:00:22. > :00:31.Hello and welcome to a slightly damp Westminster for November's Scottish
:00:32. > :00:34.Questions. Plans to give the Scottish parliament extra powers are
:00:35. > :00:39.occupying the thoughts of MPs as plans to restrict the role of
:00:40. > :00:43.Scottish at Westminster. Proceedings began with a question about energy
:00:44. > :00:49.and specifically the planning regulations surrounding wind in
:00:50. > :00:58.Scotland. Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland. Before I and
:00:59. > :01:05.Sir can I come end you not just on your attendance at the Davis cup
:01:06. > :01:15.semifinal in Glasgow but for the enthusiasm with which you got behind
:01:16. > :01:24.Team GB in that mum enters that -- great win? I am sure you will join
:01:25. > :01:32.me in wishing the team the best. Glasgow is a great sporting city.
:01:33. > :01:38.After that we get onto a question about wind farms. ... New onshore
:01:39. > :01:47.wind developments in England. Planning for onshore wind is
:01:48. > :01:49.devolved to the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government have
:01:50. > :01:52.kept that power to themselves. I would ask them to look closely at
:01:53. > :01:57.this government's policy of an of audible energy mix that protects our
:01:58. > :02:07.landscapes. I shall be there in person I hope to support the team.
:02:08. > :02:17.True devolution means that power should rest as closely as possible
:02:18. > :02:23.to the people. In Scotland, will Wales and Northern Ireland. Does he
:02:24. > :02:26.deplore the policies of the current Scottish and with governments who
:02:27. > :02:31.seemed to think they no better than the people and the communities of
:02:32. > :02:38.Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales? I agree. The current Scottish
:02:39. > :02:42.government is one of the most centralising governments on record.
:02:43. > :02:49.Routinely overruling the wishes of local people and local authorities.
:02:50. > :02:53.We are delivering devolution to Scotland. Let us see devolution
:02:54. > :03:03.delivered within Scotland. As Lord Smith recommended. He will be aware
:03:04. > :03:06.of the case of the park in my constituency that has the support of
:03:07. > :03:10.the local community and the developers worked diligently to
:03:11. > :03:15.secure planning permission from Perth Kinross Council. Despite
:03:16. > :03:20.this the development is threatened by the aggressive approach of
:03:21. > :03:24.government has taken on energy, putting local jobs at risk. Would he
:03:25. > :03:30.agree to look again at this case, which has been penalised I it's
:03:31. > :03:35.responsible approach to community engagement around planning issues? I
:03:36. > :03:40.am always happy to look at individual cases raised by members
:03:41. > :03:43.from Scotland and I will be delighted to meet with her and hear
:03:44. > :03:51.more about the case that she is setting out. With he agree that the
:03:52. > :04:01.Scottish parliament could learn a lot from the devolution debate
:04:02. > :04:05.within England? Would he encourage the Scottish Parliament to devolve
:04:06. > :04:10.more responsibilities and powers to local government, which may even
:04:11. > :04:19.include elected mayors in the great cities of Scotland? I agree and the
:04:20. > :04:27.response of SNP MPs says it all. They know best, they no better than
:04:28. > :04:31.local bebop. Let us see local decision making. Let us see Lord
:04:32. > :04:37.Smith's recommendation about devolution within Scotland ordered
:04:38. > :04:42.by the Scottish Government. In addition to this question there is
:04:43. > :04:51.question after question on the order paper questioning the powers of the
:04:52. > :04:53.Scottish Parliament. The truth is they have missed the A waiting
:04:54. > :04:59.time for six years. More they have missed the A waiting
:05:00. > :05:01.children leave primary school unable to read properly.
:05:02. > :05:03.children leave primary school unable families get a particularly bad deal
:05:04. > :05:39.under devolution. families get a particularly bad deal
:05:40. > :05:43.Labour MP for Dudley North. What is required is to hear from the SNP and
:05:44. > :05:48.the Scottish Government how they will use these parliaments. They the
:05:49. > :05:53.fair arguments about process and do not want to tell us what they are
:05:54. > :07:50.going to do and do not follow that through with action.
:07:51. > :07:54.going to do and do not follow that a vote on... Genuinely I am trying
:07:55. > :07:59.to be helpful to members but can I urge members to look at the terms of
:08:00. > :08:04.the question on the paper? It is very specifically about onshore wind
:08:05. > :08:15.planning. We must move on. This is about the role of Revenue and
:08:16. > :08:19.Customs in Scotland. HMRC will be making face-to-face announcements to
:08:20. > :08:27.all staff explaining why my kids future officers will be. The largest
:08:28. > :08:33.employer in Cumbernauld, good quality jobs are in danger because
:08:34. > :08:36.of debt management and proposed office mergers. What is he going to
:08:37. > :08:40.do to be take the jobs of hard-working employees and the local
:08:41. > :08:47.economies of towns such as Cumbernauld?
