Live Scotland Questions House of Commons

Order, order. Questions to the

Secretary of State for Scotland.

Tony Lloyd.

Number one, Mr Speaker.

Can I begin by paying tribute to

Jimmy Hood, who died earlier this

week? Jimmy was formally my

neighbouring MP and a constituent

and although we did not agree on

much, we always got on well and I

remain grateful to Jimmy for his

help and support when I was first

elected to this House. Jimmy would

see himself as a traditional Labour

man through and through, a fighter

for mining communities and a

parliamentarian of 28 years standing

to help many important roles here.

Our thoughts are with Marion and his

family at this time. I have regular

discussions with Cabinet colleagues,

the UK Minister for digital and the

Scottish Government regarding the

roll-out of superfast broadband.

Last week the UK Minister for

digital met the Cabinet Secretary

for connectivity to discuss

broadband roll-out and the delays we

have seen from the Scottish

Government.

Mary joined the Scottish

Secretary in this tribute to Jimmy

Hood? Jimmy was a friend of many of

us here and he was a bear of a man

and our Parliament was better for

him, but on the issue of broadband,

the Prime Minister told the House

the Government intended to work

through Scottish local authorities.

Kansas Secretary of State say how he

will work with those local

authorities to make sure broadband

is delivered to homes and businesses

that are not properly conducted?

I

thank him for that question. The

Minister for digital made it clear

that his approach to local

authorities was based on the fact

the Scottish Government, who had

responsibility for the roll-out,

after three years behind in rolling

out broadband in Scotland, and

that's not good enough for people

living in any of Scotland's local

authorities. We believe those local

authorities will give greater

priority and expertise to this task

than the Scottish Government.

With

the Minister agree with me that the

borderlands initiative is a chance

to ensure the digital connectivity

in that area is improved, which will

enhance the economy of the border

area?

I agree, connectivity is at

the heart of the proposal which the

five cross-border local authorities

were brought forward for the

borderlands package. My honourable

friend will be aware that in the

original intention to roll-out

broadband in Scotland there was to a

focus on the South of Scotland but

the SNP government in their

centralising weight put a stop to

that.

I echo the Secretary of

State's comments about Jimmy Hood,

who will be sadly missed by all of

us. Broadband is all of us who want

to access banking. The ramp more

cash machines in this House then

there are in a town in my

constituency.

I accept the point

that the honourable gentleman makes

and it's not good enough for RBS to

save people can't rely on internet

and mobile banking when many people

in Scotland do not have access to

the internet for a fact of mobile

services. I'm meeting the Royal Bank

tomorrow and I will convey across

the House the concerns that this

programme of closures.

No apologies,

Mr Speaker. In an area which is

reserved, an allegation of

21,000,002 Scotland's are 100

programme, a figure less than Devon

and Somerset received. Is he not

ashamed that he has let Scotland be

so chronically underfunded?

It's not

even about the fun thing but about

spending the money and taking the

action to roll out broadband. The

read years ago -- three years ago

there was an allocation of funding

and no action has been taken to

procure the roll-out.

Does the

Secretary of State think that

Scottish Conservatives should stop

embarrassing themselves? You have

the fast broadband in the whole of

the UK but without that investment

only 41 promises in my constituency

have access to it. In the Secretary

of State's constituency, it's 80%.

Maybe the Scottish Conservatives

should avail themselves of that

broadband and look up how not to

embarrass yourself?

If anybody is

embarrassing themselves at the

Cabinet Secretary for connectivity,

who said 35 tweets out to tell

people what a good job he was doing

and the First Minister of Scotland,

who said to Mike Corley, the

honourable member for Angus, a seven

week the red to tell her what a good

job she was doing. Mr Speaker,

people often don't Scotland who

don't receive adequate broadband

services know who was to blame, the

Scottish Government.

Number two, Mr

Speaker.

The recent budget shows we

are delivering for Scotland,

including £347 million in additional

resource budget for Scotland, that

being part of 2 billion extra as

part of Barnet consequentials.

Under

the Secretary of State for

Scotland's watch, Scotland's budget

has been cut by 200 million pounds

next year alone. He voted against

the services for police and fire

crew so can he explain why he has

done nothing to prevent these Tory

measures?

The day before the budget

that the hundred and £47 million of

additional resource budget was not

there. It was announced in the

budget along with another 1.7

billion in capital provided to

Scotland to support business and

people.

