:00:33. > :00:36.Hello and welcome to a somewhat springlike Westminster. It is
:00:37. > :00:42.shaping up to be a busy political year already. The possibility of a
:00:43. > :00:45.referendum on Britain's place within the European Union could happen this
:00:46. > :00:51.year. No shortage of topics for MPs to get their teeth into. As far as
:00:52. > :00:54.Scottish MPs are concerned, one issue, to do with the financial
:00:55. > :00:57.arrangements surrounding more devolution to Scotland, the
:00:58. > :01:03.so-called fiscal framework, is looming large. And it played a large
:01:04. > :01:08.part at Scottish questions. Here is how proceedings got under way.
:01:09. > :01:12.Question number one, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, can I begin by wishing you
:01:13. > :01:19.a very happy New Year? And in light of the recent flooding in Scotland,
:01:20. > :01:23.can I also pay tribute to all those in the emergency services and local
:01:24. > :01:26.authorities and volunteers who have dealt with these challenging
:01:27. > :01:31.circumstances, and to say that the thoughts of the whole House will be
:01:32. > :01:33.with those who have had their homes and businesses flooded. With
:01:34. > :01:40.permission, Mr Speaker, I will answer questions one, two, five and
:01:41. > :01:45.ten together. The UK and Scottish governance are discussing the fiscal
:01:46. > :01:49.framework through the Joint Exchequer Committee. There have been
:01:50. > :01:52.five meetings between the Deputy First Minister and the Chief
:01:53. > :01:58.Secretary to the Treasury. Next is due to take place Friday. I thank
:01:59. > :02:03.him for that answer. I associate with what he says about the
:02:04. > :02:06.flooding. My constituency has been affected and was an appreciative of
:02:07. > :02:11.the work being done by the emergency services. The block grant will need
:02:12. > :02:15.to be adjusted to take account of revenue raising powers being
:02:16. > :02:20.devolved. As by the Swiss Smith Commission, the Scottish Government
:02:21. > :02:23.should not be financing disadvantages as a result of the
:02:24. > :02:27.transfer of the new powers. Will he give us his views as to what would
:02:28. > :02:32.be a fair indexation of the block grant adjustment? Mr Speaker, my
:02:33. > :02:36.understanding is that the Deputy First Minister of Scotland, John
:02:37. > :02:40.Swinney, who I had a very productive meeting with just before Christmas,
:02:41. > :02:44.is actually conducting these negotiations on behalf of the
:02:45. > :02:48.Scottish Government just and Mr Swinney at my meeting assured me
:02:49. > :02:52.that his object was exactly the same as that of the United Kingdom
:02:53. > :02:58.government, a settlement which is fair to Scotland and fair to the
:02:59. > :03:04.whole of the United Kingdom. This is also a question on the so-called
:03:05. > :03:07.fiscal framework. It will ensure that Scotland is no worse off
:03:08. > :03:11.financially as a result of the transfer of powers. Does the
:03:12. > :03:17.minister agree with the cross-party view and that of various others that
:03:18. > :03:23.only the model of indexed deduction per capita would adequately deliver
:03:24. > :03:31.the principle of no detriment? What I have said, Mr Speaker, in my
:03:32. > :03:36.previous answer, is that we are involved in an ongoing negotiation.