:08:48. > :08:52.HMRC will be making an announcement in the next few days in terms of its
:08:53. > :08:56.long-term plan that it seeks to find savings in terms of its property
:08:57. > :09:00.costs which is right to ensure that that money can be used to improve
:09:01. > :09:13.customer service and get the taxes in. Question three. A question on
:09:14. > :09:17.the work of the Smith commission. Amendments that strengthen the bill
:09:18. > :09:20.and look forward to returning to the house for debate next week. This
:09:21. > :09:25.represents another milestone in making the Scottish Parliament
:09:26. > :09:31.Parliament one of the most powerful in the world. The Smith commission
:09:32. > :09:34.identified that Scotland's budget should be no larger or smaller as a
:09:35. > :09:39.result of the initial transfer of new powers and recommended the
:09:40. > :09:43.Scottish and UK governments work together to agree a fiscal and
:09:44. > :09:50.funding framework for Scotland. Can you reassure my constituents that
:09:51. > :09:58.this framework will be in place so that Scotland's funding is not
:09:59. > :10:05.adversely affected? Yes. Would he agree that rather than relying on
:10:06. > :10:10.subsidies from London the Scottish Government should use its
:10:11. > :10:19.tax-raising powers to pay for the services provided to the Babel of
:10:20. > :10:24.Scotland? I do not recognise his description of the Barnett formula
:10:25. > :10:28.which of course will remain in place, but the reality is that the
:10:29. > :10:33.Scottish parliament will have significant powers over tax,
:10:34. > :10:40.welfare, and it is about time the SNP told us what they are going to
:10:41. > :10:43.do with them. It is interesting the Secretary of State did not take the
:10:44. > :10:49.opportunity to condemn the views of his Conservative colleagues who
:10:50. > :10:52.believe that Scotland is subsidised. Only 9% of people in Scotland
:10:53. > :10:56.believe the vote has been delivered so once prising Labour government is
:10:57. > :11:04.having belatedly to accept amendments. The financial framework
:11:05. > :11:08.for casual. He was only to be able to give one wide and so, so will he
:11:09. > :11:13.elaborates and tell us exactly when the UK Government will update this
:11:14. > :11:20.Parliament on the progress that has been made on the fiscal framework? I
:11:21. > :11:24.am sorry that he did not read my written ministerial statement that
:11:25. > :11:35.was launched in the House on Monday which updated the House on the
:11:36. > :11:39.progress of the fiscal framework. What I recognise in relation to his
:11:40. > :11:51.comments are these words from the Daily Record editorial. Moan, moan,
:11:52. > :11:55.winge, winge. A cynic might argue that the SNP do not actually want
:11:56. > :12:02.those now powers because it makes them accountable to the people of
:12:03. > :12:08.Scotland. The Secretary of State for Scotland has had a second
:12:09. > :12:11.opportunity to condemn the views from his own backbenchers that
:12:12. > :12:16.Scotland is subsidised. I challenge him in this reply to come to the
:12:17. > :12:20.dispatch box and its associate himself with the views of his
:12:21. > :12:22.colleagues. If his government is bringing in detrimental measures
:12:23. > :12:28.that will impact on families and individuals not just in Scotland but
:12:29. > :12:31.the length and breadth of the UK. Can he give us some detail on what
:12:32. > :12:36.is going on between the Treasury and the Scottish Government and give an
:12:37. > :12:39.assurance that there will be no detrimental implications for people
:12:40. > :12:45.in Scotland as part of the fiscal framework? Not only does he not read
:12:46. > :12:52.written ministerial statements, he did not even listen to my answer to
:12:53. > :12:59.my colleague. He did not listen to the answer to my colleagues, so
:13:00. > :13:02.perhaps he can read it. The reality is the powers that are being
:13:03. > :13:06.delivered to the Scottish parliament will make it the most powerful
:13:07. > :13:11.devolved parliament in the world. Rather than tell us what they will
:13:12. > :13:17.do with those powers it is grievance and grudge. We'll tax credits, which
:13:18. > :13:20.the Scottish parliament themselves like knowledge can be topped up,
:13:21. > :13:32.will they be topped up by the FNP, yes or no? -- SNP. Can I take this
:13:33. > :13:41.opportunity to be tribute to our armed forces? For the sacrifice for
:13:42. > :13:45.this country. UK ministers have said the fiscal framework negotiations
:13:46. > :13:48.would be concluded this autumn. Can he explain why they have been
:13:49. > :13:55.delayed until January at the earliest? As I set out in my written
:13:56. > :14:00.ministerial statement, the position is that the UK Government is
:14:01. > :14:05.proceeding at the moment towards the comprehensive spending review, which
:14:06. > :14:10.I am sure you accept there is a major task, and shortly thereafter
:14:11. > :14:13.the Scottish Government will proceed with the Scottish draft budget. When
:14:14. > :14:20.I met with the Deputy First Minister John Swinney last week he gave me
:14:21. > :14:24.the confidence that he wants to reach a fiscal framework agreement
:14:25. > :14:29.and that is certainly the position of the United Kingdom government and
:14:30. > :14:38.that is why I was able to answer the lady from Hamilton east as I did.
