Live Scotland Questions House of Commons

elderly care, and what critics

called the men check tax. --

dementia tax. Do join me for a

round-up later in the day but first

we have questions to the Scottish

Secretary, David Mundell.

Some into neighbouring officers to

create bigger multi-skilled teams,

moving into better buildings are

placing them into shared local

authority space, all of which can

lead to better customer service.

Liz Twist.

In Glasgow unemployment has

consistently been higher than the

national average and child poverty

is writing and the use of the bank

has increased 20% in the past two

years. How can the Secretary of

State just by closing so many job

centres which provide vital support

to people struggling to access the

Labour market?

Mr Speaker, I can confirm that

Glasgow will continue to have a

significantly higher concentration

of job centres, not only then large

cities in England, but also actually

compared to most other large cities

in Scotland. We have redesigned the

estate, making sure we can provide

well for our client based, but from

bigger job centres. There are a

number of things you could do to

help people who are an implied from

larger job centres which is not as

easy from smaller ones.

Mr Speaker, Bridgeton job centre in

my constituency will close of people

will have to take two buses to get

to Shettleston. Bobby Minister give

a commitment here that not one

single one of my constituents will

be sanctioned for being late because

they could not get there on time

because of its cuts?

Mr Speaker, we expect people who are

not in work to have the working week

effectively available for their job

search activities, including

visiting the job centre and applying

for jobs. But I can tell the

honourable lady as she knows

already, I think, that the rate of

sanctions is down significantly. The

vast majority of people do not get

sanctioned every month and we run a

policy of having a reasonable

approach that the people had a good

reason for not being at an

appointment than they would not be

sanctioned.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The DWP claim

that the need for job centres is

declining and the growth of online

services is because. But any

constituency of Glasgow East, which

is one of the highest claimant rates

in Scotland at around 35%, they do

not have access to the internet and

51% are not IT literate. Yet the

Government is still closing three

job centres, one of which services

three homeless shelters. What

assessment has he made of the impact

of these closures on service users,

many of them are reliant on

face-to-face interaction with job

centre staff?

Mr Speaker, we did make an

assessment of what effect these

changes would have and where the

changes would involve people

travelling more than three miles and

20 minutes by public transport we

had a public consultation, in one

case to the public consultation, as

the honourable gentleman knows, we

changed that plan. We think it is

correct to move to larger job

centres in which you can do more and

benefit better, better equipped with

computers to make sure there is that

facility there, and also that are

people there who are specialists in

the job centre to help those people

with computers to get to the

problems of initial exclusion she

mentions.

I would like to thank the Minister

for that answer, but I am afraid it

is not convincing and not

particularly reassuring. He knows

full well that equality impact

assessments have in fact been

conducted because it was in a

response to my letter that the

honourable David Mundell gave me

that response. However, what he also

said in that letter was that if I

wanted to access those information

is, I needed to put in individual

freedom of information requests for

every single job centre. Mr Speaker,

this is outrageous that this is a

Government covering up this vital

information.

Hear, hear.

This Government claims to value

openness, transparency, but refuses

to publish information that should

be freely available, no matter how

much it shames the Government. Mr

Speaker, I have an FOIA request

here.

Order, order. I am sorry, I need a

single sentence and it? At the end

of it. A lot of pressure. Very

quickly.

My question is this, I will give you

one more chance to publish the

information, but otherwise, here is

my freedom of information request,

thank you very much.

Mr Speaker,...

It is not just a document but a way

of thinking and working, and

equalities assessment. It goes

throughout these processes and can

confirm have been compliant

absolutely with our duties as we

should do under the equalities act.

Patrick Grady.

Question number two.

With permission, I will answer

questions two, eight, ten and 15

together. We are in agreement with

the devolved administrations that

common frameworks will be necessary

in some areas, but remain clear we

have been expecting obey significant

increase in the decision-making

however of each devolved

administration.

The question includes number 40

rather than number 15. Patrick

Grady.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. We had this

all the time, this power is bonanza

coming, but the premonition was

unable to tell us on Monday and it

seems he was unable to tell the

Scottish Affairs Committee

yesterday, so let's give him another

opportunity. Canny Secretary of

State name one power that will

definitely come to the studies

Parliament as a result of Brexit? --

can you Secretary of State name one

power?

We have repeatedly from the benches

opposite about engagement with the

Scottish Government, and this

engagement will be with the Scottish

Government. That is where the

discussions are going on in relation

to the transfer of powers. But I am

absolutely certain that at the end

of this process the Scottish

Parliament will have more powers and

responsibilities than it does right

now.

David Linden!

Amongst the glove of that answer

there was no substance to it --

amongst the fluff. May I add the

secretary what new powers will be

coming to Holyrood?