I'm sure across this House

members will appreciate the role of

oil and gas plays not just in the

north-east but to the UK economy, so

does my honourable friend I agree

with me that the transferable tax

Street set out in the budget is a

shot in the arm for industry and a

step in the right direction to make

Aberdeen I global economy and shows

the 30 Scottish Tory MPs get things

done?

The oil and gas sector has

warmly welcomed the changes to

provide additional tax relief in

terms of transparent taxation

history, something many in the

sector believe will lead to tens of

billions of additional investment

during the lifetime of the North Sea

reserve.

I would like to associate

myself with the kind remarks the

Secretary of State made to the late

Jimmy Hood, who was a fine champion

of Labour values and the whole house

will offer condolences to his

family. He claims Scotland has

received an additional £2 billion

from the budget but the revenue

budget will be around £500 million

lower in real terms for the next two

years, so who are people to believe?

This redundant economic estate that

track Secretary of State or are

well-known economic think tank?

By

2020, as the honourable member

should know, the block grant to

Scotland will rise to 31.1 billion

before devolutionary adjustment and

that is a real terms increase.

Question number four, please.

With

permission I will answer questions

four and seven together. The

committee of EU negotiations

provides a valuable forum for a

devolved administrations to discuss

EU exit. We took an important step

forward by agreeing principles to

govern the consideration of

frameworks, another meeting will be

held on Tuesday and I hope to see

significant progress then.

I

welcomed the constructive approach

being taken to the Joint Ministerial

Committee on EU negotiations. Does

he agree it is a vital both sides

make real progress so as we leave

the EU we see a stronger Scottish

parliament as part of a stronger UK?

I agree with my honourable friend, I

look forward to the chance to

continue the progress we are making

on our framework discussions, which

will lead to more powers for

Holyrood while maintaining the

integrity of the UK's internal

market.

As my right honourable

friend will know, fishing is an

anthemic industry in Buchan but

there has been concern that the

Scottish Government want to take

Scotland back into the CFB. Can he

assure me that in all negotiations

he stands firm that we are taking

Scotland's fishermen out of the CFB?

My honourable friend is seen as a

champion for the fishing industry. I

can give them by guarantee, unlike

the SNP who would take us back into

the common fishing policy, this

Government will take Scotland and

the rest of the UK out of the

discredited policy.

The Secretary of State in 2014 made

the argument that if Scotland left

the United Kingdom, there would be a

barrier at Berwick because of

leaving the single market. Why is it

any different because of the island

of Ireland? Isn't this Brexit

shambles just a threat to the United

Kingdom?

I've been absolutely clear

and remain absolutely clear that

nothing will be done in any Brexit

deal that will threaten the

integrity deal -- integrity of the

UK, particularly Scotland's part in

it.

Scotland needs a competition and

cogent voice around the Cabinet

table. If he is going to prove that

it's him, can he tell us what his

red lines are that he has laid out

the Prime Minister in Scotland's

interests?

I am quite clear that the

red line is the integrity of the UK,

and keeping Scotland in the United

Kingdom, as people in Scotland voted

for in 2014. We are leaving the EU

as a United Kingdom, and nothing the

SNP do will stop that. The

industrial strategy is a conference

of plan for boosting productivity,

to raise the earning power of people

in businesses. We have been working

constructively with the Scottish

Government, who hold many of the

policy levers that will make

industrial strategy a success in

Scotland. We have proposed a review

of interagency collaboration to

maximise the coherence and impact of

both governments' work in Scotland.

This UK wide industrialist strategy

is extremely welcome in my

constituency. Southampton Airport

connects to Edinburgh and Glasgow,

with the two busiest routes across

the UK connecting into a sleigh.

Does the Minister agree that

regional airports will increase

prosperity between Scotland and

England? -- Eastleigh. I was

delighted to hear Edinburgh airport

had had its biggest year ever, so I

agree with my honourable friend that

regional airports across the UK make

a vital contribution to economic

health. That is why we are

developing an aviation strategy

which will consider how best to

encourage and improve domestic

connectivity to the benefit of both

Scotland and the United Kingdom.

