:00:21. > :00:24.Hello, ain't very warm welcome to Westminster for November's Scottish
:00:24. > :00:29.Questions. Some pretty familiar themes on the order paper for MPs
:00:29. > :00:36.today. Renewable energy, the constitutional question and the
:00:36. > :00:40.economy. Also some changes, Labour has a new Scotland team in the
:00:40. > :00:44.Commons and we will see how they got on. Proceedings got under way
:00:44. > :00:51.with a question from Russell Brown, a specific question about what can
:00:51. > :00:55.be done to help the construction industry in Scotland. Order,
:00:55. > :01:00.questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland. Mr Russell Brown?
:01:00. > :01:02.Question number one. A with permission, I will answer one and
:01:02. > :01:06.seven together. I recognise the vital role that the construction
:01:06. > :01:10.industry plays at the Scottish and UK economy. The plan for growth
:01:10. > :01:15.includes a wide range of measures to support the industry across the
:01:15. > :01:19.UK. I have regular discussions with Scottish ministers on these and
:01:19. > :01:22.other matters of importance to the Scottish economy. Can I say to the
:01:22. > :01:27.Secretary of State, his minister and I have one thing in common. We
:01:27. > :01:32.still have construction workers that remain unemployed after
:01:32. > :01:35.Aberdeen Construction went into administration. Does he recognise
:01:35. > :01:37.that throughout the UK, and especially in Scotland, that there
:01:37. > :01:42.are far too many unemployed construction workers that are
:01:42. > :01:48.desperate to get back to work? He does need to encourage the Scottish
:01:48. > :01:51.government to stimulate that sector. I quite agree with the Honourable
:01:51. > :01:55.Gentleman that we should take all of the appropriate measures to get
:01:55. > :01:58.the economy on the right footing. As he will appreciate, we have a
:01:58. > :02:02.big challenge clearing up the mess left behind by the previous
:02:02. > :02:06.government, and in the context of the challenging situation in the
:02:06. > :02:09.eurozone. We are determined, through a credible deficit plan and
:02:09. > :02:15.strong economy, to get construction and other sectors in the right
:02:15. > :02:18.place. The Secretary of State may be aware that there is a major
:02:18. > :02:25.lobby today of construction workers throughout the UK, many from
:02:25. > :02:27.Scotland. They are concerned about a proposal by six national
:02:27. > :02:31.construction companies to change the national agreement for
:02:31. > :02:35.electricians. Given what is going on in Scotland, next time he meets
:02:35. > :02:39.with the First Minister could he remind him of the excellent work
:02:39. > :02:43.done in both parliaments in terms of providing a quality partnership?
:02:43. > :02:47.These proposals could undermine all of that good work. I certainly
:02:47. > :02:51.agree that it is vitally important that the UK government and Scottish
:02:51. > :02:56.government worked together. Whether it is on terms and conditions or
:02:56. > :02:59.the general state of the economy, that is really important. We, as
:02:59. > :03:04.the UK government, have taken important steps to support the
:03:04. > :03:07.Scottish government with the economy. Is my right honourable
:03:07. > :03:15.friend aware of the considerable construction activity that is
:03:15. > :03:17.taking place prior to deployment of Marine Energy in the Pentland Firth,
:03:17. > :03:20.particularly in the harbour? What more can the Government do to
:03:20. > :03:24.ensure that the right infrastructure is constructed now
:03:24. > :03:28.so that we benefit from the opportunity of marine energy in the
:03:29. > :03:34.future? As my Honourable Friend will be aware, through all our plan
:03:34. > :03:37.for growth, which is setting out the important basis on which we
:03:37. > :03:41.support the economy through these difficult times, cut in corporation
:03:41. > :03:47.tax, reducing the burden of income tax and the national insurance
:03:47. > :03:51.burden, a huge investment in Marine renewables, reforming the market,
:03:51. > :03:55.we are laying the foundations for that important sector to develop. I
:03:55. > :04:00.think it is very important that we don't have a undermined by the
:04:00. > :04:04.uncertainty that an independence referendum is causing in Scotland.
