:00:23. > :00:30.Hello and a warm welcome to Westminster for the first Scottish
:00:30. > :00:33.questions of 2013 and I can tell you the weather has in January feel.
:00:33. > :00:36.The referendum on Scottish independence may still be 20 months
:00:36. > :00:40.away but it is still very much making its presence felt,
:00:41. > :00:46.particularly when MPs get together to discuss specifically Scottish
:00:46. > :00:51.issues as we will see it. Here's how proceedings got under way.
:00:51. > :00:57.Questions to the Secretary of State of Scotland. Do question No. 1, Mr
:00:57. > :01:01.Speaker. This government has taken a range of access to promote
:01:01. > :01:06.Scottish businesses overseas including Brian Wilson as a
:01:06. > :01:11.business ambassador. I have also spoken to the Canadian trade
:01:11. > :01:18.minister. A Mr David Amis. How many Scottish business leaders as the
:01:18. > :01:23.Secretary of State met who believe that the Scottish Trade in position
:01:23. > :01:27.will be improved if Scotland leaves the United Kingdom? No Scottish
:01:27. > :01:31.business leader has ever put at point to me, Mr Speaker possibly
:01:31. > :01:41.because they recognise the strength of Scotland being in the United
:01:41. > :01:47.Kingdom. If that that there are 162 UKTI officers backed up by concerts
:01:47. > :01:51.around the world. The Scotch whisky industry last year was worth more
:01:51. > :01:55.than �4.2 billion and it is one of Scotland and the UK's biggest
:01:55. > :01:59.exporting industries. Can the Secretary of State confirm that the
:01:59. > :02:06.UK Government charges for its promotion internationally, how much
:02:06. > :02:13.does it charge and why? Can I joined the honourable gentleman in
:02:13. > :02:22.welcoming the success of the Scotch whisky industry. A huge part of the
:02:22. > :02:25.overall sector of Scottish food and drink. And it is so critical to
:02:25. > :02:29.Scotland's exporting potential and I do not want to put that at risk
:02:29. > :02:37.because I think Scotland being part of an international network of
:02:37. > :02:39.offices embassies is the best way forward. Mr Speaker, everybody will
:02:40. > :02:45.have noted that the Secretary of State did not answer the question.
:02:45. > :02:51.I asked him whether he would confirm the UK Government charges
:02:51. > :02:57.for the promotion of Scotch whisky internationally. The apparent in
:02:57. > :03:01.the Foreign Office does charge and charges �3,000 a time to promote
:03:01. > :03:06.Scotch whisky at international events. This is ridiculous. What is
:03:06. > :03:11.he doing about it and when will it stop? The honourable gentleman is
:03:11. > :03:16.choosing to ignore the fact that thanks to the UK Government for our
:03:16. > :03:19.network of offices across the hall of the world, the fact that our
:03:19. > :03:24.embassy network the second to none compared certainly to an
:03:24. > :03:28.independent Scotland. Scotch whisky is a much stronger place as being
:03:28. > :03:34.part of the United Kingdom than it would be if independent. The Sir
:03:34. > :03:37.Robert Smith. Could the Secretary of State recognised as an important
:03:37. > :03:41.the energy industry is in the north-east of Scotland to driving
:03:41. > :03:46.the export potential for Scotland and that by having a strong home
:03:47. > :03:51.base of production of skills and technology in the North Sea, we
:03:52. > :03:59.have built a base for great export potential to provinces around the
:03:59. > :04:04.world. I have paid tribute to my honourable friend's success in this
:04:04. > :04:09.area. He is an undoubted champion of the oil and gas sector across
:04:09. > :04:14.the whole of the UK. He is right to point out its potential and he will
:04:14. > :04:16.be aware that I met with the Brazilian ambassador and other
:04:16. > :04:21.Brazilian interest in Aberdeen a few months ago and I look forward
:04:21. > :04:27.to returning to Brazil to focus on oil and gas is used in the next few
:04:27. > :04:31.weeks. Jim Sheridan. On the question of Scotch whisky, it
:04:31. > :04:35.chronicles what would have a % of UK food and drink exports it is
:04:35. > :04:39.held back by various tariff barriers around the world, most
:04:39. > :04:42.noticeably in India, a 50% tariff on it. What action is the
:04:42. > :04:47.Government taking to help the industry export growth in other
:04:47. > :04:52.countries? I think the honourable gentleman is right once again to
:04:52. > :04:57.highlight the importance of the whisky sector and not least two
:04:57. > :05:00.large chunks of Scotland, not just concentrated around distilleries.
