:00:19. > :00:27.Hello and welcome to a slightly damp Westminster for the may edition of
:00:28. > :00:32.Scottish questions. Coming less than a week after the elections to the
:00:33. > :00:38.Holyrood parliament. Down here there is one issue that is dominating
:00:39. > :00:43.politics. That is the EU and the upcoming referendum. Should the UK
:00:44. > :00:49.stay in or should it leave the EU? As we are about to find out, it was
:00:50. > :00:55.that question and discussions around it, that dominated Scottish
:00:56. > :01:02.questions. Order, order. I have to tell the
:01:03. > :01:06.house that yesterday, together with other right honourable and
:01:07. > :01:13.honourable members, I attended upon Her Majesty The Queen to deliver the
:01:14. > :01:22.House's message of congratulations on her 90th birthday. Her Majesty
:01:23. > :01:26.made the following reply... Members of the House of the is, I am most
:01:27. > :01:33.grateful to you for your address on the occasion of my 90th birthday. I
:01:34. > :01:37.have been deeply touched by the many messages of congratulations, which I
:01:38. > :01:41.have received on this particular birthday. And I warmly reciprocate
:01:42. > :01:48.the good wishes of members of the House of, is at this time. In order.
:01:49. > :01:58.Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland. Patricia Gibson.
:01:59. > :02:01.Question number one, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, can I begin by
:02:02. > :02:04.congratulating Nicola Sturgeon and the Scottish National Party on
:02:05. > :02:12.achieving the largest number of seats in last week's Scottish
:02:13. > :02:15.Parliament elections. And say I look forward to working with her and the
:02:16. > :02:22.new Scottish Government for the benefit of the people of Scotland. I
:02:23. > :02:30.would like to answer questions one, two, three, six, seven and eight
:02:31. > :02:34.together. The government's position is Scotland and the UK will be
:02:35. > :02:40.stronger, safer and better off remaining in a reformed EU.
:02:41. > :02:42.Membership of the EU reduces costs for Scottish businesses, supports
:02:43. > :02:51.jobs in Scotland and provides an export market currently worth 11.6
:02:52. > :02:56.billion pounds. A rerun of a project fear from the Prime Minister will
:02:57. > :02:59.not win the European referendum. Stories of war, genocide and
:03:00. > :03:05.economic crashes are not in keeping with making a positive case for the
:03:06. > :03:11.EU. Can Secretary of State tell the House when we hear the positive case
:03:12. > :03:17.for remaining the EU? Can I add my congratulations to the honourable
:03:18. > :03:22.lady's Husband on his re-election to the Scottish Parliament, where I am
:03:23. > :03:28.sure his witty repartee will be welcomed. What I say to the
:03:29. > :03:31.honourable lady, is she and her colleagues repeatedly called for a
:03:32. > :03:38.positive campaign for Scotland to remain in the EU, but all we hear
:03:39. > :03:44.about from then is process and calls for a second recommend. I call on
:03:45. > :03:52.them to disregard that approach and start setting out the positive case
:03:53. > :03:57.themselves. The UK Government has shown disregard for Scotland's
:03:58. > :04:01.higher education by scrapping the poster do work Visa against the
:04:02. > :04:04.unanimous wishes of the business and Scottish political parties. Does the
:04:05. > :04:11.Secretary of State accept a crippling effect is EU referendum is
:04:12. > :04:18.having in its ability to attract young talent to Scotland? What I
:04:19. > :04:23.believe is the biggest issue that faces Scotland currently, is the
:04:24. > :04:27.uncertainty over the Scottish Government's inability to rule out a
:04:28. > :04:31.second independence referendum, which they could quite easily do. I
:04:32. > :04:38.look forward to the First Minister, if she is re-elected, setting out
:04:39. > :04:44.clearly we aren't going to have a second independence referendum. The
:04:45. > :04:48.Scottish affairs select committee has carried out a good report into
:04:49. > :05:00.the Visa issue and the government is looking at it. Does the Secretary of
:05:01. > :05:04.State considered the 60% of the UK landings in Scotland, a Scottish
:05:05. > :05:11.Fisheries Minister should lead during the UK presidency of the EU?
