0:00:18 > 0:00:21Hello and a very warm welcome to a very summery
0:00:21 > 0:00:25Westminster for the July edition of Scottish Questions
0:00:25 > 0:00:29and, my goodness, what an awful lot has happened since we last met.
0:00:29 > 0:00:33The UK, though not Scotland, has voted to leave the EU,
0:00:33 > 0:00:36the Prime Minister David Cameron has announced that he is resigning,
0:00:36 > 0:00:40and there is renewed talk of a second Scottish independence referendum.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43You won't be surprised to learn that Scottish Questions was
0:00:43 > 0:00:47dominated by the fallout of that EU referendum vote.
0:00:47 > 0:00:49Here's how proceedings got under way.
0:00:51 > 0:00:56Order, order. Questions to the Secretary of...
0:00:56 > 0:00:57INDISTINCT
0:00:57 > 0:00:58Oh, we must deal with the motion
0:00:58 > 0:01:02of latest Unopposed Return first, indeed, requiring the nod of a Whip,
0:01:02 > 0:01:04which is done with some grace.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07Order. Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland.
0:01:07 > 0:01:11- Mr Nic Dakin. - Question number one, sir.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14- Secretary of State.- Mr Speaker, with permission,
0:01:14 > 0:01:17I would like to answer questions one and six together.
0:01:17 > 0:01:18The Scottish economy faces
0:01:18 > 0:01:22a number of challenges as a result of the vote to leave the EU.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25Yesterday, I began a process of direct engagement with
0:01:25 > 0:01:28Scottish business leaders to ensure their voice is
0:01:28 > 0:01:30heard in the forthcoming negotiations.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33- Nic Dakin.- I thank the Secretary of State for that answer.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36Does he think that it will make it easier for the Scottish
0:01:36 > 0:01:40and the UK Governments to support the Scottish steel
0:01:40 > 0:01:43industry now that this Brexit decision has been made in
0:01:43 > 0:01:45terms of tackling things like energy costs,
0:01:45 > 0:01:47procurement and business rates?
0:01:48 > 0:01:53- Secretary of State.- What I think is that, regardless of the vote,
0:01:53 > 0:01:57the two Governments must continue to work together
0:01:57 > 0:01:59to support the industry.
0:01:59 > 0:02:04The Scottish Government has taken forward steps in relation to the two
0:02:04 > 0:02:08plants in Scotland, which very much had the support of myself
0:02:08 > 0:02:11and The Scotland Office and the UK government.
0:02:11 > 0:02:12We'll continue to do that.
0:02:12 > 0:02:17The Scottish Government will play a part in the Steel Council
0:02:17 > 0:02:22- that has been established. - Ian Murray.- Thank you, Mr Speaker.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25Standard Life, one of the largest private employers in Scotland,
0:02:25 > 0:02:28ceased trading in their UK Property Fund this week whilst
0:02:28 > 0:02:31the Governor of the Bank of England said that the
0:02:31 > 0:02:34consequences of Brexit were continuing to crystallise.
0:02:34 > 0:02:38Given financial services is 7% of Scotland's GDP and employs tens
0:02:38 > 0:02:41of thousands of my own constituents, what reassurances was
0:02:41 > 0:02:44he able to give those businesses yesterday that not one job
0:02:44 > 0:02:47will be lost given the Conservative gamble with this country?
0:02:47 > 0:02:50PRESENTER: 'And Ian Murray is the former Shadow Scottish Secretary.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52'He resigned from the Shadow Cabinet last week.'
0:02:52 > 0:02:54I begin by commending the honourable gentleman
0:02:54 > 0:02:56in his service as Shadow Scottish Secretary.
0:02:56 > 0:02:58Nobody knows better than me
0:02:58 > 0:03:02how difficult it is to be your party's sole representative
0:03:02 > 0:03:07in this House from Scotland and be Shadow Scottish secretary,
0:03:07 > 0:03:09and he did the role with great distinction,
0:03:09 > 0:03:12and I am particularly grateful for the work that he did to
0:03:12 > 0:03:14ensure the passage of the Scotland Act in this place.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16He will be pleased to know that,
0:03:16 > 0:03:19when I met with business leaders yesterday,
0:03:19 > 0:03:21Standard Life was indeed represented.