:05:00. > :05:05.We are working hard along with Scotch whisky interest to make sure
:05:05. > :05:09.we work within Europe to break down barriers in India and elsewhere.
:05:09. > :05:15.There is a level of support for the Scotch whisky industry it could not
:05:15. > :05:17.hope to have with an independent Scotland. A question about the
:05:17. > :05:19.Scotland. A question about the Scotland. A question about the
:05:19. > :05:24.effect of not going ahead with the fuel duty rise announced in the
:05:25. > :05:29.Autumn Statement.... To put seven motor vehicles saving a typical
:05:29. > :05:35.driver �40 per year and a haulier top hundred pounds per year.
:05:35. > :05:40.Blackman. Could my honourable friend agree that by cancelling
:05:40. > :05:46.planned tax increases on fuel, we will save the average Scottish
:05:46. > :05:52.motorist more than �600 during the life of this coalition government?
:05:52. > :05:57.I agree with my honourable friend, the deferral of Labour's planned
:05:57. > :06:04.duty rise in April this year will mean that fuel will be 13p a litre
:06:05. > :06:09.cheaper than it would have been under a Labour government.
:06:09. > :06:15.welcomed the Government listing to our call to stop the rise but could
:06:15. > :06:20.I ask the Minister what discussions he has had with Scottish Government
:06:20. > :06:23.in terms of what assistance can be given to smaller retailers, in
:06:23. > :06:29.particular in rural areas to make sure that people can take advantage
:06:29. > :06:33.of decent pricing rather than those two and a live in the urban areas?
:06:33. > :06:43.The honourable lady makes an important point and at the end of
:06:43. > :06:49.this month I will be meeting with a Fuel distributor panel with MPs and
:06:49. > :06:59.she will be welcome to join that about Europe distribution in rural
:06:59. > :07:01.
:07:01. > :07:07.areas. -- about rural distribution. Will the Minister support the call
:07:07. > :07:12.to lobby the EU to extend the bowel and fuel duty to places like
:07:12. > :07:19.Argyll? Where honourable friend will have noted that in the midterm
:07:19. > :07:23.review, the coalition government looked at the possibility of
:07:23. > :07:31.extending the 5p reduction to areas of the mainland which are similar
:07:31. > :07:37.to island communities. The cut in fuel duty has been very welcome in
:07:37. > :07:43.my constituency and I remember asking Labour to do this and it was
:07:43. > :07:51.refused. When will this be moved to areas to which my constituents pass
:07:51. > :07:57.on the way home another way back to the mainland? In the previous
:07:57. > :07:59.answer to my honourable friend from Argyll and Bute, in the midterm
:08:00. > :08:05.review, the coalition government has undertaken to examine that
:08:05. > :08:10.possibility. Robert Halfon. Government have done their bit in
:08:10. > :08:17.cutting fuel duty but will wife honourable friend lobby the oil
:08:17. > :08:21.companies to take their responsibility -- will my
:08:22. > :08:27.honourable friend? I am sure that my honourable friend welcomes the
:08:28. > :08:36.fact that there is an OFT inquiry into fuel prices and I look forward
:08:36. > :08:40.to seeing the outcome of that inquiry in January. Has been
:08:40. > :08:44.minister look into whether reductions has been passed on to
:08:44. > :08:54.motorists in Scotland? If you go to Kennington Road in London you can
:08:54. > :08:55.