:14:39. > :14:43.Scotland's First Minister has warned that the SNP government may reject
:14:44. > :14:46.the Scotland bill if the accompanying fiscal framework is not
:14:47. > :14:52.there to Scotland. They are looking for any excuse to delay further
:14:53. > :14:57.powers for Scotland. Can he assure that how is that the fiscal
:14:58. > :15:00.framework will be agreed before the Scottish Parliament is dissolved in
:15:01. > :15:07.March and can he explain why both he and the SNP are conspiring to make
:15:08. > :15:11.this agreement the Tartan delivered behind closed doors with no public
:15:12. > :15:20.transparency? What are they trying to hide? As he knows, a statement
:15:21. > :15:24.has been published after each meeting of the joint exchequer
:15:25. > :15:28.committee. I take John Swinney and the Scottish Government at face
:15:29. > :15:34.value that they want to reach their agreement for Scotland. UK
:15:35. > :15:37.Government wants to reach for agreement for Scotland. It is an all
:15:38. > :15:44.other interests and I am confident that be achieved.
:15:45. > :15:51.With permission, I will answer question for and 11 at the same
:15:52. > :15:55.time. I have regular discussions with John Swinney and our officials
:15:56. > :16:01.are in close contact on provisions in the Scotland Bill. I have tabled
:16:02. > :16:07.changes to strengthen the bill. Having failed technology the
:16:08. > :16:10.question for my right honourable friend two times already, does the
:16:11. > :16:15.Secretary of State now disassociates himself from the comments from his
:16:16. > :16:19.colleague, suggesting Scotland is subsidised? The fiscal framework
:16:20. > :16:24.will allow the Scottish Government the flexibility to pursue separate
:16:25. > :16:28.fiscal policies from the damaging policies progressed by this UK
:16:29. > :16:34.Government, ensuring the highest levels of transparency. Will he
:16:35. > :16:39.provide the house with a timetable for draft fiscal framework? The
:16:40. > :16:43.comments that were made in the written ministerial statement on
:16:44. > :16:46.Monday set out that the fiscal framework agreement is likely to
:16:47. > :16:54.come after the Comprehensive Spending Review and the draft
:16:55. > :16:59.Scottish budget has been completed. This is the fourth opportunity now
:17:00. > :17:03.for the Secretary of State to disassociate himself with those
:17:04. > :17:08.comments about Scotland being subsidy junkies. Will he do so? Will
:17:09. > :17:11.he also confirmed the negotiations around the fiscal framework are
:17:12. > :17:16.happening between the Treasury and the Scottish Government, and he is
:17:17. > :17:23.relying on a Scottish lord to advise those negotiations? Will he confirm
:17:24. > :17:27.that? It is obviously clear that the Scottish National Party don't listen
:17:28. > :17:34.to answers. If they read Hansard, they will see the response I gave to
:17:35. > :17:38.my colleague. In relation to the fiscal framework, it is an
:17:39. > :17:42.agreement. Who is negotiating on behalf of the Scottish Government?