:05:12. > :05:14.Is the Secretary of State still stuck in this Westminster rut of
:05:15. > :05:26.some nations being more equal than others? Mr Speaker, my position is
:05:27. > :05:31.Scotland voted to remain part of the United Kingdom and that the United
:05:32. > :05:36.Kingdom represents Scotland's interests on fishing in the EU. The
:05:37. > :05:39.honourable lady may be aware the Scottish Government and UK
:05:40. > :05:43.Government have been discussing intergovernmental relations, and in
:05:44. > :05:51.particular how these issues of representation at the EU should
:05:52. > :05:58.work. My understanding is the SNP previously were in agreement with
:05:59. > :06:02.those proposals. This week report was critical of the UK Government's
:06:03. > :06:09.approach to the energy sector, saying it is not only stalling
:06:10. > :06:13.investment were jeopardising UK energy security. Does the Secretary
:06:14. > :06:20.of State agreed the best way for Scotland's energy policy to
:06:21. > :06:24.developers within the EU? I absolutely agree that it is in the
:06:25. > :06:28.best interests of Scotland to remain in the EU and it is in the best
:06:29. > :06:36.interests of Scotland to remain in the UK. Because it has been clearly
:06:37. > :06:45.set out the best way forward for Scotland's energy sector is to have
:06:46. > :06:51.a UK wide common market. We clearly want the UK to remain part of the
:06:52. > :06:55.EU, I am wondering if the Secretary of State's mission is to antagonise
:06:56. > :07:00.as many Scots as possible before the referendum. Will he agree, should
:07:01. > :07:04.Scotland be dragged out of the EU against its will, it will be a major
:07:05. > :07:08.constitutional change? The honourable gentleman might be
:07:09. > :07:16.interested to know that tomorrow night I am sharing a platform with
:07:17. > :07:26.the former deputy leader of the SNP, where I will be making the positive
:07:27. > :07:28.case for Scotland remaining in the EU. I understand he will be making
:07:29. > :07:45.the case for Scotland leaving the EU. The Royal College of psychiatry
:07:46. > :07:50.has warned that UK leaving the EU would remove rights for psychiatric
:07:51. > :07:56.uses. Would he join me in safeguarding mental health and
:07:57. > :07:59.prevent any attempts for Scotland to leave the European Convention on
:08:00. > :08:03.human rights? The honourable lady is aware that the government is going
:08:04. > :08:11.to bring forward a consultation on a bill of rights post the EU
:08:12. > :08:18.referendum. But I do agree with her, the united kingdom remaining in VUE
:08:19. > :08:24.is for the benefit of everyone in Scotland. Mr Speaker, would the
:08:25. > :08:31.Secretary of State agreed that the government is split on the issue of
:08:32. > :08:37.when we should remain in the European Union, just as the SNP are.
:08:38. > :08:50.Would the secretary of state say it is embarrassing for the government
:08:51. > :08:54.to be associated with that lot? Mr Speaker, what this government does
:08:55. > :09:00.which the Scottish National Party doesn't always do is respect people
:09:01. > :09:05.have different opinions. My view is very firmly that Scotland should
:09:06. > :09:11.remain in the EU, but I recognise and respect there are people in
:09:12. > :09:16.Scotland, including SNP voters and supporters who want Scotland to
:09:17. > :09:19.leave the EU. Therefore, that is why we are having a referendum, that is
:09:20. > :09:28.why we are having a debate and the people will have their say. Mr
:09:29. > :09:32.Speaker, why hasn't my right honourable friend emphasised that
:09:33. > :09:34.when we leave the European Union, the Scottish Parliament, the
:09:35. > :09:41.Scottish Government and the Scottish people will have control over
:09:42. > :09:48.Scottish fishing waters? I don't leave, Mr Speaker, the best
:09:49. > :09:51.interests of Scottish fishermen, Scottish farmers or the general
:09:52. > :09:55.population of Scotland would be served by leaving beat you. Because
:09:56. > :10:05.my honourable friend, will note that large amounts of fish, particularly
:10:06. > :10:15.shellfish caught off the west coast of Scotland, goes to a European
:10:16. > :10:19.market. Does my right honourable friend agree that Scotland, like the
:10:20. > :10:29.rest of the United Kingdom, would be safer if it left the European Union,
