0:00:16 > 0:00:20Welcome to a very sunny Westminster for the September edition. The
0:00:20 > 0:00:24party political conferences are round the corner but in the
0:00:24 > 0:00:28meantime, MPs are keen to show that their back at work after that long
0:00:28 > 0:00:33summer break. There are a variety of questions for Michael Moore and
0:00:33 > 0:00:36his ministerial team on subjects ranging from the economy to law and
0:00:36 > 0:00:43order and that old favourite, the West Lothian question. Here is how
0:00:43 > 0:00:50it got underway. Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland.
0:00:50 > 0:00:54Question number one. The Government is committed to supporting disabled
0:00:54 > 0:00:58people into employment and the amount of money going into this is
0:00:58 > 0:01:04being protected. A consultation on the future strategy of Remploy will
0:01:04 > 0:01:10take place in Glasgow today and the staff have been invited to attend.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14Thank you. I thank the Minister for that response. As job losses
0:01:14 > 0:01:23continue to increase in my constituency, could the Minister
0:01:23 > 0:01:30tell may if he means to engage on the subjective Remploy to make sure
0:01:30 > 0:01:35that jobs are protected? I can assure the Honourable Member, who
0:01:35 > 0:01:39is a good fighter on the case of Remploy, that decisions have been
0:01:39 > 0:01:46made about Remploy. I understand he attended a meeting in the Scottish
0:01:46 > 0:01:52Parliament organised by Helen et, which undertook to do a response to
0:01:52 > 0:01:59the consultation and that response is very welcome in the consultation
0:01:59 > 0:02:03process. The Dundee factory is in the Honourable gentleman's
0:02:03 > 0:02:07constituency and a number of my constituents work in it and it
0:02:07 > 0:02:12makes first-class chemical and biological suits. They are required
0:02:12 > 0:02:18by emergency services and the military. Can I ask the Minister
0:02:18 > 0:02:21not just to speak to the DWP, but also the MoD and the Home Secretary,
0:02:21 > 0:02:29to ensure emergency services and the military look very carefully at
0:02:29 > 0:02:35what Remploy produce, particularly the quality of those suits.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39Honourable Gentleman will know that his fellow member from Dundee has
0:02:39 > 0:02:45already met with the MoD and they have confirmed the high standard
0:02:45 > 0:02:49and quality of work which Remploy carry out in the factory in Dundee
0:02:49 > 0:02:56but I would urge him and everyone in Scotland with an interest in
0:02:56 > 0:02:59this matter to take part in the consultation. I am sure the
0:02:59 > 0:03:03Minister will be aware that there is seven other Remploy factories in
0:03:03 > 0:03:07Scotland. Does the Minister accept that while colleagues in government
0:03:07 > 0:03:11talk about the importance of manufacturing, it would be crass
0:03:11 > 0:03:14and foolhardy to embark on the closure of factories providing
0:03:14 > 0:03:19goods and jobs and were public sector procurement could make the
0:03:19 > 0:03:26difference to making sure they are viable in the future. Will he make
0:03:26 > 0:03:29representations to ensure those jobs are protected? I am sure the
0:03:29 > 0:03:34Honourable Gentleman will agree that the fact that around 50% of
0:03:34 > 0:03:37disabled people are out of work and those in work are often working in
0:03:37 > 0:03:42shops below their potential isn't acceptable. Closing the
0:03:42 > 0:03:47unemployment gap between disabled and non-disabled people could boost
0:03:47 > 0:03:50the economy by �13 billion and the Government wants to achieve that.
0:03:50 > 0:03:57We are undertaking a consultation and I urge him and everyone with
0:03:57 > 0:04:04any interest to take part. Sheridan. No. 2. This is a question
0:04:04 > 0:04:08about energy providers... I will answer a question to and question 5.