:17:43. > :17:46.John Swinney, the Deputy First Minister. From the comments of SNP
:17:47. > :17:55.members, they don't have much confidence in his ability to reach a
:17:56. > :17:59.fair deal for Scotland. At the weekend, the leader of the Scottish
:18:00. > :18:03.Labour Party announced that a future Scottish Labour government would use
:18:04. > :18:07.the powers of the Scotland Bill to compensate people for money they
:18:08. > :18:10.will lose because of the Tory cuts to tax credits. I'm sure the
:18:11. > :18:14.Secretary of State will not like to see that happen, but can he confirm
:18:15. > :18:18.the new powers contained in the Scotland Bill will give the Scottish
:18:19. > :18:32.Parliament the ability to top up tax credit? She has the guts to say she
:18:33. > :18:38.will put up taxes and tax credits -- she does not have. The SNP has said
:18:39. > :18:42.nothing. They want an argument about process instead of telling us what
:18:43. > :18:55.they are going to do with these important new powers. Ministers have
:18:56. > :18:59.had discussions with the leader of the house over English votes on the
:19:00. > :19:11.implementation. These are sensible and pragmatic steps which do nothing
:19:12. > :19:16.against Scottish MPs ability to represent their constituents. Is he
:19:17. > :19:20.as concerned as I am that the Barnett, is angels which affect all
:19:21. > :19:27.three devolved nations are not clearly spilled out in the new EV
:19:28. > :19:35.ELN arrangements. Will he take this fifth opportunity to explain what is
:19:36. > :19:43.happening with the fiscal compact -- EVEL arrangements. The leader of the
:19:44. > :19:50.house challenged honourable members to provide examples where the rugby
:19:51. > :19:54.difficulty -- where there would be difficulties, yet none were
:19:55. > :19:57.submitted. As the procedure committee is planning to hold an
:19:58. > :20:05.enquiry on the manner in which this house deals with this issue, can I
:20:06. > :20:08.urge my honourable friend to defer having any discussions with Cabinet
:20:09. > :20:15.colleagues until the report is to hand? The government will look
:20:16. > :20:20.closely at what the procedures committee has to save. And in terms
:20:21. > :20:30.of reforms on the estimates process, which is ultimately a
:20:31. > :20:37.matter for the house. This is a question about the health service.
:20:38. > :20:42.The Scottish Government is responsible for the NHS in Scotland.
:20:43. > :20:46.It is up to them regarding how best to spend their funding. The UK
:20:47. > :20:54.Government is happy to share good practice with the Scottish
:20:55. > :20:58.Government to help ensure the people Scotland receive high-quality health
:20:59. > :21:03.care. I thank the minister for that answer. Has he seen the recent audit
:21:04. > :21:08.Scotland report which shows the Scottish Government has failed to
:21:09. > :21:12.pass on health spending increases, resulting in a 0.7% real terms
:21:13. > :21:21.health spending reduction in Scotland between 2009 and 2015? I
:21:22. > :21:27.have seen that report. He is right to bring that to the attention of
:21:28. > :21:29.the house. The reality is that a Conservative government has shown
:21:30. > :21:39.more commitment to public spending on the NHS in England than an SNP
:21:40. > :21:49.led government has done in Scotland. We now have English votes for
:21:50. > :21:56.English laws on issues such as health in England? Is it not time
:21:57. > :22:01.for a Scottish ministers to answer Scottish Questions in this house? I
:22:02. > :22:05.noticed the honourable gentleman raises the issues of English votes
:22:06. > :22:13.for English laws and get very worked up about it, but can I remind him of
:22:14. > :22:17.what he said a year ago, and issue the Scottish people could not care
:22:18. > :22:23.less about. That does not seem to be his approach any more. This is a
:22:24. > :22:29.specific question about anti-Semitism in Scotland. Recorded
:22:30. > :22:34.incidents in Scotland are thankfully low. I am not complacent. Tackling
:22:35. > :22:40.anti-Semitism was right to the heart of what we stand for as a country.
:22:41. > :22:50.Whatever our politics and faith, we must look to defeat it. 15 Scottish
:22:51. > :22:54.MPs attended an all-party group on anti-Semitism last week. With the
:22:55. > :22:58.goodwill that clearly exists, will the minister topped with the
:22:59. > :23:03.Scottish Government about how the system of state funded security in
:23:04. > :23:07.Jewish schools in England could be emulated in Glasgow? I certainly
:23:08. > :23:13.well and I'm happy to do so. I should say to him that despite the
:23:14. > :23:19.many robust exchanges we have in this chamber, all MPs from Scotland
:23:20. > :23:25.are united in our view that we cannot tolerate anti-Semitism. The
:23:26. > :23:29.Secretary of State will be aware that I represent Scotland's largest
:23:30. > :23:36.Jewish community in East Renfrewshire. I was pleased to hear
:23:37. > :23:43.of the good intercommunity relations and positive support from the police
:23:44. > :23:48.in my area. Will the Secretary of State join me in applauding our
:23:49. > :23:57.Jewish communities for the work they do against discrimination? I
:23:58. > :24:01.absolutely do. I commend her on her engagement with that important
:24:02. > :24:05.Jewish community in Scotland. I commend the work of the Scottish
:24:06. > :24:10.Government in that regard. This is a matter on which we are all united,
:24:11. > :24:16.supporting Jewish communities and not accepting anti-Semitism. This is
:24:17. > :24:21.another question reflecting the Scotland Bill. The UK Government is
:24:22. > :24:24.delivering the cross-party Smith agreement in full, giving the
:24:25. > :24:29.Scottish Government substantial new powers over tax and spending. The
:24:30. > :24:34.devolution of powers should be accompanied by a fiscal framework.