:04:04. > :04:07.If a competitive tax position is vital for the construction sector
:04:07. > :04:12.and the Scottish economy, which is why the Scottish government is
:04:12. > :04:15.calling for devolution of corporation tax powers. Will the
:04:15. > :04:18.Secretary of State confirm that the UK government is actively
:04:18. > :04:22.considering the devolution of corporation tax to Northern
:04:22. > :04:25.Ireland? The Honourable Gentleman knows full well that we have had a
:04:25. > :04:31.consultation about corporation tax devolution to Northern Ireland. We
:04:31. > :04:36.are reviewing the responses to that. I wish we could say the same about
:04:36. > :04:39.the Scottish government's proposals. We have asked a series of
:04:39. > :04:43.fundamental questions about them which have gone unanswered. We have
:04:43. > :04:47.yet to see the consultation responses. I suggest that the
:04:48. > :04:50.Honourable Gentleman asks the First Minister to get on with that.
:04:50. > :04:54.Secretary of State has taken the opportunity in the past to say that
:04:54. > :04:59.the UK government will consider the devolution of corporation tax
:04:59. > :05:02.powers to Scotland. However, an adviser to the Northern Ireland
:05:02. > :05:06.Secretary confirmed in evidence to the Scottish parliament that the UK
:05:06. > :05:10.government has already ruled out the devolution of corporation tax
:05:11. > :05:16.under any circumstances. Both statements cannot be true, so which
:05:16. > :05:20.one is? We have said that we want to consider any ballot proposals
:05:20. > :05:25.brought forward by the Scottish government. However, they have to
:05:26. > :05:29.establish some credible position, some detail, maintain the consensus
:05:29. > :05:34.across the parties and make sure there is not a detriment, not just
:05:34. > :05:40.to Scotland, but to the rest of the UK. So far, the SNP and the First
:05:40. > :05:48.Minister had failed to deliver the details. Margaret Curran. The new
:05:49. > :05:53.Scottish Secretary. Ken Knight return to the construction industry
:05:53. > :05:55.and ask about the specific concerns, where 10,000 jobs have been lost
:05:55. > :06:01.this year and the number of Scottish companies facing
:06:01. > :06:06.bankruptcy have risen by 135% in the last two years. With this in
:06:06. > :06:12.mind, will the Minister support Labour's call, and that of the
:06:12. > :06:15.Scottish Building Federation, for a one-year cut in VAT to 5%, a
:06:15. > :06:21.specific action to help boost the construction industry and get the
:06:22. > :06:24.Scottish economy moving again? First of all, Mr Speaker, may I
:06:24. > :06:29.welcome the honourable lady to her position? Without wishing her too
:06:29. > :06:35.much success in it, if I may say so. She brings a great deal of
:06:35. > :06:39.experience to this house. I look forward to our encounters. We have
:06:39. > :06:46.heard the Labour Party's proposals for reducing VAT. When it was last
:06:46. > :06:49.done, it didn't deliver what was hoped. I have to tell her, as we
:06:49. > :06:53.are seeing a cross in the eurozone at the moment, you cannot borrow
:06:53. > :07:00.your way out of a debt crisis. You have to have a credible plan and
:07:00. > :07:05.you have to deliver on it. That is what we are doing. Can I thank the
:07:05. > :07:08.Secretary of State for his kind opening remarks? I look forward to
:07:08. > :07:16.robust debates and work in the years to come. But that is an
:07:16. > :07:21.inadequate answer. The failed policies of this government mean we
:07:21. > :07:25.will borrow more command not reduce the debt. In reality, Scots are
:07:25. > :07:33.facing a double whammy from this Tory-led government cutting too far
:07:33. > :07:37.and too fast. From an SNP government, presiding over cuts to
:07:37. > :07:44.capital spending. In fact, Scotland is now in the midst of a crisis, a
:07:44. > :07:48.jobs and growth crisis. If he will not follow Labour's 5 point plan to
:07:48. > :07:52.boost jobs in Scotland, what specific action will this
:07:52. > :07:56.government taking Scotland, for Scotland, to get our economy moving
:07:56. > :08:01.again? The Honourable Lady cannot skip so lightly away from the mess
:08:01. > :08:05.we inherited from her previous government, where we inherited the
:08:05. > :08:11.highest deficit in peacetime history. We were borrowing �1 in
:08:11. > :08:14.every four that we spend. It was not a sustainable position. It is
:08:14. > :08:18.vital that we keep to our credible deficit reduction plan and deliver
:08:18. > :08:22.on the plan for growth, which has cut in corporation tax, maintaining
:08:22. > :08:26.low interest rates and reducing regulatory and national insurance
:08:26. > :08:30.mergers. As far as Scotland is concerned, I agree that a tax hike
:08:30. > :08:35.from the Scottish government in the spending review is bad for business.