:08:55. > :08:59.buy petrol at 129.9. It is now more expensive to buy petrol next to
:08:59. > :09:04.where petrol is produced in Scotland than it is in Kennington
:09:04. > :09:11.in London. Is he doing anything about making sure that the motorist
:09:11. > :09:13.and not being ripped off? Speaker, the price of fuel at
:09:13. > :09:18.different Pascal stations in different communities is a matter
:09:18. > :09:23.which has been of long-term concern -- petrol stations and that is why
:09:23. > :09:27.the OFT is currently conducting an inquiry into that very issue. In my
:09:27. > :09:31.previous answer I indicated the results of those inquiries would be
:09:31. > :09:35.available in January. It will make very interesting reading.
:09:35. > :09:45.STUDIO: This is a question about the use of Stirling in an
:09:45. > :09:46.
:09:46. > :09:51.This is looking at a range of issues including the use of the
:09:51. > :09:56.pound's fall out parts of the United Kingdom. There has been no
:09:56. > :10:02.discussions about the use of the pound for an independent Scotland.
:10:02. > :10:07.This means that the Bank of England will be the lender of last resort
:10:07. > :10:14.for the Bank of Scotland. To stop a repetition of the eurozone, this
:10:14. > :10:18.means the Government must have an over site role in two Scottish --
:10:18. > :10:24.in two Scottish spending plans. Speaker there cabinet such
:10:24. > :10:27.discussions. The point here is that the pound has held Scotland and the
:10:27. > :10:33.UK well for 300 years and we have seen in the Rose and the risk of
:10:33. > :10:36.having a formal monetary union without a fiscal union and a
:10:36. > :10:39.fiscally independent Scotland would create real complications for that.
:10:39. > :10:43.All this would have to be negotiated after the referendum
:10:43. > :10:50.vote. I think it would take some persuading more people in the rest
:10:50. > :10:53.of the UK to take on the role that the SNP wish for it. To the
:10:53. > :11:03.Minister knows that it is the Scottish Government's intention
:11:03. > :11:08.
:11:08. > :11:13.that Scotland will continue to use And there is nothing to stop that.
:11:13. > :11:19.While it makes sense to have a formal union, Woody not agree that
:11:19. > :11:25.a stability pact based around levels -- would he not agree, is
:11:25. > :11:31.perfectly sensible and can no way at all be portrayed as a foreign
:11:32. > :11:36.currency running Scotland's economy? Firstly, I am sure the
:11:36. > :11:40.House will join me in welcoming the honourable member back to his place.
:11:40. > :11:44.While we do not always agree, we are delighted to the contribution
:11:44. > :11:53.he is making and we are glad to see him in good health and we wish him
:11:54. > :11:56.the best. However, on the issue of the pound after the referendum,
:11:56. > :12:01.should Scotland vote to become independent, which I believe it
:12:01. > :12:03.will not do, that will be a matter for negotiation. The credibility of
:12:04. > :12:08.the Bank of England as the lender of last resort at the moment is
:12:08. > :12:12.because we have a single, central, fiscal authority and the UK tax
:12:12. > :12:15.bearer standing behind it. To complicate that would require
:12:15. > :12:19.negotiations with the rest of the UK which will have to consider its
:12:19. > :12:25.interest. We can't just have this one-sided wish-list. We must
:12:25. > :12:30.recognise that there will be a negotiation. Isn't the 0116 229
:12:30. > :12:33.3118 wrong on this because if there was an independent Scotland, --
:12:33. > :12:37.isn't the honourable member wrong, they will want to join the European
:12:37. > :12:47.Union and will they not then therefore be forced to accept the
:12:47. > :12:52.euro? Many agree with that part with him, he makes an important
:12:52. > :13:01.point, that amidst all the turmoil over Europe, it has not set out how
:13:01. > :13:05.it will negotiate the opt out to join the euro. Last year on
:13:05. > :13:09.December 5th, I took part in a Westminster Hall debate where the
:13:09. > :13:17.Secretary of State for Scotland said he commissioned a report into
:13:17. > :13:20.why the separatist lead Dundee City Council was the worst led council.