Mr Speaker, I think the honourable

gentleman would have seen a list of

111 powers and...

Mr Linden, you are a most over

excitable individual. I understand

your interest, but the question has

been put, whether you like... Order.

No need for excessive gesticulation.

Whether you like the answer or not

you must pay the respect of hearing

it, preferably with courtesy.

This is about grandstanding and not

about the subject... It is not about

the substantive issue of ensuring a

transfer of very significant powers

from the 111 powers that were listed

to the Scottish Parliament. I

believe in evolution and I am

committed to devolution and I want

to see the maximum number of powers

transferred. The Scottish National

Power don't believe in evolution. --

the Scottish National Party don't

believe in devolution.

Can I ask him to name one power that

is coming, and if they are

struggling may suggest he might want

to consider immigration so he can

tackle things about the skills and

immigration act which will be

causing a skills shortage in

damaging the economy in my

constituency?

I give a definitive and on the last

part of his question. Immigration is

not being devolved to Scotland. The

Smith commission process identified

those areas of responsibility to the

devolution process and immigration

was not one of those. The SNP

accepted that the commission report

and on the basis of that we

implemented it in the Scotland Act

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Disappointed

I have still not had an answer after

the questions, but on immigration, I

am disappointed that he was

disappointed to listen to my

colleague from Linlithgow and East

Falkirk. I'll listen to the Nobel

laureate Joe Stiglitz who said of

the weekend Scotland should have the

powers to go its own way on

immigration policy. He knows more

than we do, is he right?

I seem to a member that Professor

Joe Stiglitz supported independence

for Scotland. -- I seem to remember

this. But the people of Scotland

knew a bit more than Professor

Stiglitz and they decided to keep

Scotland in the United Kingdom.

LAUGHTER

Colin Clarke.

My right honourable friend has been

clear that Brexit offers

opportunities and powers. The SNP

talked down Scotland as specifically

Aberdeenshire, the city which has

managed to recover from the oil

downturn. Why can't they recognise

that the new powers and EU

withdrawal offers opportunities to

Scotland and specifically

Aberdeenshire?

Mr Speaker, I am disappointed that

the SNP are in Westminster rather

than engaging in a constructive way,

engaging in this sort of pantomime

approach to this very important

issue of powers. Fortunately, it

appears that the Scottish Government

are adopting a more responsible

approach, and that is why there is

substantial discussions between the

UK Government and the Scottish

Government.

Bernard Jenkin.

May I draw my right honourable

friend to the new inquiry lodged by

the Public Administration &

Constitutional Affairs committee on

the devolution and Brexit, and as

well as promoting discussion between

the Government of the United Kingdom

that we also want to promote

discussion between the

parliamentarians of the United

Kingdom are indeed for parliaments

to resolve these difficult issues?

I very much welcome my honourable

friend's committee's contributed to

the debate, and of course it is very

important that there is engagement

across Parliament. I myself will be

appearing before both the European

and constitution committees of the

Scottish Parliament within the next

couple of weeks.

My right honourable friend will be

aware that Scotland's trade with the

UK is worth four times as much then

that with the EU. The he find it

confusing that the SNP are quite

happy to stay in one single market

but added it against leaving the

greater single market right here in

Scotland's doorstep?

Mr Speaker, my

honourable friend makes a very good

point. And that is why it is

important, as powers and

responsibilities come back from

Brussels, that some of those powers

and responsibilities are subject to

UK wide framework so that we can

continue to benefit from our

internal market in the United

Kingdom.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Leaving the

EU will inherit a make the Scottish

Parliament more powerful as we take

back control from Brussels. Does my

right honourable friend agree with

me that the SNP Scottish Government

is confused EU policy with seed the

new powers gained and it's straight

back to Brussels? -- would see.

I

think it is very important that the

500,000 yes supporters who voted to

leave the European Union are

absolutely clear that the SNP

position is to take Scotland right

back into the EU.

Mr Speaker, we all know that the

Tories have a dubious record on

devolution. After all, they did

oppose the creation of the Scottish

Parliament in the first place. In

stark contrast, the Labour Party

laid the foundations for the

Scottish parliament and we will

always act in its best interest. The

Secretary of State says the Scottish

parliament will get new powers

eventually. New powers require

additional resources to deliver. Can

you tell me how much more money the

Scottish bowler will attain to get

these these powers and can he

guarantee that Brexit will not

result in the Scottish Parliament's

budget being cut?