:03:37. > :03:44.Mr Swinney is conducting that negotiation. I have got tremendous
:03:45. > :03:47.respect for Mr Swinney and his ability to reach a fair settlement
:03:48. > :03:51.for Scotland. I have got tremendous respect for the chief secretary to
:03:52. > :03:54.reach a fair settlement for the rest of the United Kingdom. I am
:03:55. > :04:01.confident on the basis of the discussions which took place,
:04:02. > :04:03.including my own discussions with the Deputy First Minister, those
:04:04. > :04:07.involving the Prime Minister and the First Minister, as well as the
:04:08. > :04:12.meeting which is due to take place on Friday, that we will be able to
:04:13. > :04:17.achieve the first settlement. A good New Year to you, Mr Speaker. I think
:04:18. > :04:20.many people will find it bizarre and unacceptable that the Secretary of
:04:21. > :04:25.State for Scotland is not even attending the negotiations. Can the
:04:26. > :04:30.Right Honourable gentleman explained why his office of Secretary of State
:04:31. > :04:34.seems to have been deemed irrelevant to these critical negotiations? And
:04:35. > :04:38.given he is not directly involved, can he share his personal view of
:04:39. > :04:44.whether he agrees with the learning professors on the preferred model?
:04:45. > :04:48.Mr Speaker, I think what many people in Scotland will find bizarre, at a
:04:49. > :04:51.session in Parliament which is called Scottish questions, that the
:04:52. > :05:00.Scottish National Party could come up with only one question Veljko
:05:01. > :05:08.clearly they were all told to ask! But Mr Speaker, I know it may
:05:09. > :05:12.impinge on the self-importance which some SNP MPs a tribute to
:05:13. > :05:16.themselves, but it is the Deputy First Minister of Scotland, John
:05:17. > :05:27.Swinney, who is negotiating the agreement, not SNP MPs! The model of
:05:28. > :05:31.indexed adjustment for the block grant may result in the Scottish
:05:32. > :05:34.block grant falling substantially without consideration of the
:05:35. > :05:37.different rates of population growth north and south of the border. Does
:05:38. > :05:42.the minister agree with me that this or any other model of block grant
:05:43. > :05:46.adjustment which results in a diminished Scottish budget year on
:05:47. > :05:55.year will not fulfil the Smith mission's principle of no detriment?
:05:56. > :06:01.Mr Speaker, I am disappointed with the honourable gentleman's analysis.
:06:02. > :06:07.Because the new powers, which are being delivered by the Scotland
:06:08. > :06:12.bill, Kate the opportunity for Scotland's economic growth to
:06:13. > :06:16.increase, for Scotland's population to increase. I am very surprised
:06:17. > :06:21.that he has such a negative view of the use of those powers that it
:06:22. > :06:23.would be impossible to increase the population or the economic growth in
:06:24. > :06:33.Scotland and therefore increase tax take. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Does my
:06:34. > :06:36.right honourable friend agree that with the transfer of the new,
:06:37. > :06:39.extensive powers which my right honourable friend has just agreed
:06:40. > :06:43.will be given to the Scottish Parliament, it will far once put the
:06:44. > :06:46.SNP government truly to be accountable to the Scottish people,
:06:47. > :06:50.and that this talk of a second referendum is just a smoke screen to
:06:51. > :06:57.take away their accountability to the Scottish people? Conservative MP
:06:58. > :07:02.for Leicestershire south. I actually agree with my honourable friend, the
:07:03. > :07:07.impression created again today, Mr Speaker, by the SNP, is that they
:07:08. > :07:13.are entirely driven by process arguments, not about hitting on with
:07:14. > :07:16.getting an agreement on the fiscal framework, about getting the new
:07:17. > :07:23.powers in place and then doing something positive for the people of
:07:24. > :07:26.Scotland with those powers. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Can my right
:07:27. > :07:30.honourable friend confirm that once the fiscal framework has been
:07:31. > :07:35.agreed, the devolution of tax powers to the Scottish Parliament can "Lee
:07:36. > :07:42.Wallace the Conservative MP. Mr Speaker, I am absolutely committed
:07:43. > :07:45.to delivering the powers set out in Scotland bill once it becomes an act
:07:46. > :07:50.of Parliament as quickly as possible. We want to see that act on
:07:51. > :07:53.the statute books ahead of the Scottish Parliament election so it
:07:54. > :07:57.can shake those elections and the parties can set out what they intend
:07:58. > :08:03.to do with the powers. And I would like to see the tax powers in place
:08:04. > :08:06.by April 2017. The success of the fiscal framework is absolutely vital
:08:07. > :08:11.to the future success of the tax powers which have been devolved.