Can

eye on behalf of my Liberal Democrat

colleagues associate myself and

ourselves with the Secretary Mars

Mop's comments with regard to the

late Jimmy Hood. -- the Secretary's

comments. He was always capable of

humour and kindness and I am sure he

will be fondly remembered in this

House and beyond. For the industrial

strategy, though, to reach all parts

of the United Kingdom it should be

an opportunity for Scotland to

develop its potential in wave and

tidal power. That will require a

dedicated funding, so what is the

Secretary of State doing in

collaboration with his colleagues in

the department for business, to

ensure we get that dedicated funding

stream?

My colleagues in the

department for business are well

aware of the issues that the

honourable gentleman raises. They

are important to ensure that

development of tidal energy in

particular, and we will continue to

look at what funding can be made

available for it.

Will the Secretary

of State ensure the Government

supports Scotland's efforts to be at

the front of the clean energy and

technology industries?

I absolutely

will do that, and she will be aware

that at the recent event in Germany

there were considerable efforts on

behalf of the whole of the United

Kingdom, Scottish Government working

with the UK Government, to deliver

just that.

At last Scottish

questions, the Secretary of State

said he shared analysis with the

Scottish Government. This morning we

discovered there is no impact

assessment, so can I ask what

lessons were shared with the

Scottish Government?

Firstly, the

material that has been provided to

the committee has been provided to

the devolved administrations. And

previously, the position was and is

that officials between the UK

Government and Scottish Government

are working together on the basis of

analysis that they have both done.

With permission, I will answer

questions six, nine, 13 and 14

together. The UK Government is

working together with colleagues in

the devolved administrations to

carefully consider our approach to

power is returning from the EU. At

the last meeting of the JNC, -- the

Joint Ministerial Committee (EU

Negotiations), we agreed to a set of

principles, and I am confident we

can take further steps are the

lowest -- next meeting on the 12th

of December.

Does the Secretary of

State agree with Tory colleagues who

describe Clause 11 is not fit for

purpose and much -- must be replaced

for a new version? If so, how do

they propose to amend it? --

replaced with.

I heard the speech by

my friend, the poll for East

Renfrewshire, during the debate, on

Monday, and the Government will of

course respond to the issues he has

raised.

The Secretary of State will

remember that was -- when the

Scottish Bill was in parliament, we

submitted 60 amendments each of

which he and his Government opposed,

and then they brought in through the

back door of the House of Lords.

Does the Government intend to use

the same undemocratic approach for

Clause 11?

I'm sure if the

honourable gentleman has concerns

about the procedures of the House of

Commons and did House of Lords, he

can raise them through the

procedures committee, but in his

question, he acknowledges exactly

what happened. We had a debate, the

Government listened, the Government

responded. The Scotland Bill was

amended for the better.

FSP

Scotland, the Institute of

Directors, universities Scotland and

many other organisations have caused

for -- called for a differentiated

approach to immigration. Problems

like my constituents face have

criticised -- crystallised the

problem. Will he bring forward

amendments to Clause 11 to support

immigration and visa controls for

Scotland?

I don't support the

devolution of immigration to

Scotland. Three is a group -- three

years ago the Smith Commission

deliberated on what responsibilities

would be held in the Scottish

parliament and what would be held

here, and it was agreed by all

parties that immigration would be

retained by Westminster.

During the

course -- we heard Tory MPs say the

Clause 11 was not fit for purpose.

Isn't the reality is that -- but

they talk much, but they are not --

just lobby fodder for the

Government? We are happy -- we heard

all these things when the Scotland

Bill was going through the House of

Commons, but at the end of the

process Lord Smith said that it met

his committees requirements in full.

In this House in relation to the EU

withdrawal Bill, we will deliver a

Bill which will be able to generate

the consent of the Scottish and

Welsh governments.

Can I commend to

my right honourable friend the wrist

-- most recent report of the

Constitutional affairs committee

published last week, on the matter

of inter-institutional relations in

the UK. And could he accept that

there is a strong consensus that the

devolution arrangements were not

finished? That we need far stronger

institutional underpinning for the

relations between the four parts of

the UK, and that this is an

opportunity to achieve that.

Of

course I have seen my friend --

honourable friend's report, and the

Government considered to -- continue

to consider it. Of course I believe

intergovernmental and

inter-institutional relations can be

improved, and we need to move

forward on that.