0:03:21 > 0:03:23And one of the points that Standard Life made,
0:03:23 > 0:03:27and I think is important in these discussions on the future
0:03:27 > 0:03:31of the Scottish economy, is how important the market outwith
0:03:31 > 0:03:36Europe is to them, as well as well as the market within Europe.
0:03:36 > 0:03:40And they did not wish us to lose focus on the many business
0:03:40 > 0:03:43opportunities they pursue, particularly in North America.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46Thank you, Mr Speaker. When will my right honourable friend
0:03:46 > 0:03:50lay out the exciting opportunities there are for Scotland as a result
0:03:50 > 0:03:53of leaving the European Union for the wider world?
0:03:55 > 0:03:56Secretary of State.
0:03:56 > 0:04:00Mr Speaker, obviously, when I met with Scottish businesses,
0:04:00 > 0:04:05I wanted them to address the issues of the opportunities
0:04:05 > 0:04:11for business and I've just referred to a leading Scottish company
0:04:11 > 0:04:15who has significant interests outwith the EU.
0:04:15 > 0:04:19But, naturally, businesses in Scotland are concerned to understand
0:04:19 > 0:04:23the arrangements that will be put in place for our future relationship
0:04:23 > 0:04:27- with the EU.- Angus Robertson. - Thank you, Mr Speaker.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30In Scotland, more than 62% of voters voted to
0:04:30 > 0:04:35remain in the European Union and, since then, the Scottish Parliament
0:04:35 > 0:04:39has voted overwhelmingly to support First Minister Nicola Sturgeon
0:04:39 > 0:04:43in her efforts to protect Scotland's place in Europe.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46That was voted for by the Scottish National Party, the Labour Party,
0:04:46 > 0:04:49the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish Green Party.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51The Tories abstained.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55So will the Secretary of State finally join the cross-party
0:04:55 > 0:04:59consensus to protect our economy and place in Europe,
0:04:59 > 0:05:02or will he abstain from that like his colleagues?
0:05:04 > 0:05:05Secretary of State.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09Mr Speaker, I think the honourable gentleman omits one fact,
0:05:09 > 0:05:11which was why my colleagues
0:05:11 > 0:05:15were unable to support his party's motion,
0:05:15 > 0:05:19and that was because they would not take the toxic and divisive
0:05:19 > 0:05:25issue of a second independence referendum off the table.
0:05:25 > 0:05:31Anybody, anybody who wants to unify opinion in Scotland does not
0:05:31 > 0:05:36start talking about a second Scottish independence referendum.
0:05:36 > 0:05:40And I hope the First Minister was listing yesterday to Scottish
0:05:40 > 0:05:43business when they said decisively that,
0:05:43 > 0:05:45in relation to discussions about the EU,
0:05:45 > 0:05:48they did not want to hear about Scottish independence.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51Angus Robertson.
0:05:51 > 0:05:56Mr Speaker, tens of thousands of European Union citizens play
0:05:56 > 0:06:00a massive role in our economy and in our society in Scotland.
0:06:00 > 0:06:05We on these benches want to do more than just pay tribute to them -
0:06:05 > 0:06:09we want them to have guarantees that they can stay in Scotland.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12Will the Secretary of State act in the Scottish
0:06:12 > 0:06:16and the European interest and guarantee the rights of fellow EU
0:06:16 > 0:06:21citizens to remain in Scotland and end the intolerable worry
0:06:21 > 0:06:24and concern that they are being confronted with?
0:06:24 > 0:06:30Mr Speaker, I share the right honourable gentleman's
0:06:30 > 0:06:34view of the importance that EU citizens play in Scotland
0:06:34 > 0:06:38and I share his view that we want them to stay in Scotland,
0:06:38 > 0:06:41and we want them to be able to be guaranteed
0:06:41 > 0:06:43their position in Scotland.
0:06:43 > 0:06:48We also want British citizens in the rest of Europe to be guaranteed
0:06:48 > 0:06:50their right to stay there
0:06:50 > 0:06:53and I hope that it will be possible to issue both guarantees.