:10:30. > :10:34.because as the former head of MI6 has said, Britain is Europe's leader
:10:35. > :10:46.in intelligence and security matters and gives much more than it gets in
:10:47. > :10:50.return? No. What assessment has the Secretary of State undertaken as to
:10:51. > :10:57.why the SNP are so keen on the EU, when it is clear the EU is in the
:10:58. > :11:00.global economic slow lane, when the EU unemployment rates are so much
:11:01. > :11:06.higher, including youth unemployment, over 50% in certain
:11:07. > :11:08.countries. And the common fisheries policy, has over the years,
:11:09. > :11:19.decimated the Scottish fishing fleet? Mr Speaker, I do know the
:11:20. > :11:23.inherent contradiction in the SNP position because every argument they
:11:24. > :11:27.use for Scotland remaining in the EU were arguments they dismissed in
:11:28. > :11:32.relation to Scotland remaining in the United Kingdom. On this
:11:33. > :11:39.occasion, I will forgive them, because I believe, like them, it is
:11:40. > :11:45.in Scotland's best interest to remain in the EU. A pensioner in my
:11:46. > :11:50.right honourable friend's constituency would like to say how
:11:51. > :11:57.pleased she is at having two things to choose from and is seeking
:11:58. > :12:04.reassurance in a reformed EU as a pensioner, she will be better off? I
:12:05. > :12:10.am absolutely clear that the reforms which the Prime Minister brought
:12:11. > :12:16.forward will improve the EU for pensioners and citizens right across
:12:17. > :12:23.Scotland. I also believe it is not the end of the reform process. The
:12:24. > :12:30.EU is not perfect, even after these reforms. It is up to the UK to lead
:12:31. > :12:35.in reforming the EU, not withdraw from it. I know the Secretary of
:12:36. > :12:38.State will be aware the EU is based on its current member state. What
:12:39. > :12:42.assessment has been made of the Scottish Parliament election results
:12:43. > :12:46.in ensuring the integrity of one of its largest members and removing the
:12:47. > :12:53.prospect of Scotland having to join as a new member? What I would say to
:12:54. > :12:58.my honourable friend, there was a clear message from last week's
:12:59. > :13:02.Scottish Parliament elections. The people of Scotland don't want
:13:03. > :13:09.another referendum. I hope the First Minister has heard that message loud
:13:10. > :13:15.and clear. The EU referendum is about the UK's membership of the EU.
:13:16. > :13:25.It is not a rerun of the Scottish Independence Referendum Bill. Can I
:13:26. > :13:30.take this opportunity to congratulate all MSPs elected last
:13:31. > :13:36.week and the SNP historic third term in government in Scotland. I do have
:13:37. > :13:43.to say in Edinburgh South, it was a net gain from the SNP. Can I
:13:44. > :13:49.congratulate the secretary of state on his son Oliver being elected to
:13:50. > :13:57.the Scottish Parliament. They also both have fetching beards. With the
:13:58. > :14:02.word fetching the used loosely! The evidence is clear the UK and
:14:03. > :14:09.Scotland are stronger in the EU. In the Scottish context, 42% of
:14:10. > :14:12.exports, a quarter of a million jobs, 10% of higher education
:14:13. > :14:18.spending and a whole host of social protection. Can the Secretary of
:14:19. > :14:26.State give assurance that all MSPs will be campaigning to stay in the
:14:27. > :14:27.European Union? I thank the honourable gentleman for his
:14:28. > :14:31.congratulations and the congratulations to my son. The high
:14:32. > :14:38.point of the election for me was when somebody on the door said, you
:14:39. > :14:44.look a lot like your dad. But that aside, what I can assure him, is
:14:45. > :14:49.there will be a robust and proper debate in Scotland. Ruth Davidson,
:14:50. > :14:53.head of the beginning of this referendum process, made her
:14:54. > :14:57.position very clear on supporting Scotland remaining in the EU. But we
:14:58. > :15:02.cannot hide the fact there are people in Scotland who would like to
:15:03. > :15:05.leave the EU. I think their views should be reflected. The
:15:06. > :15:09.Conservative Party isn't frightened in Scotland to hide the fact there
:15:10. > :15:15.are different views. There are different views across Scotland.
:15:16. > :15:22.The Secretary of State has not told us what Oliver's response was.