:08:35. > :08:38.They must acknowledge that we have helped on pre-payments, we have
:08:38. > :08:43.helped with the availability of land from the MoD. Dad are many
:08:44. > :08:48.ways in which we are helping the Scottish government. Kevin Brennan.
:08:48. > :08:51.STUDIO: This is a question about the threshold for votes in a
:08:51. > :08:54.referendum. The Government has no such policy.
:08:54. > :09:00.The Scottish government has said it will bring forward proposals for a
:09:00. > :09:04.referendum. We urge them to end the delay and uncertainty by doing so.
:09:04. > :09:08.Whenever there is a referendum, the United Kingdom government will make
:09:08. > :09:13.the case for a prosperous Scotland in the UK. Shouldn't any referendum
:09:13. > :09:18.that has profound implications for Northern Ireland, Wales, England
:09:18. > :09:23.and Scotland itself involve a clear and straightforward tries between
:09:23. > :09:28.remaining in the UK and separation, and not muddy the waters with what
:09:28. > :09:31.my Honourable Friend has called, I can't believe it's not independence
:09:31. > :09:35.option? The Honourable Gentleman makes a very fair point. Perhaps it
:09:35. > :09:39.is not a great surprise, after the BBC poll at the weekend showed
:09:39. > :09:43.barely a quarter of Scots in favour of independence, it is maybe no
:09:43. > :09:47.surprise that the SNP are taking Scotland for granted and running
:09:47. > :09:52.away from an independent poll. It is creating uncertainty, that is
:09:52. > :09:55.damaging for business. Let's have a clear question and get on with it.
:09:55. > :10:00.In considering Scottish independence, has the Secretary of
:10:00. > :10:03.State seen recent legal advice that states that an independent Scotland
:10:03. > :10:07.would either be outside the European Union, and therefore lose
:10:07. > :10:12.EU funding and access to free markets, or be required to join the
:10:12. > :10:15.euro as a new accession state? Does he agree with me that it is further
:10:16. > :10:22.evidence that breaking up the United Kingdom would be bad for the
:10:22. > :10:26.people of Scotland? STUDIO: Eleanor Laing is the MP for Epping Forest,
:10:26. > :10:30.in Essex. The idea that the SNP could take for granted that
:10:30. > :10:34.Scotland would enter the European Union without negotiation or
:10:34. > :10:37.consideration to these kinds of issues is entirely fanciful. We
:10:37. > :10:44.need to get that sorted out. It is part of the uncertainty that needs
:10:44. > :10:49.to be resolved, sooner rather than later. On 8th May, the Scottish
:10:49. > :10:52.Secretary ruled out a 40% rule in a rigged referendum. He also said it
:10:52. > :10:55.was entirely a matter for the Scottish government and he would
:10:55. > :11:02.not be raising constitutional questions regarding a referendum on
:11:02. > :11:06.that matter. Does he stand by that? I don't think we should take any
:11:06. > :11:09.lessons on rigged referendums from the party opposite! They are
:11:09. > :11:13.determined not to have a straightforward referendum about
:11:13. > :11:17.the whole reason they exist, to make Scotland independent, but to
:11:17. > :11:20.bring other issues in as well. Let's get a straightforward
:11:20. > :11:24.question and end the damaging uncertainty. STUDIO: This is a
:11:25. > :11:28.question about cutting the costs of the Scotland Office. Scotland
:11:28. > :11:32.offers ministers are determined that the Office contributes to the
:11:32. > :11:37.task of reducing the deficit. I and my officials are bearing down hard
:11:37. > :11:41.on administrative costs by a range of administrative measures
:11:41. > :11:46.including sharing resources with other officers and making more
:11:46. > :11:50.efficient use of leasehold property. Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister
:11:50. > :11:53.wants to see small and more effective government. The Secretary
:11:53. > :11:57.of State for Scotland, only last year, called for the abolition of
:11:57. > :12:02.the Scottish Office. Would not the very capable minister be making a
:12:02. > :12:07.career enhancing move if he suggested at the dispatch box now
:12:07. > :12:13.that we abolish the Scottish Office, the Welsh Office and the Office for
:12:14. > :12:21.Northern Ireland and replace it with an office for the union?