0:06:54 > 0:06:58- David Anderson.- Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01Can I start by echoing the compliments paid
0:07:01 > 0:07:03to my predecessor, the Member for Edinburgh South?
0:07:03 > 0:07:06I can guarantee you will be a hard act to follow.
0:07:06 > 0:07:10Sitting opposite the right honourable gentleman today reminds me of the many good times
0:07:10 > 0:07:13I've spent in his constituency in the great town of Moffat.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16Indeed, I have been asked to raise a question by friends of mine
0:07:16 > 0:07:20from Moffat, John and Heather, who live on the Old Carlisle Road.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23They have a small family farm and a business.
0:07:23 > 0:07:25They want to know what guarantees will be
0:07:25 > 0:07:27given about the future of payments they receive
0:07:27 > 0:07:30from the Common Agricultural Policy and what benefit
0:07:30 > 0:07:35they can expect to see from the £350 million a week that senior
0:07:35 > 0:07:37members of his Government promised we would get
0:07:37 > 0:07:40back from the European Union to fund the NHS.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43How much of that can we expect to go to Scotland and, crucially,
0:07:43 > 0:07:45when can we expect to see it?
0:07:45 > 0:07:48Secretary of State.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51Firstly, can I start by welcoming the honourable gentleman to
0:07:51 > 0:07:54his position and welcoming him any time
0:07:54 > 0:07:57that he wants to come to Moffat?
0:07:57 > 0:08:00Of course, I have performed his role in the past -
0:08:00 > 0:08:04the difference was there were 41 Scottish MPs opposite me
0:08:04 > 0:08:08when I did that and, 15 months, later it has come to this.
0:08:08 > 0:08:14On his question, obviously the issues around CAP
0:08:14 > 0:08:20payments are one of the things that will be subject to negotiations.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23As someone who argued for a Remain vote,
0:08:23 > 0:08:27I made very clear to farmers in Scotland that there would be
0:08:27 > 0:08:31a degree of uncertainty if there was a vote to Leave,
0:08:31 > 0:08:34but one of the things that will happen as a result
0:08:34 > 0:08:38of the withdrawal from the EU is that responsibility for these
0:08:38 > 0:08:41agricultural matters will now rest directly with
0:08:41 > 0:08:42the Scottish Parliament.
0:08:42 > 0:08:43David Anderson.
0:08:43 > 0:08:45Thank you for that response.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48I do not think though that John and Heather will be reassured
0:08:48 > 0:08:51and I noticed you didn't answer the question about the NHS.
0:08:51 > 0:08:55The Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee was right yesterday
0:08:55 > 0:08:57to accuse our hapless Prime Minister of being
0:08:57 > 0:09:01guilty of a dereliction of duty for failing to set up withdrawal
0:09:01 > 0:09:04planning units until after the referendum.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07And will someone please tell the Prime Minister the words
0:09:07 > 0:09:11of the song aren't, "When the going gets tough, the tough do a runner"?
0:09:11 > 0:09:16With that in mind, can I ask the Secretary of State if he
0:09:16 > 0:09:20believes that the Prime Minister's policy of placating fruitcakes
0:09:20 > 0:09:24and loonies has been a price worth paying for the economic crisis
0:09:24 > 0:09:28that's now upon us and the risk of the break-up of the United Kingdom?
0:09:29 > 0:09:32- Secretary of State. - Mr Speaker, I'm a democrat.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36I respect the democratic decision of the people
0:09:36 > 0:09:40of the United Kingdom and that decision will be implemented.
0:09:40 > 0:09:42Andrew Stephenson.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45Question number two, Mr Speaker.
0:09:45 > 0:09:50Mr Speaker, with permission, I will answer this question with
0:09:50 > 0:09:54questions three, four, five and nine.
0:09:54 > 0:09:58Since the outcome of the EU referendum, both the Prime Minister
0:09:58 > 0:10:01and I have had discussions with Scottish Government Ministers
0:10:01 > 0:10:05and we continue to do so over the coming weeks and months.