:24:35. > :24:42.The UK and Scottish governments are discussing this. I'm going to offer
:24:43. > :24:45.the Secretary of State six opportunity to disassociate from the
:24:46. > :24:51.subsidy claims from his own party in this chamber. Will he do so? Does he
:24:52. > :24:58.agree with me that the Treasury's eight meant for funding policy over
:24:59. > :25:08.the years has been a creaking mess? Will he recommit to a more open and
:25:09. > :25:17.transparent process as he refused to do repeatedly? There is a process.
:25:18. > :25:20.It involves UK Treasury ministers in negotiations with the Scottish
:25:21. > :25:24.Government. We are continuing to work on that process. We will update
:25:25. > :25:34.the house when there is further news. This is a question about
:25:35. > :25:45.abortion in Scotland. The issue needs to be handled sensitively
:25:46. > :25:49.between the governments. I wrote to interested parties. As I have
:25:50. > :25:52.confirmed already, there will be ongoing engagement with women's
:25:53. > :25:57.groups as this matter is taken forward. We believe that a woman's
:25:58. > :26:04.right to choose should be universal. Does the Secretary of
:26:05. > :26:09.State envisage any change in abortion law in Scotland? Mr
:26:10. > :26:12.Speaker, I think it would be helpful if I just confirmed that because
:26:13. > :26:18.abortion law is being devolved does not mean there will be any change.
:26:19. > :26:23.The existing arrangements will continue to apply in Scotland are
:26:24. > :26:27.changed by the Scottish Parliament. I am pleased to note the First
:26:28. > :26:34.Minister of Scotland has confirmed she has no plans at all to change
:26:35. > :26:38.existing abortion law in Scotland. Can I urge the minister to think
:26:39. > :26:46.again about the devolution of abortion to Scotland? This is to
:26:47. > :26:51.have smaller jurisdictions making decisions so sensitive on health
:26:52. > :26:55.care is deeply unwise. It will allow those who want to lobby against the
:26:56. > :26:59.interests of health care to undermine the interests of women,
:27:00. > :27:04.both in Scotland and in England. I would urge him to consult far more
:27:05. > :27:12.widely before he makes this very big step. I recognise of course the
:27:13. > :27:16.concern is the honourable lady shots, but the Scottish Parliament
:27:17. > :27:19.already has responsibility for criminal justice and health issues,
:27:20. > :27:23.and has dealt with some very sensitive issues extremely well in
:27:24. > :27:32.my view. I have spoken to women's groups in Scotland and they believe
:27:33. > :27:39.that the devolution can take place, but they want to be consulted about
:27:40. > :27:45.that and they will be. Have not forgotten the honourable gentleman.
:27:46. > :27:51.I never do. Mark Menzies. B this is a question about access to
:27:52. > :27:58.university education. The most recent UCAS statistics show a record
:27:59. > :28:07.year for university entry for disadvantaged students domiciled in
:28:08. > :28:12.England. 18.2% compared to 13% in 2009. Unfortunately the situation in
:28:13. > :28:20.Scotland is not as good. Only 10% of the poorest 20% of Scots attend
:28:21. > :28:28.university, very concerning. As someone who went to university from
:28:29. > :28:34.a working-class background, I am deeply concerned about how Scotland
:28:35. > :28:41.is now lagging behind England. Working-class per people are losing
:28:42. > :28:47.out. It may sound strange, an English Tory elected to a Scottish
:28:48. > :28:52.university, but as a former honorary president of Stirling University, an
:28:53. > :28:55.outstanding university, I share his concerns and the Scottish Government
:28:56. > :29:02.could do a great deal of learning from the experience of the English
:29:03. > :29:07.university system. That is all we have time for. Let me remind you
:29:08. > :29:15.about the next Scottish Questions on Wednesday 16 December. That will be
:29:16. > :29:19.the final one of 2015. We will see if there is any pre-Christmas cheer
:29:20. > :29:23.by then. Join us then if you can. For now, from all of us at
:29:24. > :29:28.Westminster, goodbye. The knives are sharpened and the heat
:29:29. > :29:31.is on. It can only mean one thing. Britain's best chefs
:29:32. > :29:36.are back in town. They're here because they want
:29:37. > :29:41.this title. I'm really excited. MasterChef: The Professionals
:29:42. > :29:46.starts cooking...