:12:21. > :12:25.Absolutely not, Mr Speaker. At this time, when the United Kingdom faces
:12:25. > :12:32.the greatest danger from separatists that it has ever faced,
:12:32. > :12:39.the Scotland Office is a bulwark against independence. Is that what
:12:39. > :12:42.is called cutting the Department to the bone, Mr Speaker? I wonder if
:12:42. > :12:46.the minister will name all of his department? I always remember
:12:46. > :12:49.telling a previous Secretary of State that it must be the only
:12:50. > :12:58.empire in the whole of Westminster where the Secretary of State is
:12:58. > :13:02.able to name all of his staff. Can he? Mr Speaker, I pay tribute to
:13:02. > :13:06.the staff in the Scotland Office. With a small number of staff, we
:13:06. > :13:10.have pursued the Scotland Bill, which is a very significant piece
:13:10. > :13:15.of legislation through this house and into the other place. The
:13:15. > :13:20.Scotland Office has a key role to play as we move forward to preserve
:13:20. > :13:25.Scotland's place in the United Kingdom. STUDIO: This is a question
:13:26. > :13:29.about the benefits of the union to Scotland. Scotland's economic
:13:29. > :13:33.opportunities are larger, our finances are more robust. Our
:13:33. > :13:37.defences are stronger, influence on international stage greater, the
:13:37. > :13:42.welfare system more secure and family ties closer. These are just
:13:42. > :13:44.half a dozen reasons why we are stronger together. Does the
:13:45. > :13:48.Secretary of State agree that, given the tough economic crisis
:13:48. > :13:53.facing small European countries, the worst thing for Scotland would
:13:53. > :13:57.be a small, independent country, dependent on the eurozone, apart
:13:57. > :14:02.from the United Kingdom and the strength that brings? I think my
:14:02. > :14:05.Honourable Friend is absolutely right to highlight the issues that
:14:05. > :14:10.face Scotland if it chooses to be independent. The fact that we
:14:10. > :14:13.cannot go down that process without some very hard-nosed negotiations
:14:13. > :14:19.with European partners, who are facing real difficulties all over
:14:19. > :14:25.the Continent at present. What we need is to get the SNP's plans
:14:25. > :14:28.spelled out, and then let's get on with the referendum. Does the
:14:28. > :14:31.Secretary of State agree that the Social Union, the Commonwealth, the
:14:31. > :14:36.monarchy and the current Queen would be important, whatever
:14:36. > :14:39.constitutional arrangements that Scotland has in the future? This
:14:39. > :14:47.will their independent Canada, New Zealand and Australia, with
:14:47. > :14:51.Scotland being the Queen's 17th independent realm? I understand
:14:51. > :14:55.what the Honourable Gentleman's passion for Scotland's Independent
:14:55. > :15:04.it's his. I wish it was shared by some of those wanting to get on
:15:04. > :15:08.with the debate. What are they My right honourable friend has
:15:08. > :15:12.outlined the benefits to Scotland of its membership of the European
:15:12. > :15:15.Union and the uncertainty which would surround these benefits in
:15:15. > :15:19.the event Scotland was to become independent. Does my right
:15:19. > :15:21.honourable friend agree that it would help to resolve that
:15:21. > :15:25.uncertainty if the Scottish Government would publish the legal
:15:25. > :15:31.advice it has had on this point so that it may contribute properly to
:15:31. > :15:36.the debate? My right honourable and learned friend makes a very
:15:36. > :15:39.important point. The idea that we would somehow simply get membership
:15:39. > :15:42.of the European Union without discussion with complete agreement
:15:42. > :15:47.and without needing to worry about the terms and negotiations is quite
:15:47. > :15:52.fanciful. It's a journey into the unknown. We need to have the detail.