0:10:05 > 0:10:09As the Prime Minister has made very clear, we will fully involve
0:10:09 > 0:10:12the Scottish Government and other devolved administrations as
0:10:12 > 0:10:15we prepare for negotiations with the European Union.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18- Andrew Stephenson. - Thank you, Mr Speaker.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21Does my right honourable friend agree that we should respect
0:10:21 > 0:10:23the outcome of the democratic process,
0:10:23 > 0:10:25even if some do not agree with the result?
0:10:26 > 0:10:29Mr Speaker, I am quite clear that the
0:10:29 > 0:10:34majority of people across the United Kingdom voted for the United Kingdom
0:10:34 > 0:10:39to leave the European Union and that decision must be implemented,
0:10:39 > 0:10:44but in doing so we must secure the best possible deal for Scotland
0:10:44 > 0:10:46and indeed the rest of the United Kingdom.
0:10:46 > 0:10:50- Martyn Day.- Thank you, Mr Speaker.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53Can the Secretary of State confirm that it is the UK Government's
0:10:53 > 0:10:56intention to invite the Scottish Government to participate
0:10:56 > 0:10:59directly in their negotiations with the EU?
0:11:01 > 0:11:04I confirm that the Scottish Government
0:11:04 > 0:11:08are going to be at the heart of this negotiation process
0:11:08 > 0:11:11and I can also confirm today that myself
0:11:11 > 0:11:16and my Cabinet colleague, the Member for West Dorset, who is responsible
0:11:16 > 0:11:19for the European Unit within the Government, will be meeting
0:11:19 > 0:11:24with the First Minister next week to discuss how that might be achieved.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27- Ian Blackford. - Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30The Secretary of State says he's a democrat.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33Will he support the long-established position in Scotland that
0:11:33 > 0:11:34sovereignty rests with the people?
0:11:34 > 0:11:37And now that the Parliament has said that we wish to negotiate
0:11:37 > 0:11:40Scotland's remaining within the single market,
0:11:40 > 0:11:42will he stand-up for those rights?
0:11:42 > 0:11:45Is he Scotland's man in the Cabinet or, as we suspect,
0:11:45 > 0:11:47is he the Cabinet's man in Scotland?
0:11:49 > 0:11:52- Secretary of State.- Mr Speaker, I do expect slightly more original
0:11:52 > 0:11:56lines from the honourable gentleman.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59The position and my position is quite clear.
0:11:59 > 0:12:04I very much welcome any initiative pursued by the First Minister,
0:12:04 > 0:12:09or by the Scottish Government, that can be to the benefit of Scotland
0:12:09 > 0:12:12without being to the detriment of the rest of the United Kingdom
0:12:12 > 0:12:16and I look forward to hearing from her, when I meet with her next week,
0:12:16 > 0:12:19how the various initiatives she's pursuing is going.
0:12:19 > 0:12:23We want to work together. As business yesterday made very
0:12:23 > 0:12:26clear in Scotland, they want a Team UK approach,
0:12:26 > 0:12:27the Scottish Government,
0:12:27 > 0:12:33UK Government, working in tandem for the best interests of Scotland.
0:12:33 > 0:12:35- Chris Green.- Thank you, Mr Speaker.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39Does my right honourable friend agree that just as the
0:12:39 > 0:12:43Scottish referendum was binding for a generation,
0:12:43 > 0:12:45so too is the United Kingdom's decision on the European Union
0:12:45 > 0:12:49and isn't it incumbent now for all politicians, including those
0:12:49 > 0:12:53in the devolved administrations, to come together to make this work?
0:12:55 > 0:12:59- Secretary of State. - Mr Speaker, I very much hope
0:12:59 > 0:13:01that that will be the case.
0:13:01 > 0:13:05Within hours of the EU declaration being made,
0:13:05 > 0:13:09I met with Fiona Hyslop, the Minister responsible
0:13:09 > 0:13:10in the Scottish Government.
0:13:10 > 0:13:15My colleague, the Minister for Europe, is in Scotland today.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18I am meeting with Fiona Hyslop tomorrow and, as I've already said,
0:13:18 > 0:13:20I'm meeting with the First Minister next week.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23We want to work as closely as we can with the devolved administrations
0:13:23 > 0:13:25to get the best outcome for Scotland.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29Thank you, Mr Speaker. In relation to the last question,
0:13:29 > 0:13:34I'd point out that Scotland voted by a large majority to stay in the EU.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37Therefore, as a self-confessed Democrat,
0:13:37 > 0:13:39will the Secretary of State confirm
0:13:39 > 0:13:41he will support the Scottish Government's
0:13:41 > 0:13:45efforts to find a mechanism to keep Scotland in the European Union?