:13:21. > :13:28.I have contacted his office but he has yet to get back to me. He said
:13:28. > :13:32.I would get a letter giving details but I have yet to... Does the
:13:32. > :13:38.Minister want to ask about the continued use about the pound in an
:13:38. > :13:44.independent Scotland. I am sure that is what he wanted to do.
:13:44. > :13:48.the currency arrangements after independence should that be the way,
:13:48. > :13:51.because I said to be honourable gentleman that my right honourable
:13:51. > :13:56.friend is delighted to meet him as soon as possible to discuss the
:13:56. > :13:59.issue he has raised and will make sure that happens. In it may be
:13:59. > :14:03.that the honourable gentleman wanted to come in unquestioned four
:14:03. > :14:13.but he was ahead of himself. I am sure he is great bowl.
:14:13. > :14:14.
:14:14. > :14:18.STUDIO: This is a question about With permission, I'll answer
:14:18. > :14:21.questions for and nine together. The Department for Work and
:14:21. > :14:26.Pensions published an impact assessment for welfare benefits
:14:26. > :14:33.uprating which states around 30% of all households will be affected by
:14:33. > :14:39.the measures contained in the bill. I thank the Minister for the answer.
:14:39. > :14:46.Even after changes to tax allowances, a single earning
:14:46. > :14:52.household with children will be a �534 a year worse off by 20th April
:14:52. > :14:58.15. Does the Minister still believe the government should be going
:14:58. > :15:03.ahead as its parity with a tax cut for millionaires?
:15:03. > :15:07.What I believe is the government should be continuing to work to
:15:07. > :15:13.sort out the mess in the economy which his Labour government left
:15:13. > :15:17.behind. The measures announced yesterday will save �5 billion for
:15:17. > :15:24.which he and his colleagues have given no answers to where they
:15:24. > :15:28.would find such savings. One in five working families in
:15:28. > :15:37.Scotland rely on tax credits will see a cut in income as a result of
:15:37. > :15:42.the changes. Many rely on a low- paid temporary jobs. Can he tell me
:15:42. > :15:48.what steps he will take in 2013 it to tackle the scourge of our and
:15:48. > :15:54.employment in Scotland? The Rakhine will be working with a Scottish
:15:54. > :15:58.government at stake holders to set up an employability forum which
:15:58. > :16:03.will look at the Government's and interested parties working together
:16:03. > :16:10.to ensure we get more people into full-time employment -- Secretary
:16:10. > :16:16.of State. Does the Minister agree the Scottish economy is part of the
:16:16. > :16:23.UK economy and that the economy of the whole country will not improve
:16:23. > :16:29.unless and until we bring public spending under control?
:16:29. > :16:34.I agree with my Honourable Friend. The whole benefits issue is an
:16:34. > :16:38.example of the SNP Scottish government making promises which
:16:38. > :16:47.they cannot possibly keep in relation to benefits in an
:16:47. > :16:51.independent Scotland just simply to curry favour with the electorate.
:16:51. > :16:57.Thank you. Can the Minister tell us how many members of the armed
:16:57. > :17:07.forces in Scotland will see income has cut as a result of the vote?
:17:07. > :17:09.
:17:09. > :17:14.What I can tell the Honourable Lady is that last night's vote was about
:17:14. > :17:18.ensuring we have a sustainable welfare system and the Honourable
:17:18. > :17:23.Ladies answer on these issues is more borrowing, more spending and
:17:23. > :17:30.more debt. She could not say how she would front the rises in
:17:30. > :17:37.benefits which she voted for. What a disappointing answer. The
:17:37. > :17:41.answer is 4,000 members of the armed forces. There might be a Lib
:17:41. > :17:47.Dem leading the Scottish Office but Scots know it is the same old
:17:47. > :17:51.Tories. In 2010 at the department told us we have absolutely no
:17:51. > :17:55.desire to see people losing their jobs or being in worse
:17:55. > :18:00.circumstances than before. Can the Minister explain why they are
:18:00. > :18:04.failing the test they set themselves?