It is welcome news

that there was good progress made at

the last meeting of the Joint

Ministerial Committee (EU

Negotiations), when principles

underpinning, frameworks were

agreed. Does he agree with me that

it is vital that Scotland's two

governments work together as we

leave the EU, so that common

frameworks needed to maintain the

internal market are maintained

whereas all remaining powers are

devolved?

I absolutely agree with my

honourable friend, and I very much

and happy to put it on record that I

welcome this constructive approach

the Scottish Government have pursued

in recent weeks in relation to these

matters.

First of all I would like

to thank the Secretary of State and

other honourable members for the

conserved -- condolences on behalf

of Jimmy Hood's family. On Monday

night the Scottish Tories were

herded through the lobbies and told

to trample all over the demolition

settlement. So can -- devolution

settlement. So can I ask, who issued

those instructions, the Prime

Minister, or Ruth Davidson and the

Secretary of State?

I know the

honourable lady doesn't like it, but

the Bill is going to be amended, it

is great to be amended not at the

behest of the incoherent approach

put forward by the Labour

opposition, or the nationalist

approach put forward by the SNP. It

is good to be amended because

Scottish Conservatives have come

forward with practical amendments to

the Bill.

I welcome that

clarification by the Secretary of

State, but the question really was

why could he not have brought those

amendments form of the other night?

Nonetheless, throughout the debate

on Monday, his Scottish colleagues

acknowledged that there were

deficiencies in the Bill, but they

were unable to name one. So, could

the Secretary of State now do what

they could not? What are the

deficiencies in the Bill, and while

did they vote for the Bill to pass

on amended when they all knew that

it was fundamentally flawed?

If the

honourable lady had been in the

chamber at the time, she would have

heard the speech by my colleague the

honourable member for East

Renfrewshire who clearly set out why

Clause 11 needed to be amended, and

the amendments of the type that

would be brought forward.

Firstly,

could I associate myself and the SNP

with the Secretary of State's

comments regarding the late Jimmy

Hood.

We are more than halfway through the

consideration in committee of the

withdrawal Bill, and in particular

its affect on devolution. I think

the people of Scotland need clarity

in this process. The Secretary of

State knows there is widespread

concern across us and it's -- his

own party about Clause 11. Can I ask

him, yes or no, will the Government

bring forward amendments to Clause

11 of the withdrawal Bill?

Yes.

I

think the second question is

shorter. Mr Sheppard.

Can I ask him,

then, when that will happen?

The

answer is, at report stage. We have

been very, very clear. The committee

stage of this Bill is about

listening, it is about adapting to

issues that have been brought

forward. We have listened to my

colleague from East Renfrewshire,

and we will bring amendments forward

to Clause 11.

Number eight, please,

Mr Speaker.

Further to our discussions with the

Scottish Government and the

announcements made in the budget,

there will be an additional £1.7

billion available to Scotland by way

of capital resource, a 33% increase

in real terms.

Does the Secretary of State agree

that while the sum is much less than

might have been hoped for, the

Barnett consequential is for housing

should be ring-fenced by the

Scottish Government for that purpose

alone, and not for another high

profile, faulty bridge?

The

honourable lady I know is most vexed

about the Queensferry Crossing, and

she is right to be so, Mr Speaker.

It was widely trumpeted by the

Scottish Government and the SNP as a

grid infrastructure success, and yet

I understand currently it is partly

closed, and is likely to be

suffering from closure for many

months to come. As great

inconvenience to her constituents.

She should address her comments to

the SNP and the Scottish Government.

We are grateful to those who can

listen -- here the Financial

Secretary. A question about Scotch

whiskey, a bit of order!

Does my honourable friend agree that

the Scotch whiskey industry has an

enormous opportunity to build trade

for growing markets as we build a

truly global Britain?

I can

absolutely agree with my honourable

friend that there are huge

opportunities for Scotch whiskey as

we leave the EU, and particularly in

South America, and I commend him on

his activities, and can also commend

Diagio on the creation of their

company on the 17th of December?

Speaker-macro, we continue to

provide excellent support for those

seeking support -- seeking work.

Most job centres are staying put, we

are merging some neighbourhood

offices, all of which will lead to

better customer service.

I set out in my answer that this was

a system to provide services and

there was a review of proposed

services in Glasgow and it was

changed in response to public

consultation. I wouldn't be doing my

duty if I couldn't in