0:13:45 > 0:13:49Mr Speaker, the honourable gentleman may not have read the ballot paper,
0:13:49 > 0:13:51but the question on the ballot paper
0:13:51 > 0:13:53was not about Scottish independence -
0:13:53 > 0:13:57it was about whether voters in Scotland
0:13:57 > 0:14:01wanted the United Kingdom to remain in the EU.
0:14:01 > 0:14:08I was part of the 1.6 million people in Scotland who voted to remain
0:14:08 > 0:14:12in the EU, but I didn't do it on the basis that Scotland would then be
0:14:12 > 0:14:17dragged out of the United Kingdom if I didn't get the decision I wanted.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21- Mr Henry Smith. - Thank you, Mr Speaker.
0:14:21 > 0:14:25With over a million people in Scotland voting to leave
0:14:25 > 0:14:29the European Union last month, what is my right honourable friend's
0:14:29 > 0:14:31assessment of the rush
0:14:31 > 0:14:35for a second independence referendum on the union?
0:14:37 > 0:14:40Mr Speaker, I do think it is important,
0:14:40 > 0:14:46it is important that we respect the views of people that we don't agree
0:14:46 > 0:14:47with and what's become evident,
0:14:47 > 0:14:51in relation to the Scottish National Party, is they can't respect
0:14:51 > 0:14:53the views of the two million people
0:14:53 > 0:14:57who voted to remain within the United Kingdom in the referendum
0:14:57 > 0:15:00in 2014 and they don't respect the people who voted to leave.
0:15:00 > 0:15:06I don't agree, I don't agree with the people who voted to leave,
0:15:06 > 0:15:09but their views do need to be respected.
0:15:09 > 0:15:11Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh.
0:15:11 > 0:15:13Thank you, Mr Speaker. In light of statements
0:15:13 > 0:15:16made by the Secretary of State for Justice, and indeed the new
0:15:16 > 0:15:19Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland over the weekend,
0:15:19 > 0:15:22can the Secretary of State for Scotland give us an unequivocal
0:15:22 > 0:15:25confirmation that the Barnett Formula will not be changed
0:15:25 > 0:15:27or affected as a result of the EU referendum
0:15:27 > 0:15:29and that Scotland's budget will be protected?
0:15:31 > 0:15:37Mr Speaker, the Government was elected on a manifesto clear
0:15:37 > 0:15:42that there would be no changes to the Barnett Formula,
0:15:42 > 0:15:45but, Mr Speaker, the honourable lady has been in several political
0:15:45 > 0:15:49parties over her political career.
0:15:49 > 0:15:53Perhaps, earlier this week, she may have noticed that there's a vacancy
0:15:53 > 0:15:57at the head of UKIP and that that might be her next destination.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01Mrs Sheryll Murray.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04Could my honourable friend tell the House
0:16:04 > 0:16:08what discussions he's had with regard to the possibility
0:16:08 > 0:16:13of Scotland having to accept joining the euro,
0:16:13 > 0:16:16if, as they claim, they want to stay in the European Union?
0:16:16 > 0:16:25Well, what I think, in response to the honourable lady's question,
0:16:25 > 0:16:30is that clearly the parameters have changed
0:16:30 > 0:16:34and if any proposition was put forward for independence
0:16:34 > 0:16:37in any prospective further independence referendum,
0:16:37 > 0:16:42it would be on quite a different basis than from the 2014 proposition
0:16:42 > 0:16:46and, clearly, required membership of the euro might be part of that.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48Mr Wayne David.
0:16:48 > 0:16:50A close relationship between Scotland
0:16:50 > 0:16:54and the European Union is obviously in the best interests of Scotland.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57Has the Secretary of State any specific suggestions about how
0:16:57 > 0:17:00that relationship might be made real in the future?