:15:23. > :15:25.Everyone knows that this referendum is more about settling old scores in
:15:26. > :15:31.the Conservative Party than doing what is best for the UK and indeed
:15:32. > :15:35.Scotland. They also know that the SNP are desperate for any excuse to
:15:36. > :15:42.trigger another referendum. The truth is, and we all know, that the
:15:43. > :15:47.UK is better in the EU and Scotland is better off in the UK. Isn't it
:15:48. > :15:51.the case that the Secretary of State has taken a huge gamble with the
:15:52. > :15:57.future of the UK and the future of Scotland? Absolutely not. What we
:15:58. > :16:03.have done is to allow the people of Scotland and the people across the
:16:04. > :16:07.United Kingdom to have their say on this important issue. And they will
:16:08. > :16:11.do. And we need to have a debate in Scotland. I am campaigning
:16:12. > :16:22.vigorously, as he appears to be, for Scotland to remain in the EU. People
:16:23. > :16:26.like Jim Sillars are campaigning for Scotland to leave the EU. Let's have
:16:27. > :16:29.a vigorous debate in Scotland over the next few weeks and I look
:16:30. > :16:37.forward to sharing a platform with him and SNP colleagues.
:16:38. > :16:43.May I add my congratulations to the election of Oliver on Dell to the
:16:44. > :16:46.Scottish Parliament? Candy Secretary of State confirm that he will
:16:47. > :16:52.continue to champion the Scotland Bill, which he passed through this
:16:53. > :16:55.House, which is given so much powers to the Scottish Parliament, to
:16:56. > :17:01.ensure that Scottish people continue to benefit not just being in the UK,
:17:02. > :17:09.but being in the EU as well? Thank you for that from my honourable
:17:10. > :17:13.friend. I must get my son elected more often because there are more
:17:14. > :17:20.plaudits today than I recall ever previously at Scottish questions!
:17:21. > :17:24.What I would say to him is that of course we will move forward with the
:17:25. > :17:27.implementation of the Scotland Bill. But we will also work hard to
:17:28. > :17:35.achieve a positive outcome for Scotland in the EU referendum. Does
:17:36. > :17:38.the Secretary of State agree that the high levels of support in
:17:39. > :17:40.Scotland for remaining in the European Union could be improved
:17:41. > :17:45.further still if Scottish farmers could be confident they can get
:17:46. > :17:52.their capital payments when they are supposed to? The right Honourable
:17:53. > :17:58.gentleman raises a very important point. The reason the payments have
:17:59. > :18:04.not been made to farmers in Scotland is due to the previous SNP Scottish
:18:05. > :18:09.government. And any attempts to suggest it was the EU is incorrect.
:18:10. > :18:15.I think that farmers and others know the benefits to Scotland of being in
:18:16. > :18:20.the EU and will vote to remain. If the EU were to withdraw from the EU,
:18:21. > :18:23.what impact would this have on Scotland and the EU relationship
:18:24. > :18:28.with Malawi, which I know my honourable friend has recently been
:18:29. > :18:38.to? My honourable friend knows that I did recently visit Malawi. And
:18:39. > :18:42.without being indiscreet, I can firmly say the Malawian government
:18:43. > :18:54.are in favour of Scotland and the UK staying in the EU. It seems like a
:18:55. > :18:59.minority of Scottish people want to leave the EU. What is his message,
:19:00. > :19:03.as Secretary of State, what is his message to the Scottish people if we
:19:04. > :19:11.are taken out of the EU against our National Collective well? I think
:19:12. > :19:20.that is another positive campaigning point from the SNP. It is not for me
:19:21. > :19:24.to give the SNP advice. But if my vote had fallen by 500,000 from the
:19:25. > :19:28.general election, I would be focusing on getting my supporters
:19:29. > :19:37.out to vote on the 23rd of June to ensure that Scotland votes to
:19:38. > :19:42.remain. We on these benches are delighted that in the run-up to the
:19:43. > :19:47.European Union referendum, the Scottish electorate has returned a
:19:48. > :19:52.pro-European SNP government. Returned with the highest vote of
:19:53. > :19:59.any party currently Anni were in national elections Anni were in
:20:00. > :20:03.Western Europe. -- anywhere. Most people in Scotland are very pleased
:20:04. > :20:11.that when given the opportunity the Scottish electorate did not return a
:20:12. > :20:18.single MSP from the UK Independence Party and there is a majority in the
:20:19. > :20:21.Scottish parliament for Scottish independence as a member of the
:20:22. > :20:27.European Union. On the case for remaining in the EU -- EU, will the
:20:28. > :20:35.UK government concentrate police are making a positive and inspiring case
:20:36. > :20:39.to stay rather than warming endless scare stories up? I made it clear to
:20:40. > :20:43.the honourable gentleman that that is exactly what my intention is.