:08:12. > :08:17.Confidence in the framework is vital for individuals and businesses,
:08:18. > :08:20.especially in the border region. Does the minister believe the
:08:21. > :08:24.Scottish Government is approaching these discussions in good faith,
:08:25. > :08:30.which will be fair to people on both sides of the border? I absolutely
:08:31. > :08:32.am, Mr Speaker. From the discussions, which are Nicola
:08:33. > :08:36.Sturgeon, the First Minister of Scotland, had with the Prime
:08:37. > :08:40.Minister, from those I have had with the dippy First Minister, and we
:08:41. > :08:44.have to remember that stays in the people who are determining what will
:08:45. > :08:49.be agreed in relation to the fiscal framework, their view is clear, and
:08:50. > :08:54.I take it as Cynthia, that they want to achieve a fiscal framework
:08:55. > :08:58.agreement within the near future, and that we can move forward with
:08:59. > :09:00.enacting the bill and transferring those powers, which can make such a
:09:01. > :09:09.difference to the people of Scotland.
:09:10. > :09:14.The Smith Commission recommended that the cost of establishing the
:09:15. > :09:18.infrastructure for the collection of taxes should be cost borne by the UK
:09:19. > :09:22.Government. The Secretary of State for Scotland confirm that the UK
:09:23. > :09:30.Government accepts those recommendations? What I can confirm
:09:31. > :09:33.to the honourable gentleman is that gas is one of the items which is
:09:34. > :09:38.part of the discussion between the UK Government and the Scottish
:09:39. > :09:43.governance. But Mr Speaker, it is rising that SNP MPs have such little
:09:44. > :09:48.confidence in Mr Swinney and the Scottish Government in the
:09:49. > :09:55.negotiations, to hold out for positions which would be benefit all
:09:56. > :10:00.for Scotland! I find it staggering! I wonder if the Secretary of State
:10:01. > :10:05.agrees with the First Minister, with the Professor and with the test EU
:10:06. > :10:09.see, that more powers for Scotland and not come at any price. That the
:10:10. > :10:14.fiscal framework must deliver fairness for Scotland. Can he give a
:10:15. > :10:20.date by which that agreement must be reached? I absolutely agree that the
:10:21. > :10:26.arrangements must be fair. Fair to Scotland, third just to the rest of
:10:27. > :10:29.the United Kingdom. I think that that is perfectly achievable. The
:10:30. > :10:32.negotiations and discussions which have taken place, whilst not
:10:33. > :10:39.providing a running commentary, have been productive. I think the
:10:40. > :10:42.comments made by Mr Swinney for example to the finance committee in
:10:43. > :10:45.the Scottish Parliament, where he clearly said that the Scottish
:10:46. > :10:50.Government should benefit from the positive decisions they take but
:10:51. > :10:53.accept the consequences of bad policy decisions, is one which I am
:10:54. > :10:58.absolutely in agreement with. And that should apply to the UK
:10:59. > :11:05.Government, too, in relation to our responsible at ease. May I wish you,
:11:06. > :11:08.Mr Speaker, and all the staff of the House of Commons a happy New Year?
:11:09. > :11:14.You would have thought the pantomime season was over, but judging by
:11:15. > :11:21.today's questions, it clearly isn't. There is no shortage of things which
:11:22. > :11:24.could be... Oh, yes it certainly is. I was expecting that, Mr Speaker,
:11:25. > :11:29.from someone who has got no jokes whatsoever. There is no shortage of
:11:30. > :11:31.things that we could be gritting the government on. The Secretary of
:11:32. > :11:41.State has created this sham I keeping the fiscal framework secret.