0:17:00 > 0:17:05'Wayne David is a former member of the Shadow Scottish election team,
0:17:05 > 0:17:08'Labour's team. He too resigned last week.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10'He's now the Member for Caerphilly in Wales.'
0:17:10 > 0:17:13..with the Scottish Government and the UK Government
0:17:13 > 0:17:17working as closely as they possibly can together.
0:17:17 > 0:17:19That's the way in which we're going to get
0:17:19 > 0:17:21the best possible arrangements for Scotland.
0:17:21 > 0:17:25That's the message from business leaders that I met yesterday,
0:17:25 > 0:17:29that we need a Team UK approach to get that deal for Scotland.
0:17:29 > 0:17:30Helen Hayes.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33Question number seven, Mr Speaker.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38Mr Speaker, I am committed to working with the Scottish Government
0:17:38 > 0:17:42to ensure a safe and secure transfer of welfare powers.
0:17:42 > 0:17:44I met with Scottish ministers
0:17:44 > 0:17:48in the Joint Ministerial Working Group On Welfare on 16th June.
0:17:48 > 0:17:49We had a constructive meeting
0:17:49 > 0:17:52and issued a joint communique about our discussions.
0:17:54 > 0:17:55- Helen Hayes.- Thank you, Mr Speaker.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58What assurances can the Secretary of State give
0:17:58 > 0:17:59that Scotland will be no worse off
0:17:59 > 0:18:02with the devolution of new Social Security powers?
0:18:03 > 0:18:10Mr Speaker, I certainly hope that individuals within Scotland will be
0:18:10 > 0:18:15no worse off, but, inevitably, what the devolution of these powers
0:18:15 > 0:18:20means is very specific decisions about their use will be made
0:18:20 > 0:18:23by the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government
0:18:23 > 0:18:25and the amount of certain payments,
0:18:25 > 0:18:27the shape and nature of certain payments,
0:18:27 > 0:18:29will be matters for them.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck.
0:18:31 > 0:18:33Thank you, Mr Speaker. Can the Secretary of State give an update
0:18:33 > 0:18:36on discussions regarding the devolution
0:18:36 > 0:18:40of the Social Fund Funeral Payments?
0:18:42 > 0:18:46Mr Speaker, what I can say is that I'm hoping to move forward
0:18:46 > 0:18:52with a commencement order in relation to those powers before
0:18:52 > 0:18:56this Parliament goes into recess, which would effectively mean
0:18:56 > 0:19:00the transfer of the arrangements to the Scottish Government.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02Margaret Ferrier.
0:19:02 > 0:19:06Mr Speaker, I have asked the Scottish Secretary twice now
0:19:06 > 0:19:10by written question when he last visited a food bank.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13The answer has been the same on both occasions.
0:19:13 > 0:19:15He has not visited a food bank in his capacity
0:19:15 > 0:19:18as Secretary of State for Scotland.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21So, today, will he agree to visit a food bank, with me,
0:19:21 > 0:19:25in my constituency, so that he can see first-hand the devastating
0:19:25 > 0:19:28effects of Tory sanctions and welfare policy?
0:19:30 > 0:19:32Mr...Speaker,
0:19:32 > 0:19:35the honourable lady is very well aware
0:19:35 > 0:19:41that I have visited a food bank and know the issues that surround them.
0:19:41 > 0:19:46- David Anderson. - Thank you, Mr Speaker.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48The agreement between the United Kingdom
0:19:48 > 0:19:49and Scottish governments
0:19:49 > 0:19:54set out exactly how the new Scottish welfare budget would be agreed.
0:19:54 > 0:19:58Can the Secretary of State explain what would happen in the event
0:19:58 > 0:20:01of the UK Government abolishing a specific benefit
0:20:01 > 0:20:03which has been devolved to Scotland?
0:20:03 > 0:20:06In that circumstance, will the Scottish Government
0:20:06 > 0:20:08retain the budget or will they lose it?
0:20:09 > 0:20:10Secretary of State.
0:20:10 > 0:20:12Mr Speaker,
0:20:12 > 0:20:18the financial arrangements for the transfer of powers were dealt with
0:20:18 > 0:20:24in the fiscal framework in which that circumstance was contemplated.