Mr Speaker, I first take issue with

the honourable gentleman's analysis

of devolution. I have been in this

Parliament to see through both the

Scotland act 2012 and the Scotland

act 2016 which has been very

significant transfer of powers to

the Scottish parliament and I'm

determined that Brexit will see a

further transfer of powers and

responsibilities to the Scottish

parliament. Of course it will need

to be done in an orderly way and

that is what the purpose of clause

11 of the EU withdrawal bill will be

and we will work closely with the

Scottish Government and Scottish

Parliament to ensure that that

transfer of powers is orderly.

Need

to speed up a little bit.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Scotland's

two comments, both the UK as

goddess, should work together in

cooperation to get the best Brexit

deal for the people of Scotland.

Yes.

Splendid.

Die-hard Tory Brexit will cost

Scotland 30 billion towns. --

pounds. Bollard will be the hardest

impacted. It was said economic

impact as is available for Scotland.

Will they be released to the

Scottish people so they know these.

-- full scale of this Tory Brexit?

It would not be Scottish questions

if we did not hear from the doom

mongering chief. Let me be quite

clear, as I was in my parents before

his committee, both governments have

carried out important analysis and

the governments will share and

discuss that analysis. But this

Government, as parliament has

approved, will not be publishing

anything that will be detrimental to

our negotiation position.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The select

committee yesterday, the Secretary

of State suggested that common

framework and not be involved in the

devolved demonstration that should

be the output of a collaborative

process, can you confirm that this

is this Government's position?

I very much welcome my honourable

friend's question which is an

important question that gets to the

heart of the issue and in marked

contrast to the pantomime stuff that

we have had earlier. I can

absolutely confirm that, Mr Speaker.

A UK framework does not mean the UK

imposes the framework. In means

agreement is reached between the UK

Government and the constituent parts

of the United Kingdom.

Briefly,

Tommy Shepherd.

Four times, these

extra state has been asked to name a

single power that will be devolved

to the Scottish parliament and four

times he has declined to answer. I

see little point in asking the

question for a fifth time. Let me

ask this. When with this Government

published a schedule setting out

which buyers will be devolved in the

Scottish parliament and which will

not? -- which powers.

Gentleman

should not walk across the line of

sight. Unfair to the honourable

gentleman.

Mr Speaker, if you're not briefly

did with the initial remarks, the

honourable gentleman with have asked

the sensible question. I have set

out that there is a discussion, a

dialogue on going with the Scottish

Government in relation to the 111

powers. I said that often much more

detail at the committee that he

present at yesterday so I will not

repeat it. I am hopeful that an

early course we will be able to

publish exactly that sort of list.

Mr Speaker, his refusal to name a

single power or even to set a

timetable for saying when he will do

so can only lead us to one

conclusion and that is their forces

within his Government that do not

want to see any powers. Can I ask

how does that fit with his

department's responsibility to

protect the devolution settlement?

Mr Speaker, I have rarely heard

complete and utter nonsense. I will

be judged by this department, the

record on devolution and that is

implemented the commission in full,

implementing the Scotland act in

full and taking forward the return

of powers from Brussels with a

presumption of devolution. We will

deliver and the people of Scotland

will see that we have.

Question number three. I have

regular discussions with Cabinet

colleagues on a wide range of

issues, including fiscal policy

across the UK and fisheries and the

oil and gas industry.

He is seeking to group this question

with number four.

Thank you. My right honourable

friend will know as well as I do the

oil and gas industry in the these

Scotland. -- north-east Scotland.

Can my right honourable friend

concerned that the UK, it remains

committed to the industries and will

work with the colleagues to ensure

the brightest future for oil and gas

industries in the north-east of

Scotland?

Absolutely agree with my honourable

friend and I share his

disappointment. Through challenging

times, the broad shoulders of the UK

Government has supported the oil and

gas industry to the chewing of 2.3

billion. Invested in serving BC but,

establishing a new regulator and

investing in infrastructure,

research.

Important matters

affecting the people of Scotland and

I think we ought to respect them by

having attention to the proceedings.

Thank you. I would like to welcome

the announcement last month that the

Scottish business task force and I

wonder if my right honourable friend

would like to expand on what his

role would be with the asked Gale

oil and gas industries.

I recognise my honourable friend, or

very new member, has become a

champion of the oil and gas subsea

industry. I think about today that

the Scottish business task force

announced last month will meet for

the first time on Friday. The task

force will provide expert advice and

guidance on how best to support our

most important sectors, not least

oil, gas and subsea and district in

Scotland's economy. I will be

announcing its mothership later

today.

It is difficult to see how you can

support the oil and gas industry in

Scotland when the Secretary of State

refuses to release the impact of

Brexit on the Scotland economy. It

is being shared with the Scottish

Ramadan when will be shared with the

people?