:15:52. > :15:55.Thank you, Mr Speaker. One of the many benefits associated with the
:15:55. > :15:59.union is the certainty it provides in Scotland's continuing membership
:15:59. > :16:03.of the European Union. Has the Secretary of State seen research
:16:03. > :16:06.that the impartial House of Commons library published yesterday which
:16:06. > :16:10.indicates Scotland might have to go through an accession process to
:16:10. > :16:15.stay in the EU if it became a separate state and that even if
:16:15. > :16:20.accepted as a member state, on the most recent data, net annual
:16:20. > :16:24.contributions to the EU from Scottish taxpayers would rise to
:16:24. > :16:29.�92 per capita compared with only �57 per capita from the rest of the
:16:29. > :16:32.UK? Would it not be contrary to Scotland's national and economic
:16:32. > :16:39.interests to separate from the rest of the UK if that meant Scotland
:16:39. > :16:46.ending up out of the EU or paying more to stay in the EU and only if
:16:46. > :16:52.it adopted the euro? These new Shadow Scotland Minister. May I
:16:52. > :16:57.welcome the honourable gentleman to his new role. I am delighted he's
:16:57. > :17:01.put his point across. I agree with him, the uncertainty this cause.
:17:01. > :17:05.This is a question about energy prices in Scotland. I recently
:17:05. > :17:14.discussed this issue with OFGEM and other key stake holders at the
:17:14. > :17:19.summit in Bathgate on October 20. This Government is determined to
:17:19. > :17:27.reduce energy bills. I welcome this. The right honourable gentleman's
:17:27. > :17:36.government is wanting to put a bonfire under quangos, so how does
:17:36. > :17:41.OFGEM's chairman's �200,000 a year salary set with not drawing above
:17:41. > :17:45.the Prime Minister's own salary? We're talking about energy prices
:17:45. > :17:49.rather than salaries, but I am sure the talents of the Secretary of
:17:49. > :17:53.State will allow him to remain in order. Secretary of State. I am
:17:53. > :17:57.delighted to say to the honourable gentleman he's right - I recognise
:17:57. > :18:00.his long-standing concerns on all of these issue, salaries, but also
:18:00. > :18:04.energy prices. That's why our proposals to simplify, help people
:18:05. > :18:11.to switch and get greater transparency in their bills and all
:18:11. > :18:14.the other reforms introduced by OFGEM are crucial. Thank you, Mr
:18:14. > :18:19.Speaker. One of the key groups of customers facing high energy prices
:18:19. > :18:24.this year are those not on the gas main who heat their homes with oil,
:18:24. > :18:29.LPG and other fuels. OFGEM sadly at the moment do not have a remit for
:18:29. > :18:33.them. Will he discuss with the Secretary of State for Energy and
:18:33. > :18:38.Climate Change whether there is any way those suppliers can be made to
:18:38. > :18:43.engage with their consumers who are vulnerable in the same way mains
:18:43. > :18:45.gas semiers have to? I know my colleagues in the Energy and
:18:45. > :18:48.Climate Change department will be meeting to discuss this in the next
:18:48. > :18:52.few weeks. I think my right honourable friend is right to
:18:52. > :18:55.highlight this issue. I look forward to picking it up with him
:18:55. > :19:01.at some point in the near future. Following on for that the Secretary
:19:01. > :19:06.of State for DEC sent around a letter yesterday promoting the
:19:06. > :19:10.Government's policy of checks which insulate. How does he suggest off-
:19:11. > :19:15.grid customers with either check or switch when in many areas there is
:19:15. > :19:18.a virtual monopoly of home fuel oil? There are far too many private
:19:18. > :19:22.conversations taking place in the chamber. We need to hear the
:19:22. > :19:26.Secretary of State. As I say, in answer to the question from my
:19:26. > :19:29.honourable friend, these are issues which we want to discuss and I
:19:29. > :19:33.recognise representing a big rural area without gas grid access that
:19:33. > :19:38.this is an important issue. I am happy to discuss it with him too.