:18:04. > :18:11.What the people of Scotland know is it is the same old Labour Party, no
:18:11. > :18:21.apology for the mess and their only proposal is more spending, more
:18:21. > :18:23.
:18:23. > :18:31.borrowing and more debts. He must be patient. I am saving him
:18:31. > :18:34.up! It comes as no surprise that I opposed the cap on benefits last
:18:34. > :18:39.night because it will hammer thousands of families in Scotland
:18:39. > :18:44.he would try to bring up children while working hard. Does he share
:18:45. > :18:52.my surprise that some senior MPs, including Labour Members of
:18:52. > :18:58.Parliament who left us with this mess, did not turn up to vote?
:18:58. > :19:01.Nowadays nothing in the SNP members say or do surprises me. The SNP
:19:01. > :19:10.position is totally hypocritical. In Scotland, the Scottish
:19:10. > :19:19.government is asking nurses and NHS workers to take a 1% pay rise yet
:19:19. > :19:24.they want benefits to be more than that.
:19:24. > :19:28.With permission, I will answer questions five and 12 together.
:19:28. > :19:31.JobCentre plus operates eight food back referral service however the
:19:31. > :19:40.government does not hold information on the number seeking
:19:40. > :19:46.assistance from the food banks. are in its 23rd team and not 1813?
:19:46. > :19:52.The need for food banks this here is an abominable reflection on
:19:52. > :20:01.society -- 2013. When you consider you have them in Prestwick which is
:20:01. > :20:09.one of the most salubrious parts of my constituency. 15% of them are in
:20:09. > :20:14.employment. What an indictment in this government. While I share his
:20:14. > :20:19.concern about food banks and the use of food banks and the fact they
:20:19. > :20:23.are vulnerable people in crisis, what I will not do is excepts the
:20:23. > :20:29.pretence that somehow food banks have only come into existence since
:20:29. > :20:35.this government came to power. That is simply not true. There were food
:20:35. > :20:39.banks under Labour and they did not advertise them in Jobcentres.
:20:39. > :20:44.What measures does the Minister have it for the increasing number
:20:44. > :20:48.of people who are forced to go to food banks to feed their families
:20:48. > :20:55.and what can he do to alleviate the situation?
:20:55. > :20:58.I certainly acknowledge his concerns. He instigated a useful
:20:58. > :21:02.Westminster Hall debate on this matter. The government will
:21:02. > :21:08.continue to do all it can to help and support the vulnerable in his
:21:08. > :21:12.constituency and elsewhere. Thank you. Two years ago the
:21:12. > :21:16.Secretary of State said the horrible truth is across the
:21:16. > :21:21.country everyone is going to have to make a contribution but the
:21:21. > :21:26.horrible truth of life in Scotland under his government is that a food
:21:26. > :21:30.bank in my constituency has experienced a father walking 15
:21:30. > :21:35.miles for a bag of food to feed his family. Is this an appropriate
:21:35. > :21:41.contribution while the government gives a �2,000 a week cuts to
:21:41. > :21:46.millionaires? I have indicated already the government is always
:21:46. > :21:52.concerned about those who need to use food banks for any
:21:52. > :22:02.circumstances but I am not taking lectures from him on millionaires
:22:02. > :22:04.
:22:04. > :22:09.when he wants to give them child benefit. The UK government has
:22:09. > :22:11.allocated millions of investment for rural broadband and Scotland.
:22:12. > :22:21.It is the responsibility of the Scottish government to deliver on
:22:22. > :22:39.
:22:39. > :22:44.this.... Towards super-fast broadband access. What is clear is
:22:44. > :22:48.people throw Scotland want to see the broadband access, in rural
:22:48. > :22:51.areas, implemented as soon as possible and we will work closely
:22:51. > :23:00.with a Scottish government to ensure they deliver on the
:23:00. > :23:05.undertakings they have given for the �100 million they had received.
:23:05. > :23:15.Can I say to the minister, whilst I recognise the role of Scottish
:23:15. > :23:17.
