08/05/2013 Newsnight Scotland

football, not just in soccer, but across the whole sports world.

Tonight, back to the Queen's Speech. Is the significance of Scotland nor

to do with what Her Majesty didn't say?

Good evening. Well, the Queen's Speech reminded MPs that the

Government intends to fight for the Union and offered new legislation on

immigration and pensions. It was criticised in some quarters for what

Amid the usual ceremony, the Queen today opens Parliament for the 59th

time, accompanied for the first time by Prince Charles and his wife,

Camilla, Her Majesty talked of the aspirations of her UK Government.

Lords and members of the House of Commons, my Government's legislative

programme will continue to focus on building a stronger economy so that

the United Kingdom can compete and succeed in the world. The Queen

outlined priorities like support for the elderly and reforms to the

justice system. On these particular issues, of course, the UK Government

has little influence in Scotland. And the head of the independence

referendum, Her Majesty highlighted another kwEE aim. Bear in mind, for

all the ceremony, this is a speech written by the Government and read

by the Queen. My Government will continue to make

the case for Scotland to remain part of the United Kingdom. The words

were reminiscent of the Queen's 1977 silver jubilee address. With the

debate over devolution raging, she marked the occasion with this high

brow comment. I numbered kings and queens of England and Scotland and

Princess of Wales among my ancestors. And so, I can readily

understand these aspirations. cannot forget that I was crowned

Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

to the present, and after a speech of seven minutes, MPs trooped

through the Commons to argue over its contents. There are really

important measures in this speech. The fact that there will now be in

employment allowance of �2000, encouraging businesses to take on

extra staff. We have HS two, enabling legislation. We also have

the tax measures in the budget so we can create a stronger economy and

fairer society. But of course, the Queen 's speeches are often

remembered for what they don't have in them. And there was a high-speed

rail Bill, but the line for now is stopping. The SNP says that is the

kind of thing which shows the Westminster government is out of

touch with Scotland. What I was looking out for was where there was

going to be a really serious effort to try and boost economic growth.

And whilst there may be measures, I didn't see anything that is really

going to make a difference and get us out of this austerity fetish we

have. That is something a lotta people in the country will have been

looking for, and we were not seeing any major measures. And Labour will

also critical. It doesn't offer anything to families up and down

Scotland, but also up and down Britain. Nothing big about the

economy, nothing to help with the cost of living or get the economy

growing again. This government really seems to run out of ideas.

Most of the 15 pieces of legislation apply north of the border in some

form. The SNP, though, continues to argue the case that Scotland has had

it with an uncaring, London-based government. I'm joined now from

London by Scotland Office Minister of State, David Mundell, and by the

SNP's Westminster, leader Angus Robertson. David, why do you think

cracking down on immigrants is going to help the Scottish economy?

are not related issues. It is very important to deal with abuses of the

immigration system, it is important to put in place measures that ensure

people entitled to use our public services do so and others don't

abuse them. There are measures in the Queen's Speech today that will

help the Scottish economy, measures like taking 35,000 businesses out of

paying National Insurance. Measures the Government have already

announced. Can your constituents expect to show their passport,

particularly if they are new to the area, when they go to the doctor? Is

the doctor supposed to think, they look a bit foreign! It's not going

to work like that, but what it is going to do, and an order for it to

apply in Scotland, we will need to work with the Scottish Government

and I hope they will be receptive to such measures. People don't want to

see people abusing public services. They want to see an immigration

policy that encourages those people who can contribute to our society in

Scotland to come to Scotland and the rest of the UK, but people who don't

not to come. I am curious as to what happens. What if someone goes to the

doctor for a fast time -- first time? There will be measures in

place. People will be required to have some degree of compliance. In

Scotland, help is devolved, and if these measures are to apply in

Scotland, it will require the Scottish Government cooperation. Are

you against what the Government is proposing? We have to see the

details. We're not against having a sensible immigration policies, but

as you out, we don't know what the UK government is proposing.

principle, you think it's all right to check up on whether people are

entitled to use the NHS? principle, you have to have a

balance to ensure you have appropriate immigration systems. But

the biggest challenge on planet Earth in the UK, in Scotland, is the

economy. Are we really sitting here, discussing whether people have to

take passports to their doctors as being the centrepiece of the UK

government's budget? To be fair, it is not their budget! We should be

discussing the economy, the fact people are worried about jobs and

the future. I didn't interrupt you, David! At the centrepiece of the

briefing by the UK government about why this Queen's Speech is important

is immigration. In the real world, the economy is the issue that

matters to people. Today we have the International monetary fund... The

UK government does not have the appropriate uke -- appropriate

economic policy. What will you shouting about there? Every time, I

heard Angus Robertson telling us about how the Scottish Government

needed money to get on. They have had �1.3 billion, above the spending

review, and we don't see much shovelling in Scotland! Your party

is always complaining about red tape. You've just dumped a whole

load of red tape on the NHS and private landlord system. We haven't.

We want to discuss with the Scottish Government to allow these sensible

measures forward, so we don't see Ferguson, as you would expect. Do we

Ferguson, as you would expect. Do we Ferguson, as you would expect. Do we

sunshine, Thursdays weather is not what you would expect all hope for,

with a deep area of low pressure barrelling in from the Atlantic. It

will be a fairly breezy day for Northern Ireland. Brighter spells

through the afternoon but fun to read showers. Northern Scotland

fares pretty well throughout the day. The best of the sunshine here.

The wind comparatively light, though. Northern England, wet

through the afternoon. In the east, sunny spells across east Anglia and

the south-east of England. 12-13dC your highs. Wettest and windiest in

the south-west of England and Wales. Gusts up to 35 mph. The rain sticks

around for a good part of the day. For Thursday, some of the best of

the sunshine to be found in the far north of the British Isles. By

Friday, though, something a little drier and brighter. Friday, though,