 200 nautical miles or the median
:16:43. > :16:51.line with nearby coastal states. I hope he will join me in welcoming
:16:52. > :16:56.to the news the MSC credits North Sea cod again as sustainable. The
:16:57. > :17:01.recovery programme for cod sorts of the best and worst examples of
:17:02. > :17:04.fisheries management. The best were those measures that came from the
:17:05. > :17:10.industry and had credibility with the industry. They would at the cod
:17:11. > :17:18.recovery programme and take the best examples of fishery management to
:17:19. > :17:23.inform future policy? I absolutely welcome the announcement in relation
:17:24. > :17:28.to cod can come from we will indeed look to the industry to help shape
:17:29. > :17:32.the future of that industry. One thing is clear, this Government will
:17:33. > :17:38.take Scotland and the UK out of the painted common fisheries policy but
:17:39. > :17:43.the SNP would take us right back in -- the hated common fisheries
:17:44. > :17:47.policy. Well the whole Scottish fishing
:17:48. > :17:51.industry, processors and catchers included, have the opportunity to be
:17:52. > :17:58.represented in the design of a new fisheries policy?
:17:59. > :18:04.I very much welcome my honourable friend to this house, as the MP for
:18:05. > :18:08.one of the most important fishing constituencies in the UK, where he
:18:09. > :18:13.will be a strong advocate. As he knows I have the opportunity when I
:18:14. > :18:20.visited Peterhead to meet processors and I take on-board fully the
:18:21. > :18:26.important in shaping the industry outside the common fisheries policy.
:18:27. > :18:30.News has reached Westminster this secretary of state has a new deputy
:18:31. > :18:37.in the House of Lords. Will he instruct his deputy to procure a
:18:38. > :18:42.copy of the Brexit and devilish and report the House of Lords yesterday
:18:43. > :18:46.published stating any event the Government does not secure a UK wide
:18:47. > :18:53.agreement that adequately reflect Scotland's specific needs, including
:18:54. > :18:55.fishing, there is a strong political and economic case for making
:18:56. > :19:03.preferential agreements for Scotland. -- differential agreements
:19:04. > :19:08.for Scotland. I hope you'll forgive me for
:19:09. > :19:16.laughing when I hear the SNP stand up in this chamber and extol the
:19:17. > :19:22.House of Lords, which on other occasion they are condemning. The
:19:23. > :19:31.reference... Mr Doherty Hughes, despite the fact you are behind the
:19:32. > :19:35.face of Mr Callan, I can tell what you are up to. You are behaving in
:19:36. > :19:42.your usual outlanders manner from which I hope you will now desist.
:19:43. > :19:46.There will be no need for the provision to which he makes
:19:47. > :19:49.reference in any event. This United Kingdom Government will deliver a
:19:50. > :19:58.good deal on Brexit for Scotland and the whole of the UK.
:19:59. > :20:02.Number eight. DWP officials regularly engage with
:20:03. > :20:05.local authorities and this can include exploring opportunities to
:20:06. > :20:08.share accommodation. We are introducing 14 new such
:20:09. > :20:14.arrangements, three in Scotland, which can bring benefits for
:20:15. > :20:17.customers and colleagues and the taxpayer and we shall explore more
:20:18. > :20:21.opportunities. Kevin Hugel" in number of job
:20:22. > :20:25.centres in the city does he not think he should at least sit down
:20:26. > :20:30.with Glasgow City Council, who are concerned, and organisations like
:20:31. > :20:35.SAMH and and others will have to pick up the slack of this in
:20:36. > :20:41.supporting people into work. The needs to have this discussion.
:20:42. > :20:44.We will continue to work with local authorities and third sector
:20:45. > :20:50.organisations but I must remind them before this changes the city of
:20:51. > :20:55.Glasgow had the greatest number of job centres opened last city in the
:20:56. > :20:59.UK and after these changes it will still have the greatest coverage of
:21:00. > :21:03.job centres of any large city in the UK. Whilst he is having discussions
:21:04. > :21:07.with the city of Glasgow council can he pick up the phone to the city of
:21:08. > :21:13.Edinburgh Council and explain why he can find ?1.5 billion for the DUP
:21:14. > :21:19.but not a solitary opponent for the Edinburgh city region deals?
:21:20. > :21:29.-- solitary penny. I am told he may have excitement coming soon.