:23:17. > :23:24.government plays in the provision of broadband in rural areas, he is
:23:24. > :23:27.fully aware in areas like his and mind Small and Medium-Sized
:23:27. > :23:32.Enterprise is depend on good connectivity. What is his
:23:32. > :23:39.department doing to ensure the Scottish government is delivering?
:23:39. > :23:42.I can assure him that we would hold the Scottish government to account
:23:42. > :23:47.for the investment and whilst this government has funded investment in
:23:47. > :23:54.Edinburgh and Aberdeen and Perth we want to see the Scottish government
:23:54. > :24:00.delivering for Dumfries and Galloway and other rural areas.
:24:00. > :24:05.There are too many noisy private conversations taking place. Can I
:24:05. > :24:12.thank the UK government for their support to the Aberdeen broadband
:24:12. > :24:17.fund and also the contribution to the expansion of broadband but I
:24:17. > :24:21.urge him to recognise in rural areas we want super-fast broadband
:24:21. > :24:30.inner-cities but we need access at speeds for businesses to flourish
:24:31. > :24:34.in rural areas. I can advise him up that I have met with Aberdeen share
:24:34. > :24:38.Council to discuss exactly the issue and whilst the super City
:24:38. > :24:48.broadband is welcome in Aberdeen, we wanted rolled out into
:24:48. > :24:53.Aberdeenshire as well. Thank you. The use of super-fast broadband is
:24:53. > :24:57.one of the effective way is to promote the identity of our country.
:24:57. > :25:02.Will the Secretary of State welcome to Parliament today the Ulster
:25:02. > :25:05.scotched agency promoting the links between Ulster and Scotland of
:25:05. > :25:10.which the Secretary of State is a wonderful example as a born
:25:10. > :25:16.Ulsterman who is serving Scotland actually he used super-fast
:25:16. > :25:21.broadband to continue to promote our wonderful culture, shared
:25:21. > :25:26.Ulster and Unionist heritage? Secretary of State is a wonderful
:25:26. > :25:36.example of many things and the answer is yes. There is too much
:25:36. > :25:38.
:25:38. > :25:42.noise. A question on the Autumn Statement. I will answer questions
:25:43. > :25:45.seven and 11 together. A difficult economic backdrop, the Autumn
:25:45. > :25:50.Statement set out a range of measures to protect Scotland's
:25:50. > :25:54.economy, to equip businesses to compete in a global race and Selena
:25:54. > :26:00.growth and to ensure businesses and households in Scotland are treated
:26:00. > :26:05.fairly. Would he like to confirm one of the disastrous consequences
:26:05. > :26:09.of any independent Scotland would be a disjointed transport system
:26:09. > :26:14.and what my constituency in Lincoln my benefit, many in Scotland would
:26:14. > :26:20.not be happy to see direct rail services from London to Edinburgh
:26:20. > :26:24.could tales. My Honourable Friend makes an important point about the
:26:24. > :26:29.importance of keeping Scotland within the UK to the benefit of
:26:29. > :26:33.Scotland at the whole of the UK. The government said at Villa get
:26:33. > :26:38.the deficit down, balance the books fairly and get people back to work
:26:38. > :26:41.but the deficit is billions higher this year than last, one in five
:26:41. > :26:47.working families have tax credits/and long-term unemployment
:26:47. > :26:51.is rising fast in Scotland than the rest of the UK. Is he happy to be
:26:51. > :26:56.part of a government that is failing all of its tests?
:26:56. > :27:01.The deficit has come down by a quarter and she should acknowledge
:27:01. > :27:06.we are clearing up the mess that Labour left behind. It will take --
:27:06. > :27:12.I will take no lessons from hat or her party. We have cut income tax
:27:12. > :27:16.for the lowest incomes -- earners, we have restored the pension link
:27:16. > :27:21.and helped millions of motorists in difficult times, they were planning
:27:21. > :27:27.the opposite. We take no lessons from Labour on managing the economy.
:27:27. > :27:31.I am afraid that's all we've time for. We will be back again with the