0:04:08 > 0:04:12Increases continue to be a matter of concern. I recently discussed
0:04:12 > 0:04:21this with the six largest energy providers in Scotland as well as
0:04:21 > 0:04:24consumer groups. Thank you. You'll be aware that the energy companies
0:04:24 > 0:04:30are just a major cartel. Can I suggest he goes forward with one of
0:04:30 > 0:04:34two options. One is to give the real powers to of Jim to say no to
0:04:34 > 0:04:42these companies when they come forward with huge increases, or
0:04:42 > 0:04:46better, bring the power back to this house? Can I say that we share
0:04:46 > 0:04:52the desire to be vigilant in all that we see in the energy market
0:04:52 > 0:04:57and that is why the work that OFGEM does is very important and having
0:04:57 > 0:05:01had the latest series of discussions, building on one's
0:05:01 > 0:05:05earlier, they are in no doubt that the Government expects them to look
0:05:05 > 0:05:11carefully at their policies and I can assure him he will continue to
0:05:11 > 0:05:16be vigilant on that. 100,000 pensioners in Glasgow face cuts to
0:05:16 > 0:05:21the winter fuel allowance totalling �4 million. At the same time,
0:05:21 > 0:05:26energy companies put up prices by 20%. Does the Secretary of State
0:05:26 > 0:05:33agree that no pensioner should have to choose between heating and foot
0:05:33 > 0:05:38and what will he do? You are right to focus attention on some of the
0:05:38 > 0:05:42most honourable in society, class go and indeed elsewhere. I will
0:05:42 > 0:05:45point out that the winter fuel allowance will return as planned by
0:05:45 > 0:05:51the previous government to its previous level but the cold weather
0:05:51 > 0:05:56payment on which we spent over �50 million last year will continue to
0:05:56 > 0:06:02be at the higher level than before. As he will be aware, he studies
0:06:02 > 0:06:06these matches, through the Warm Home discount scheme, which is
0:06:06 > 0:06:14statutory, replacing the voluntary scheme, we will ensure we get more
0:06:14 > 0:06:18than double the amount of assistance to vulnerable households.
0:06:18 > 0:06:25The secretary of state should take the opportunity to talk to
0:06:25 > 0:06:31renewable energy providers, given that the only way at connected to
0:06:31 > 0:06:38the great is by overhead pylons and if they have on to ground in Alpine
0:06:38 > 0:06:41countries, will he insist on this in the Highlands? I understand the
0:06:41 > 0:06:46sensitivity for my friend and it does occur across the country. This
0:06:46 > 0:06:49is something that is very important to have careful consideration of
0:06:49 > 0:06:57and as proposals for the transmission network come forward,
0:06:57 > 0:07:01they take full account of other considerations. In his decisions --
0:07:01 > 0:07:05discussions, has the Secretary of State discussed those million
0:07:05 > 0:07:09households not on the gasmen and what are the energy company is
0:07:09 > 0:07:14going to do to give them the opportunity for cheaper fuel?
0:07:14 > 0:07:18are keen to ensure that consumers have as much choice as possible and
0:07:18 > 0:07:22whether it is through extending the transmission network for different
0:07:22 > 0:07:26sources of energy or looking at ways in which we can enhance
0:07:26 > 0:07:30competitiveness in the market through increased transparency and
0:07:30 > 0:07:33improvements in smart meters. All these measures must be looked at
0:07:33 > 0:07:42and I will put this points to the energy companies the next time we
0:07:42 > 0:07:45talk. In these discussions with those suppliers, did he talk about
0:07:45 > 0:07:49the escalating price and what actions they are taking to avoid a
0:07:49 > 0:07:56repeat of the difficulties that supplied during the severe weather
0:07:56 > 0:08:03last winter? The situation with the weather last winter and the winter
0:08:03 > 0:08:07before is something people are very aware of, and that is particularly
0:08:07 > 0:08:12wide there our energies to keep his millions in the network and equally,
0:08:12 > 0:08:16we recognise that that adds cost to consumers, which is why we are
0:08:16 > 0:08:21maintaining the cold weather payments and through a new measures
0:08:21 > 0:08:25to enhance the support to vulnerable people across Scotland.