:20:44. > :20:48.Perhaps he could undertake today to stop obsessing about process and a
:20:49. > :20:51.second Scottish Independence Referendum, and concentrate himself
:20:52. > :20:58.entirely on the positive reasons for Scotland remaining in the EU. If
:20:59. > :21:01.Scotch whiskey is the largest net goods exporter to the European
:21:02. > :21:07.Union, both from Scotland and for the United Kingdom as a whole, does
:21:08. > :21:10.the Secretary of State agree that the European single market is
:21:11. > :21:17.profoundly important and positive for the ?1 billion of trade, meaning
:21:18. > :21:20.there is no need for customs forms, duplication of labelling and safety
:21:21. > :21:26.requirements? Will heat stress the positive advantages to the whiskey
:21:27. > :21:32.industry and all exporters from Scotland, to jobs and profitability,
:21:33. > :21:37.by remaining within the European single market and the European
:21:38. > :21:40.Union? I am absolutely clear that what the honourable gentleman states
:21:41. > :21:49.is the case and I am sure that he will have welcomed the visit to
:21:50. > :21:51.Scotland yesterday my right friend, the secretary of state for Defra, to
:21:52. > :21:55.stress the importance to the whiskey industry of remaining within the
:21:56. > :22:01.single market. The particular pointy makes about duplication in relation
:22:02. > :22:04.to labelling certification and licensing our once which the Scotch
:22:05. > :22:16.Whisky Association have made, and once the public will take into
:22:17. > :22:21.account in voting in the referendum. Of course this is an important
:22:22. > :22:25.sector and it faces difficult times. That is why I am delighted the
:22:26. > :22:29.Chancellor announced a ?1 billion package in the budget reducing
:22:30. > :22:34.headline rates of tax, major investment opportunities and
:22:35. > :22:40.encouragement in exploration, infrastructure, and a quarter of ?1
:22:41. > :22:43.billion Aberdeen city deal along with the creation of
:22:44. > :22:49.interministerial groups specifically targeting the oil and gas sector.
:22:50. > :22:56.Does the Minister agree that we need a long-term approach to secure the
:22:57. > :23:00.future of the jobs in the oil and gas industry in the North Sea? And
:23:01. > :23:08.that part of the future is making sure the skills developed over many
:23:09. > :23:13.decades are not lost? I could not agree with my honourable friend
:23:14. > :23:15.more. That is why, as I said, we have established an interministerial
:23:16. > :23:22.group specifically looking at this and many other issues. In this -- in
:23:23. > :23:30.a short period of time we will publish our workforce plan.