:19:38. > :19:45.This is a question about a report from the Electoral Commission into
:19:45. > :19:50.the Scottish Parliamentry commission.
:19:50. > :19:52.- was voter focused. Given the Scottish Commission didn't complain
:19:52. > :19:57.about the Electoral Commission being involved in the elections,
:19:57. > :20:01.doesn't he think it's odd they now want to set up their own
:20:01. > :20:04.independent commission on the referendum? Mr Speaker, I agree
:20:04. > :20:07.with my honourable friend given that the SNP had no complaint about
:20:07. > :20:12.the Electoral Commission's involvement in the Scottish
:20:12. > :20:15.Parliament election and the AV referendum at great tax to the
:20:15. > :20:18.taxpayer, they intend to set up their own commission to oversee the
:20:18. > :20:24.referendum. No wonder so many people are speculating that is an
:20:24. > :20:30.attempt to rig that referendum. Will the Minister be meeting the
:20:30. > :20:32.Electoral Commission in Scotland on the 30th of November, or will he,
:20:32. > :20:39.like me, be supporting the public sector strike against Tory cuts and
:20:39. > :20:45.pensions? What I do welcome is that the honourable gentleman, as
:20:45. > :20:48.convener of the Scottish Affairs Select Committee brought it before
:20:48. > :20:52.his committee and will provide valuable evidence in the debate on
:20:52. > :20:55.the role that they should play in any referendum.
:20:55. > :20:59.THE SPEAKER: Mr Ian Stuart. Thank you, Mr Speaker is my right
:20:59. > :21:04.honourable friend aware of any recommendation in that report about
:21:04. > :21:06.changing the electorate in Scotland in the same way the Scottish
:21:07. > :21:13.Government wants to gerrymander the electorate for their independence
:21:13. > :21:17.referendum? Despite the accept, Ian Stuart is the Conservative MP for
:21:17. > :21:21.Milton Keynes South. The Electoral Commission report that my right
:21:21. > :21:24.honourable friend is correct to highlight those issues causing such
:21:24. > :21:30.uncertainty in relation to the Scottish separatists' referendum,
:21:30. > :21:33.namely, the franchise, the question and the timing.
:21:33. > :21:39.THE SPEAKER: Order. I appeal to the House to come to order and listen
:21:39. > :21:43.to Mr Frank Doran. This is a question about carbon capture in
:21:43. > :21:49.the north-east of Scotland. My most recent meeting with the Secretary
:21:49. > :21:53.of State for Energy and Climate Change was in October. Although it
:21:53. > :21:59.wasn't possible to reach a deal, the Government remains firmly
:21:59. > :22:06.committed to carbon capture and storage. I welcome the �1 billion
:22:06. > :22:10.of funding will be made available for future projects. Given that in
:22:10. > :22:16.the '80s we refused to invest in wind power and threw away the lead
:22:16. > :22:21.we had in renewables, is this government going to make the same
:22:21. > :22:25.mistake in the carbon capture? don't agree with the honourable
:22:25. > :22:29.gentleman on that, but I do agree with him that we're determined to
:22:29. > :22:35.see Britain take a leading role in this important technology. That's
:22:35. > :22:40.why the �1 billion of investment is still available and why Peter Head
:22:40. > :22:43.-- Peterhead and other parts of the UK will be able to bid for it.
:22:43. > :22:46.Speaker, I hope the Secretary of State will welcome the announcement
:22:46. > :22:50.by Scottish and Southern Energy this morning and Shell that they're
:22:50. > :22:54.bringing the project to Peterhead one step closer. What assurances
:22:55. > :22:59.can the Secretary of State give us that that project will not be
:22:59. > :23:05.shelved like the last Peterhead project from the last government
:23:05. > :23:09.and that we will see this investment to the place where -
:23:09. > :23:12.THE SPEAKER: Minister - Can I say to her in a week when we have seen
:23:12. > :23:17.a major international bank talk about the uncertainty of
:23:17. > :23:24.independence and the impact that's having on renewables investment in
:23:24. > :23:30.Scotland, I don't think we'll take lessons from the SNP about this. As
:23:30. > :23:34.I said to the gentleman, it is vitally important Peterhead and
:23:34. > :23:39.others come available with their bids. There is �1 billion to help
:23:39. > :23:46.them. This is a question about the Common
:23:46. > :23:51.fisheries policy. I have frequent discussions with the Cabinet
:23:51. > :24:01.Secretary for Rural Affairs and Environment, including a meeting
:24:01. > :24:06.last week on the Common Fisheries Policy and other matters.