:11:42. > :11:44.The Finance Secretary who is negotiating this... The people of
:11:45. > :11:49.Scotland are being kept in the dark. will the Secretary of State, and I
:11:50. > :11:52.have asked this before, but an end to this pantomime of manufactured
:11:53. > :11:55.grievance and be completely transparent about the fiscal
:11:56. > :11:58.framework? Mr Speaker, the government is completely transparent
:11:59. > :12:03.about its position in relation to the fiscal framework. We want it
:12:04. > :12:07.agreed as soon as possible. We want it to be scrutinised by both
:12:08. > :12:10.parliaments. When I was in the Scottish Parliament recently I have
:12:11. > :12:15.the opportunity to meet with Bruce Crawford, the convener of the
:12:16. > :12:19.devolution committee. He has assured me that he is satisfied that in
:12:20. > :12:22.connection with the finance committee in the Scottish
:12:23. > :12:25.Parliament, there will be adequate opportunity to scrutinise the fiscal
:12:26. > :12:30.framework. I am clear that there will be an opportunity in the other
:12:31. > :12:33.place to scrutinise it. And the Scottish affairs select committee is
:12:34. > :12:37.currently conducting an inquiry. I don't think the people of Scotland
:12:38. > :12:42.will be in the dark in any way about the fiscal framework and I think it
:12:43. > :12:49.will achieve what we wanted to achieve but it will also be subject
:12:50. > :12:51.to proper scrutiny. I don't think the Secretary of State understands
:12:52. > :12:56.the process and how important it is. The Scotland bill constitutes the
:12:57. > :13:00.biggest transfer of powers ever to Scotland. But the underpinning
:13:01. > :13:04.provisions are being hidden from the Scottish people. I have written to
:13:05. > :13:08.both governments to try and get transparency and the response from
:13:09. > :13:13.both governments has been no. Meanwhile the Scottish covenant are
:13:14. > :13:16.threatening to veto the bill. Whilst these negotiations are being
:13:17. > :13:18.conducted in secret, both governments can blame each other
:13:19. > :13:22.with manufactured grievance, and it is the people of Scotland who will
:13:23. > :13:25.lose out. So can the Secretary of State at least assure us that in
:13:26. > :13:29.future, negotiations as important as this on Scotland's finances are
:13:30. > :13:36.conducted with greater transparency and greater democratic scrutiny?
:13:37. > :13:42.I have no grievance because I am confident that the Scottish
:13:43. > :13:46.Government want to achieve an agreement, the UK Government wants
:13:47. > :13:52.to achieve an agreement based on fairness to Scotland, and the rest
:13:53. > :13:57.of the UK. Well I given an absolute commitment? As agreed, it will be
:13:58. > :14:01.adding full Parliamentary seat scrutiny in the Scottish Parliament
:14:02. > :14:09.and in Westminster. This is a question about defence
:14:10. > :14:14.installations. Mr Speaker, may I start by adding to your comment just
:14:15. > :14:17.now introducing question number three by congratulating my
:14:18. > :14:21.honourable friend for the recognition he received last week
:14:22. > :14:25.for 30 years service to this House and the people of Norfolk. It's a
:14:26. > :14:31.great pleasure he had that recognition last week. In response
:14:32. > :14:34.to this question, the MoD engages with the Scottish Government about
:14:35. > :14:39.defence establishments and matters at many levels official and
:14:40. > :14:43.ministerial. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for
:14:44. > :14:47.Scotland, met the Cabinet Secretary for infrastructure, investment on
:14:48. > :14:52.the 17th of November to discuss the issue and the defence Minister has
:14:53. > :14:56.met the Scottish Government Cabinet secretary twice previously and the
:14:57. > :15:00.Defence Secretary has agreed to meet the Scottish Government Cabinet
:15:01. > :15:06.secretary soon. Can I thank him for his generosity. Given that Faslane
:15:07. > :15:14.will sustain the largest employment site in Scotland, isn't it clear
:15:15. > :15:19.that Scotland is the biggest beneficiary? Surely this makes the
:15:20. > :15:28.stance on Trident even more perverse and damaging? Here's quite right
:15:29. > :15:32.that this Government we are investing very significantly in
:15:33. > :15:37.defence in Scotland and, following the SDS are, not only will we be