0:20:24 > 0:20:28There are two sets of benefits, which are subject to transfer.
0:20:28 > 0:20:32One are benefits for which the Scottish Government will have full responsibility
0:20:32 > 0:20:37and therefore can shape or make a new benefit or change the benefits.
0:20:37 > 0:20:42Other benefits, other powers relate to top ups of existing UK benefits.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45Clearly, if an existing UK benefit didn't exist then the power
0:20:45 > 0:20:47to top it up would not exist,
0:20:47 > 0:20:50but the power to create an equivalent might well do.
0:20:50 > 0:20:51Mr Alistair Carmichael.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54'And this is a question about the contribution of women to the
0:20:54 > 0:20:57'Scottish economy.' Minister Anna Soubry.
0:20:57 > 0:20:58Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01Can I thank my right honourable friend, of course,
0:21:01 > 0:21:04who originally commissioned the Sawers report?
0:21:04 > 0:21:06The Government has published its response.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09What I can say is that a new ministerial group,
0:21:09 > 0:21:12now that we have had the elections in May,
0:21:12 > 0:21:15is being put together from all the various administrations
0:21:15 > 0:21:19across the United Kingdom with the equalities minister,
0:21:19 > 0:21:21my honourable friend, the member for Gosport,
0:21:21 > 0:21:23so that we can now make progress.
0:21:23 > 0:21:25But the gender pay gap, Mr Speaker,
0:21:25 > 0:21:28is of course diminishing to an all-time record low.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31'And this question is being answered by the business minister, Anna Soubry.'
0:21:31 > 0:21:33I thank the minister for that answer.
0:21:33 > 0:21:35As we tackle the economic challenges facing
0:21:35 > 0:21:38Scotland as a result of Brexit,
0:21:38 > 0:21:42removing barriers to the full economic contribution of
0:21:42 > 0:21:46women to Scotland's economy becomes more important than ever.
0:21:46 > 0:21:50Professor Sawers' report offers the Government a roadmap for that.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53Will she ensure that somebody in the Scotland Office blows
0:21:53 > 0:21:57the dust off it and actually implements some of the very
0:21:57 > 0:22:00good solid recommendations that are contained in it?
0:22:00 > 0:22:02As I say, it is a very good report.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05What is absolutely critical is, of course, is that everybody
0:22:05 > 0:22:06works together.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09And, of course, we now have a situation where the
0:22:09 > 0:22:13Scottish Parliament actually has more devolved powers,
0:22:13 > 0:22:16specifically to look at and address the problems of gender
0:22:16 > 0:22:20equality, which, of course, includes any disadvantage for women.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24- Tom Pursglove. - Number Ten, Mr Speaker.
0:22:24 > 0:22:25Minister Soubry.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28'And this is a question about the steel industry in Scotland.'
0:22:28 > 0:22:32..the plant at Dalziel for the handover for both the Dalziel
0:22:32 > 0:22:36and the Clyderidge plant from Tata to the Liberty Group
0:22:36 > 0:22:39and I think the prospects, on the basis that we continue with
0:22:39 > 0:22:42the excellent work, working together for the prospects for the steel
0:22:42 > 0:22:45industry in Scotland, must be good.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48- I'm going to be positive about its future.- Tom Pursglove.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51I thank the Minister for that encouraging answer.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54And what discussions is she having with both the First Minister
0:22:54 > 0:22:57and other Government departments to make sure that the Scottish
0:22:57 > 0:23:01industry, steel industry, receives all the help and support it needs?
0:23:01 > 0:23:04Well, of course, we do work together, hand in glove -
0:23:04 > 0:23:06I think that's very important.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09It's also important to realise that the steel Council,
0:23:09 > 0:23:11which this Government has established,
0:23:11 > 0:23:14has a member, well, in fact, has more than one member,
0:23:14 > 0:23:16a number of representatives from the Scottish
0:23:16 > 0:23:19and indeed the Welsh governments as part and parcel of it.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21So, together, we can make sure that throughout
0:23:21 > 0:23:26the United Kingdom we have a strong and sustainable steel industry.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30- Mr Peter Bone.- Mr Speaker, would the Minister welcome the fact that,
0:23:30 > 0:23:34now we have Brexit, it would be better for and helpful for the
0:23:34 > 0:23:37British Steel industry, including the steel industry in Scotland?