:24:06. > :24:09.THE SPEAKER: Macintosh. Order! It's very unfair to the member asking
:24:10. > :24:14.the question, and indeed the Minister answering it. Let's have a
:24:14. > :24:19.bit of order. Ms Ann Macintosh. Does the Minister agree that the
:24:19. > :24:24.direction in which the negotiations on fisheries are going are entirely
:24:24. > :24:31.in the interests of the Scottish and UK fisheries to end discards
:24:31. > :24:34.and to allow for regional fisheries agreements going forward? I do
:24:35. > :24:38.indeed agree with the honourable lady, as I agree with Bertie
:24:39. > :24:43.Armstrong, the Chief Executive of the Scottish Fisheries Federation,
:24:43. > :24:49.who stated in his evidence to her Select Committee that the UK should
:24:49. > :24:54.speak with one voice in fisheries negotiations. How many
:24:54. > :24:59.conversations has he had with the fisheries commission to make sure
:24:59. > :25:03.they're not taken advantage by multinationals to use the UK as a
:25:03. > :25:07.flag of convenience? A I am sure the Minister will have understood
:25:07. > :25:11.the point that the honourable lady is making and she, like me, will
:25:11. > :25:15.welcome the fact there will be a backbench committee debate on
:25:15. > :25:18.fisheries next week. This is a question about unemployment in
:25:18. > :25:23.Scotland. Mr Speaker, my right honourable friend, the Secretary of
:25:23. > :25:28.State, and I are in regular contact about unemployment in Scotland with
:25:28. > :25:31.John sweenny, the Scottish Minister responsible for employment matters.
:25:32. > :25:35.Scottish Government agencies have been involved in all the employment
:25:35. > :25:41.seminars. My right honourable friend, the Secretary of State, has
:25:41. > :25:48.held over the past six months. the Minister tell the people of my
:25:48. > :25:52.constituency who have lost their jobs since he got his job - is
:25:52. > :25:57.unemployment a price worth paying for a deficit reduction plan that
:25:57. > :26:00.is choking off growth and raising Government debt? Well, I can
:26:00. > :26:09.certainly tell the honourable lady to be slightly less predictable,
:26:09. > :26:13.and I can also tell her to finally take some responsibility for the
:26:13. > :26:20.situation which her Government left this country in with the biggest
:26:20. > :26:25.peacetime deficit in our history. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Unemployment
:26:25. > :26:27.could be reduced if the community bid to take over the former RAS and
:26:27. > :26:30.PROBLEM WITH SOUND Goes ahead. I hope the Ministry of
:26:30. > :26:34.Defence will make a contribution towards making the water supply fit
:26:34. > :26:38.for purpose so the communities bid is viable. Will the Minister please
:26:39. > :26:42.have a word with the Ministry of Defence to encourage them to do so?
:26:42. > :26:47.Mr Speaker, I am happy to meet with my honourable friend and take
:26:47. > :26:51.forward his concerns with the Ministry of Defence. To take
:26:51. > :26:57.responsibility for something his Government has done. This morning
:26:57. > :27:01.House of Commons figures show youth unemployment in my constituency has
:27:01. > :27:05.risen by 200.82%. What is he going to say to the people of the
:27:05. > :27:09.Sterling constituency that they have done over the last 18 months?
:27:09. > :27:14.Well, what the right honourable lady knows is that youth
:27:14. > :27:20.unemployment rose under her Labour Government too. It is a serious -
:27:20. > :27:24.it is a serious issue which should not be the subject of party
:27:24. > :27:28.politicking, and we should all work together to resolve youth
:27:28. > :27:31.unemployment. I am afraid that's all we have time for at the moment
:27:31. > :27:36.and indeed for 2011 because the way the parliamentary calendar works,