:15:38. > :15:41.spending ?500 million at fast lane, one of the Royal Navy three
:15:42. > :15:48.operating bases and one of the largest operating sites in Scotland,
:15:49. > :15:55.currently 6000 military jobs there today. This will increase to 8000 as
:15:56. > :15:59.we move all submarines based there by 2022. Scotland will also be home
:16:00. > :16:03.to our new maritime patrol aircraft when 400 extra personnel will be
:16:04. > :16:14.stationed to man the squadron at RAF Lossiemouth. Scotland is a vital
:16:15. > :16:19.location. As the SNP has been pointing out for a long time, it's
:16:20. > :16:23.been dangerous for a maritime state like the UK not to have maritime
:16:24. > :16:28.patrol aircraft so we welcome the recent U-turn by the Government in
:16:29. > :16:36.the procurement of the aircraft. Can you confirm when the entire fleet
:16:37. > :16:46.will be operational? What we made clear is the procurement of nine
:16:47. > :16:52.aircraft and the fleet will be put short through a perfume and
:16:53. > :16:58.contract, the latter of which has already been submitted to the United
:16:59. > :17:03.States. The first aircraft will be operational in 2019. The Minister
:17:04. > :17:06.wasn't able to answer the question of when will the entire fleet be
:17:07. > :17:11.operational so perhaps when it comes back after my second question, he
:17:12. > :17:15.will answer the first. The RAF is currently maintaining its skill base
:17:16. > :17:22.by training on maritime patrol aircraft with Canada, USA, Australia
:17:23. > :17:28.and New Zealand. The importance of training was scheduled to be base at
:17:29. > :17:31.RAF Kinloss before the scrapping of the Rod fleet. Will the Government
:17:32. > :17:37.ensure that training for this aircraft is based at RAF Rosser
:17:38. > :17:43.mouth as it currently is for both tornadoes and typhoons? As we are
:17:44. > :17:46.currently in contractual negotiations for the procurement, it
:17:47. > :17:50.would be wrong of me to pre-empt precisely the nature of those
:17:51. > :17:54.negotiations so I can't answer as initial question as to how many
:17:55. > :17:59.aircraft will be available by when until such time as the contract has
:18:00. > :18:05.been concluded. As to training, he is right to reflect the fact that we
:18:06. > :18:11.have cruise in service on this platform with other users in the USA
:18:12. > :18:19.and the training will be established as part of the procurement process
:18:20. > :18:23.in the coming months. This is another defence-related question.
:18:24. > :18:27.While defence and national security remain reserved to the UK Parliament
:18:28. > :18:29.we recognise the importance of engaging with the devolved
:18:30. > :18:33.administrations and I just said it previous answer the Parliamentary
:18:34. > :18:40.Under-Secretary of State of Scotland and I have met with a Scottish
:18:41. > :18:47.Government to discuss these matters. UK defence contracts are a major
:18:48. > :18:52.source of jobs in Scotland with 2500 employed on Clydeside so can the
:18:53. > :19:00.Minister explain why his Government would to defence spending by 14% in
:19:01. > :19:03.the last Parliament? Well, I'm sorry he seeks to hark back rather than to
:19:04. > :19:10.look forward, having just published at the end of November the SDSR
:19:11. > :19:14.during which this Government committed to increase defence
:19:15. > :19:17.spending in real terms for each year this Parliament which is what we are
:19:18. > :19:21.looking forward to and much of that investment will be spent in Scotland
:19:22. > :19:35.and indeed in South Wales we procure the Ajax vehicle.... Foundations for
:19:36. > :19:39.a stronger economy. A Scottish economy has been going for 11
:19:40. > :19:44.quarters in a row. Scotland benefits from being part of the UK. The
:19:45. > :19:59.fastest-growing G7 economy in 2014 and is forecast to the joint fastest
:20:00. > :20:01.in 2015. Of course, will my right noble friend agree this is one
:20:02. > :20:09.element which makes the union so successful? I do agree with the
:20:10. > :20:13.honourable lady. It's a fundamental part of the growth in Scotland
:20:14. > :20:19.economy that we are part of a single market within Ali UK. I had the
:20:20. > :20:24.pleasure recently to visit Alexander Dennis, in Falkirk and I'm sure they
:20:25. > :20:31.would agree the rest of the UK is one of the most important markets.