:23:31. > :23:36.The gas industry provides vital stocks to Britain's largest
:23:37. > :23:38.manufacturing sector. Can the Minister assure the House the
:23:39. > :23:46.government will continue to support as many jobs as it can in this vital
:23:47. > :23:48.sector? The short answer is of course, yes. I would like to pay
:23:49. > :23:54.tribute to my honourable friend for the work he does in relation to
:23:55. > :23:57.chemicals. In very important sector. I'm very pleased to see the sort of
:23:58. > :24:06.work they are doing to increase exports. Last week I raised concerns
:24:07. > :24:14.related to the transatlantic trade and investment and the threat to our
:24:15. > :24:25.public services. Only for these to be dismissed by the Prime Minister
:24:26. > :24:31.row. -- PM. With the Secretary of State make representations to the
:24:32. > :24:40.Prime Minister to insist on specific exemptions? Mr Speaker, on this
:24:41. > :24:47.dispatch box, I and other ministers have repeatedly said that these
:24:48. > :24:51.sorts of claims... I'm waiting for the honourable member to take his
:24:52. > :24:57.seat. I do not wish to be rude to the honourable lady, but this is
:24:58. > :25:00.absolute rubbish she puts forward. The Prime Minister is absolutely
:25:01. > :25:03.right. This is a red herring. I undertake to share with her all of
:25:04. > :25:09.the letters from impartial sources that have written to support our
:25:10. > :25:12.intention that public services, especially the NHS, have no threat
:25:13. > :25:19.whatsoever. It is a good idea. The Minister, I
:25:20. > :25:21.hope, is aware of the increasing anxiety of Scottish entities
:25:22. > :25:25.ironworkers about reductions in investment in safety offshore and
:25:26. > :25:30.the failure of many companies to work what personally would trade
:25:31. > :25:35.union safety representatives. What recent assessment has she made of
:25:36. > :25:41.safety offshore? What can we say to our constituents to reassure them
:25:42. > :25:45.the government is on the case? Can I thank the honourable gentleman
:25:46. > :25:49.for his question? He makes some very important points. I am more than
:25:50. > :25:53.happy to meet with him to discuss these, including any allegations
:25:54. > :25:57.that the unions have not been fully engaged with. I do not have
:25:58. > :25:59.difficulty with trade unions. More than happy to meet to discuss this
:26:00. > :26:15.important matter. The trade union act is now waiting
:26:16. > :26:18.Royal assent. I should say it is about employment and industrial
:26:19. > :26:23.relations law, which are reserved matters and will deploy consistently
:26:24. > :26:26.across the United Kingdom. We have engaged with the Scottish government
:26:27. > :26:36.through the passage of the bill and we will carry on with that work.
:26:37. > :26:42.Despite the trade union bill's worst elements being removed or water
:26:43. > :26:44.down, it is still a bad bill. Does the Secretary of State agree that a
:26:45. > :26:52.bad bill will not make for good industrial relations in Scotland? I
:26:53. > :26:57.do not share his views on the act. I think it is an excellent act and I
:26:58. > :27:01.fully support it and its aims. Parties in Wales and Scotland have
:27:02. > :27:06.prepared legislative consent memorandums on the trade union Bill
:27:07. > :27:09.on the basis that it clearly impinges on devolved competencies.
:27:10. > :27:14.In the light of this thus the Minister not know agree that builds
:27:15. > :27:17.should be subject to legislative consent motion is? What action with
:27:18. > :27:23.the government to take to ensure that similar circumstances do not
:27:24. > :27:26.arise in future? I am reliably informed that has. I think the
:27:27. > :27:33.honourable lady is just not up to date. Row with the relegation of
:27:34. > :27:38.labour to third place in the Scottish Elections Bill, with the
:27:39. > :27:43.Minister agree that now is exactly the right time to be introducing an
:27:44. > :27:49.opt in system for union members rather than it being a default
:27:50. > :27:52.position? The honourable lady makes a very good point. Can I pay
:27:53. > :27:59.handsome tribute to the outstanding Ruth Davidson? Like the Prime
:28:00. > :28:03.Minister, she is a moderate, sensible conservative, one nation
:28:04. > :28:08.Conservative. She has turned the skies of Scotland blue with, if I
:28:09. > :28:15.may say, a Roz -- a rather pleasing tint of pink at the edges.
:28:16. > :28:21.The government made a number of concessions on the trade union act
:28:22. > :28:28.but the act still seeks to undermine constrictive social partnership.
:28:29. > :28:32.Given that the government says that it believes in mutual respect
:28:33. > :28:35.between central government and the devolved institutions, will it now
:28:36. > :28:40.hold immediate discussions with the devolved institutions about how the
:28:41. > :28:46.act will relate to Scotland and Wales? Discussions are always
:28:47. > :28:49.continuing. I think this is another red herring. The honourable
:28:50. > :28:52.gentleman is out of touch. The act is good for Britain, good for trade
:28:53. > :28:55.unions, good for future working relations.
:28:56. > :29:02.I'm afraid that is all we have time for at the moment. Because of the
:29:03. > :29:05.Parliamentary calendar, the next Scottish questions will be on the
:29:06. > :29:11.6th of July, when we will know the result of that all-important EU
:29:12. > :29:16.referendum. I would imagine that and the fallout from that vote will
:29:17. > :29:17.dominate the next Scottish questions.
:29:18. > :29:22.From all of us, goodbye.