Mr Speaker, I am surprised that the

honourable gentleman does not follow

the Scottish affairs committee and

abrasions. He used to be a prominent

member of it. I made very clear

yesterday that there was a sharing

of analysis. I think that is

appropriate between Government but

we will not be publishing anything

that will be detrimental to our

negotiations and that is what the

Scotland of Roche people of Scotland

with one.

Given the information has been

shared with the Scottish Government,

as my honourable friend said, would

it not be appropriate to make it

public and to perhaps press on the

Scottish Government that they could

also do that, BP boss Colin should

see what the impact Brexit is going

to be in order to make a proper

assessment of it.

Mr Speaker, we are called upon to

respect the Scottish Government. I

respect the Scottish Government.

This Government respects the

Scottish Government and that is why

we are working with them on Brexit.

But it would not be in the interests

of Scotland or the United Kingdom to

publish any information that would

be detrimental to our negotiation

position.

Mr Speaker, I have regular

discussions with Cabinet colleagues

and Scottish prominent ministers on

a wide range of issues, including

fiscal policy across the UK.

We'll be Secretary of State have a

word with his very good friend the

Chancellor of the Exchequer about

VAT in Scotland, to try to help

clear up the mess created by the

Scottish Government when they

centralised police and Fire Services

in Scotland, making them liable for

VAT?

Mr Speaker, I am sure that my right

honourable friend, the Chancellor

will have heard my honourable

friend's contribution.

Number six, Mr Speaker.

Just last

week, Mr Speaker, I hosted a meeting

with local MPs to review progress. I

am pleased to report that we are

driving forward the innovative

cross-border border lands great deal

and hope to agree a deal next year

that was the investment to transform

the local economies within the

borderlands area.

I want to hear the

question and I want the people of

Dumfries and Galloway to have the

chance of hearing it.

Well my right

honourable friend commit to ensuring

that local communities have the

opportunity to feed their thoughts

into what the final deal will look

like?

Mr Speaker, I agree, I'm sure the

people of Dumfries and Galloway

would absolutely be delighted to

hear my honourable friend. I was

very pleased to receive a submission

from all five local authorities

involved in the borderlands great

deal but I hope now that we can move

forward with local communities being

able to include their ideas and

contributions into this process.

Right honourable friend's

constituency is quite nearby.

Thank

you, Mr Speaker. There is a risk

that he is privatising the

borderland deal over the edge a

great deal. A simple written

question, what dates?

His answer numerous meetings. When

will you answer questions to the

procedures?

I am afraid the honourable gentleman

displays an unpleasant SNP trait of

seeking to create division within

Scotland. I want to see all areas of

Scotland benefit from growth. But at

least the people of Escher know that

in the new member for our they have

a real champion of Ayrshire. The

joint negotiations provider for Rome

for the UK Government and devolved

administrations to present exit

issues. We had a construction

meeting on the 16th of October and

had to have another meeting shortly.

It was agreed that common frameworks

will be needed in areas. What they

can he give the House on total

Scottish ministers and he is able to

identify areas where the need for

common frameworks are anticipated?

Mr Speaker, I gave very extensive

evidence on this matter to the

Scottish affairs select committee

yesterday and the honourable

gentleman will be able to access the

transcript.

Mr Speaker, when the

time comes for these centres to be

taken about the fate of the 111

devolved powers coming back from

Brussels, will be such a state given

an assurance that those decisions

will be taken by consensus in a GMC,

rather than your laterally by the UK

Government?

Mr Speaker, if the

honourable gentleman had listened to

my answer to the question from my

honourable friend from East

Renfrewshire, then he would know

that the position is that although

there is a UK framework, it is a

framework that is agreed to win the

constituent parts of the United

Kingdom.

Mr Speaker, families benefiting from

real positive employment outcomes as

people are moving into work faster

and progressing in work and extra

support is there for those who need

it.

Almost 2000 Universal Credit

claimants in my constituency, along

with thousands more across Scotland,

are stuck in limbo after seeing the

vote in the space to pause the

roll-out that no action from the

Government. Will the Secretary of

State doing to reassure and

represent them?

Mr Speaker, we will continue with

the role in are very careful and

stage right. It is happening over

nine years and we continue an active

dialogue across the House and

outside.

We must hear the voice of Torbay.

Question number 11.

Mr Speaker, we have made significant

progress on the Scotland act 2016

welfare powers. We are working with

the Scottish team and to support

them in taking on these

responsibilities to ensure a safe

and secure transition.

Kevin Foster.

I thank my right honourable friend

for his answer. A small portion of

the powers devolved to the Scottish

comment are being used, given the

events we had from some members of

house. Is this another example of

writing rather than governing from

the SNP?

I do agree with my

honourable friend. I'm sure the

people of Scotland with agree. This

Government is focused on delivering

for the people of Scotland, it is

time for the SMB to