:20:32. > :20:38.Given that employment in Scotland is now 53,000 higher than it was
:20:39. > :20:43.pre-crisis, and given that output in Scotland is 3% higher than at the
:20:44. > :20:49.peak crisis point, will he concur with Scottish business leaders that
:20:50. > :20:57.to oppose the savage cuts by the Treasury in the Autumn Statement to
:20:58. > :21:08.the UK's trade and export agency,... I very much welcome the figures my
:21:09. > :21:12.honourable friend setup. In relation to the positive economic situation
:21:13. > :21:16.in Scotland. I don't subscribe to the frequently voiced SNP position
:21:17. > :21:19.that anything good that happens in Scotland is in relation to the
:21:20. > :21:23.Scottish Government, anything bad is in relation to the UK Government. We
:21:24. > :21:35.have two governments working together for the benefit of
:21:36. > :21:39.Scotland. The North Sea oil and gas industry is part of Scotland's
:21:40. > :21:44.economy. Yesterday a Scottish MSP claimed there was no crisis in the
:21:45. > :21:49.industry. Even though it's been estimated 65,000 jobs have been lost
:21:50. > :21:53.since 2014. The SNP clearly inhabits a different world to everybody else.
:21:54. > :21:56.Can the Secretary of State tell us what is Government is doing to
:21:57. > :22:03.support the oil industry and what it is doing to protect the thousands of
:22:04. > :22:08.jobs which depend on it? Mr Speaker, I find it extraordinary that anyone
:22:09. > :22:12.who represents the north-east of Scotland could claim that there was
:22:13. > :22:16.no crisis in the oil and gas industry. This Government has
:22:17. > :22:20.demonstrated yet again in the Chancellor 's Autumn Statement that
:22:21. > :22:26.we are committed to that industry and thousands of jobs that it
:22:27. > :22:28.supports right across the UK and there will be further evidence of
:22:29. > :22:39.our commitment to Aberdeen and the north-east in the weeks ahead. This
:22:40. > :22:42.is a question about benefit changes. The spending review 2015 shows over
:22:43. > :22:47.half of all spending on welfare public services goes to the poorest
:22:48. > :22:56.40% of households in the UK. This is not changed as a result of a
:22:57. > :23:03.Government policy since 2010. The ISS estimates by 2020 more than 2.5
:23:04. > :23:09.million working families on Universal Credit will be, on
:23:10. > :23:15.average, ?1600 a year worse off due to the cuts to the work allowance in
:23:16. > :23:20.Universal Credit. My constituents know how that's going to damage then
:23:21. > :23:24.but does the Secretary of State have the first clue? How many of those
:23:25. > :23:31.families are in Scotland and what the impact and scale will be on
:23:32. > :23:36.them? The best way to help working households in this country is to
:23:37. > :23:40.ensure that we have a job-creating economy, we see wages going up, we
:23:41. > :23:44.introduce a national living wage to help millions of people and we have
:23:45. > :23:50.a secure and stable economy. That's what this Government is delivering.
:23:51. > :23:54.Household incomes in Scotland will be of intense interest, not least to
:23:55. > :24:04.people living in Scotland. We must hear the questions and the answers.