0:23:37 > 0:23:40It's a good day that we've come out. Wouldn't the Minister welcome it?
0:23:40 > 0:23:43'Peter Bone is the Conservative MP for Wellingborough.'
0:23:43 > 0:23:45Mr Speaker, what I would say is this -
0:23:45 > 0:23:49I think we now, all of us, have to work together, however we voted,
0:23:49 > 0:23:53whatever our views were, come together to make sure that we
0:23:53 > 0:23:56now do the very best for our country,
0:23:56 > 0:24:01But we should be under no illusions whatsoever we are facing some
0:24:01 > 0:24:02very big challenges.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05Some very difficult, not just days, months and years.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08But coming together, putting the past behind us,
0:24:08 > 0:24:10that's what's important now.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12Sir Henry Bellingham.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15'And this is a question from the Conservative MP about small businesses.'
0:24:15 > 0:24:19Mr Speaker, indeed procurement has been an important
0:24:19 > 0:24:20part of the Government's work
0:24:20 > 0:24:23and what I can say is we are determined to deliver our target
0:24:23 > 0:24:29of central departments spending 33% of budgets with SMEs by 2020
0:24:29 > 0:24:31and, so far, the last set of results showed
0:24:31 > 0:24:35- we were increasing it to 27.1%. - Bellingham.
0:24:35 > 0:24:38I'm very grateful to the Minister for that reply.
0:24:38 > 0:24:39Does she agree with me that,
0:24:39 > 0:24:43rather than setting specific percentage targets on small business
0:24:43 > 0:24:46procurement, the Scottish Government should follow best
0:24:46 > 0:24:48practices in counties like Norfolk
0:24:48 > 0:24:54and also work in really close cooperation with the UK Government?
0:24:56 > 0:24:59The short answer, which I know you enjoy, Mr Speaker,
0:24:59 > 0:25:02is an emphatic yes.
0:25:03 > 0:25:07- Alan Mak.- Question 15, Speaker.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10'And this is a question about the North Sea oil and gas industry.'
0:25:18 > 0:25:21Mr Speaker, the 2015 budget,
0:25:21 > 0:25:24the Government introduced a 1.3 billion package of tax
0:25:24 > 0:25:27measures to help our oil and gas industry, and today I'm
0:25:27 > 0:25:32launching the IMG's oil...that's Inter-Ministerial Group's oil and
0:25:32 > 0:25:39gas workforce plan, setting out how we can retain talent in this sector.
0:25:39 > 0:25:44- Opportunities for workers in other sectors.- Alan Mak.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47Thank you, Mr Speaker. North Sea oil and gas supports a range of
0:25:47 > 0:25:49supply chain partners including businesses on the south coast.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52Will the Minister continue to support those businesses
0:25:52 > 0:25:56- as they diversify by exporting their expertise?- Minister.
0:25:56 > 0:25:57Well, again, in short, yes,
0:25:57 > 0:25:59because we fully understand the difficulties in the oil
0:25:59 > 0:26:03and gas sector at the moment and that's why we've done this report.
0:26:03 > 0:26:07I think, again, by working together, we can improve the lot,
0:26:07 > 0:26:09but these are difficult times for the oil and gas sector.
0:26:09 > 0:26:14Extremely grateful to the minister and to the honourable
0:26:14 > 0:26:19gentleman who posed the question succinctly but comprehensively,
0:26:19 > 0:26:22succinctly but comprehensively answered by the minister.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25Well, I'm afraid that's all we've got time for at the moment.
0:26:25 > 0:26:29Because of the upcoming summer break here at Westminster, the next
0:26:29 > 0:26:33Scottish Questions won't be until Wednesday, 12 October,
0:26:33 > 0:26:37so do put that in your diary and join us if you can.
0:26:37 > 0:26:40Who knows? By then we will have a new Prime Minister
0:26:40 > 0:26:43and who knows what else might have happened in UK politics?
0:26:43 > 0:26:45But for now, from all of us here at Westminster,
0:26:45 > 0:26:48goodbye and have a very enjoyable summer.