:21:30. > :21:33.Number nine. With permission I will answer questions at nine, 11 and 14
:21:34. > :21:38.together. Like previous Northern Ireland support packages, and city
:21:39. > :21:41.deals in Scotland and Wales this funding is targeted intervention to
:21:42. > :21:46.address a specific set of unique challenges. As was the case for
:21:47. > :21:49.those previous interventions, this exceptional funding will be made
:21:50. > :21:54.outside of the normal ongoing Barnett funding system. There is
:21:55. > :22:01.excessive noise at the chamber. I know at least one teacher is in the
:22:02. > :22:04.precinct of the Palace of observing our proceedings and I think she
:22:05. > :22:09.would want there to be a seemly atmosphere.
:22:10. > :22:13.The running total given by the UK Government to city deals in Scotland
:22:14. > :22:18.since 2014 is already dwarfed by the sun is given about local government
:22:19. > :22:23.and the Scottish Government. If ?1.5 billion can be found for the DUP
:22:24. > :22:27.deal to all together this Government when will he find money for the Tay
:22:28. > :22:34.city 's deal, and the Perth deal as well.
:22:35. > :22:38.Mr Speaker, I am surprised at the honourable lady's tone because this
:22:39. > :22:44.Government has committed to deliver city deals across Scotland, there
:22:45. > :22:52.will evidently be some exciting news in relation to Edinburgh and I would
:22:53. > :22:57.have thought she would have welcomed that, rather than simply
:22:58. > :23:01.politicking. I would also like to put on record
:23:02. > :23:06.my best wishes everyone in these benches for the football team and I
:23:07. > :23:10.am wearing the colours, I hope you do not mind. At least to play
:23:11. > :23:14.alongside two of the National players at university, there
:23:15. > :23:18.football career has obviously done better than mine. Livingston in West
:23:19. > :23:23.Lothian and a low proportion of public sector jobs in Scotland, the
:23:24. > :23:32.private sector is strong, what with the loss of picture Marci jobs --
:23:33. > :23:36.Hitchin Marci jobs, wealthy come to my constituency and face up to the
:23:37. > :23:40.reality of those job closers or at least received a delegation, as is
:23:41. > :23:47.his duty as Secretary of State? I would be very happy to meet with
:23:48. > :23:50.the honourable lady. May I remind the Secretary of State
:23:51. > :23:55.of his own words, he would not agree to anything that could be construed
:23:56. > :23:58.as back door funding to Northern Ireland. As Scotland's
:23:59. > :24:01.representative in the Cabinet to be expected to fight for fiscal
:24:02. > :24:06.fairness for Scotland and not be short-changed. Did he provide any
:24:07. > :24:13.representations to the Prime Minister before or after the deal
:24:14. > :24:17.was signed's I take my responsibilities for fighting for
:24:18. > :24:21.Scotland's fiscal priorities very seriously and that is why two years
:24:22. > :24:26.ago when the honourable gentleman was walking through the lobbies to
:24:27. > :24:29.deliver full fiscal freedom and a 9 billion black hole to Scotland, I
:24:30. > :24:37.was voting to keep the Barnett Formula.
:24:38. > :24:43.An right honourable friend update the house on the benefits the. East
:24:44. > :24:50.of Scotland what the UK Government's Aberdeen City Deal and does he share
:24:51. > :24:54.my concern about the delay in the SMB improving journey times between
:24:55. > :25:02.Aberdeen and the Central belt -- delay in the SMP.
:25:03. > :25:07.Can I welcome my friends back to his place and he, as a noted council in
:25:08. > :25:11.Aberdeen, played a significant role in bringing together that Aberdeen
:25:12. > :25:15.city region deal which has been such a boost to the north-east of
:25:16. > :25:20.Scotland will stop I am disappointed to hear what he says about the
:25:21. > :25:26.actions of the SNP Government but, sadly, not surprised.
:25:27. > :25:30.The Secretary of State could not be clearer, I am not going to agree to
:25:31. > :25:35.anything that could be construed as back door funding to Northern
:25:36. > :25:39.Ireland. This is not just back door, this is locked away in secure
:25:40. > :25:44.accommodation. Can he detail in full what representations he made to the
:25:45. > :25:53.Prime Minister and did he offer any objections?
:25:54. > :25:57.On the 8th of June the people of Scotland delivered their verdict as
:25:58. > :26:01.to which party in this house stands up for Scotland and Scotland's
:26:02. > :26:06.financial arrangements. Scottish Conservatives 12 additional MPs,
:26:07. > :26:07.Scottish National Party, 21