:24:05. > :24:08.I recently asked a question to the Secretary of State, what discussions
:24:09. > :24:12.he had had with the Secretary of State of Work and Pensions on the
:24:13. > :24:15.introduction of a new working health programme in Scotland? Has answer
:24:16. > :24:20.was a masterful example on how to not to answer would is what we've
:24:21. > :24:23.seen today. Will he take this opportunity to tell the House if he
:24:24. > :24:33.has bothered to discuss how this new programme will affect my
:24:34. > :24:37.constituents and the DWP? This Government is making reforms to the
:24:38. > :24:41.welfare system, making sure work always pays, we have to ensure it is
:24:42. > :24:45.affordable but Mayor also remind her that of course with the powers under
:24:46. > :24:48.the Scotland Bill, Scottish Government does have the power to
:24:49. > :25:00.top-up benefits and introduce new benefits. This is a question or the
:25:01. > :25:09.number of students at Scottish universities. The figures show
:25:10. > :25:16.applications for those aged 18 in 2040 was 37% in Scotland compared to
:25:17. > :25:25.44% in England. I wish to share the voice of Christchurch. How can it be
:25:26. > :25:32.in the UK national interest that school leavers from Scotland are
:25:33. > :25:34.being denied access to their own universities because of the
:25:35. > :25:40.arbitrary cap on numbers imposed by the Scottish Government when school
:25:41. > :25:47.leavers with lower qualifications from the rest of the UK are able to
:25:48. > :25:51.gain such access? The honourable gentleman makes an important point.
:25:52. > :25:54.I've had students from my own constituency refused entry to
:25:55. > :25:59.Scottish universities because of the cap which has been imposed by the
:26:00. > :26:04.Scottish Government. We hear a lot about free tuition in Scotland, but
:26:05. > :26:07.this is one of the consequences and I'm sure it will be part of a debate
:26:08. > :26:15.on the forthcoming Scottish Parliament elections. The Scottish
:26:16. > :26:23.affairs committee have been looking into higher education specifically a
:26:24. > :26:26.study scheme for Scotland. He will find everybody, universities, trade
:26:27. > :26:32.unions, employers Association, one that scheme for Scotland. Will he be
:26:33. > :26:38.a Secretary of State for Scotland and put that case to the Home
:26:39. > :26:42.Office? We always listen with interest and take forward in a
:26:43. > :26:45.positive way anything forthcoming from the Scottish affairs select
:26:46. > :26:54.committee and I look forward to reading his report. A question about
:26:55. > :26:58.how much it costs to run the Scotland Office. The admin costs of
:26:59. > :27:03.running it and the office of the aggregate general for Scotland in
:27:04. > :27:10.the financial year 2010-11 was 7.68 8 million. Administrative provision
:27:11. > :27:18.for both offices in 2019-20 agreed the recent spending review is 9.24
:27:19. > :27:20.million. Will he confirm to the House what the percentage of the
:27:21. > :27:28.administrative costs of his department are met by Scottish
:27:29. > :27:33.taxpayers? The honourable gentleman knows that the funding arrangements
:27:34. > :27:38.within the UK don't work on that basis. He also knows this Government
:27:39. > :27:42.is committed to retaining the Barnett Formula, a fair allocation
:27:43. > :27:47.of funding to Scotland. I'm afraid that's all we got time for at the
:27:48. > :27:50.moment. We will be back with the next Scottish Questions in exactly
:27:51. > :27:54.five weeks' time. That is on Wednesday the 10th of February so
:27:55. > :28:03.put a note in your diary and join us then if you can. But, from all of a
:28:04. > :28:36.sudden Westminster, goodbye. -- from all of us at Westminster, goodbye.
:28:37. > :28:41.You'd better come in with a brilliant product.
:28:42. > :28:50.Get it right and we might help your business reach the next level.