0:08:25 > 0:08:29Many of my constituents, especially on low income, are struggling with
0:08:29 > 0:08:33the large increases in energy bills. I welcome the recent news that
0:08:33 > 0:08:39OFGEM has brought in specialist auditors to help their
0:08:39 > 0:08:43investigation of whether they are justified. With the Secretary of
0:08:43 > 0:08:45State ensure that of Jim have the necessary support to make a
0:08:46 > 0:08:52thorough investigation and sufficient powers to sanction the
0:08:52 > 0:08:55Big Six if they are acting unfairly? A feature of the
0:08:55 > 0:08:59discussions I have been having recently is that many other
0:08:59 > 0:09:04companies recognise they have to restore trust with the consent or
0:09:04 > 0:09:07about the price rises and why they have come about and in the next few
0:09:07 > 0:09:12weeks I will bring together the energy companies and consumer
0:09:12 > 0:09:16groups in Scotland to look at the issues in detail, make sure that
0:09:16 > 0:09:23companies are focused on the appropriate response and take away
0:09:23 > 0:09:26whatever work we need to do. When surveys by Consumer Focus Scotland
0:09:26 > 0:09:33tell us that nine out of him people who bought energy products on the
0:09:33 > 0:09:37doorstep would never do so again, does he not agree that it is time
0:09:37 > 0:09:42for all energy providers in Scotland to end the practice of
0:09:42 > 0:09:49cold calling and if so, when will we see legislation to make sure
0:09:49 > 0:09:52this vile practice ceases? Can I join her in condemning their sharp
0:09:52 > 0:09:57practices that have been on display in the country, particularly in
0:09:57 > 0:10:03Scotland. It is one of the issues we will discuss at the meeting I
0:10:03 > 0:10:09referred to. We are determined that we would get the companies to
0:10:09 > 0:10:12recognise that this isn't an acceptable practice. Thank you.
0:10:12 > 0:10:19Does the Minister agree that at a time when Scottish and Southern
0:10:19 > 0:10:25Energy will add �171 a year to each customer's bill, tipping thousands
0:10:25 > 0:10:29of people in to the fuel poverty bracket and others will follow suit,
0:10:29 > 0:10:36it is morally in appropriate that the chief executive officer
0:10:36 > 0:10:44received a bonus of �2 million on top of his �840,000 salary when the
0:10:44 > 0:10:48wholesale price of energy were going down? Well, can I say that
0:10:48 > 0:10:52renumeration is a matter for the companies themselves. But for all
0:10:52 > 0:10:56of us, we have to ensure that we're Kerr fully focused on the
0:10:56 > 0:11:00performance and behaviour of all of these companies, which is why I
0:11:01 > 0:11:05have been making sure their focus to what consumers deed and
0:11:05 > 0:11:10particularly, the most vulnerable. She is right to focus on fuel
0:11:10 > 0:11:19poverty, a third of Scottish house holes in 2009 when I should to be
0:11:19 > 0:11:23in this and the measures I have outlined will tackle that. -- This
0:11:23 > 0:11:27is about the economic prospects of the Highlands. The UK and Scottish
0:11:28 > 0:11:32economy is growing, rebalancing and creating jobs and the Government is
0:11:32 > 0:11:42creating a new model which is more evenly balanced across the UK.
0:11:42 > 0:11:43
0:11:43 > 0:11:46Thank you. He has welcomed the formal confirmation of the
0:11:47 > 0:11:51university status for the University of the Highlands and
0:11:51 > 0:11:56Islands and they have now put in an application to the Scottish
0:11:56 > 0:12:01Government for an additional �3 million, given the extra demands
0:12:01 > 0:12:07that are being placed upon them. Is that something to which he can give
0:12:07 > 0:12:11his discreet support? I am always happy to look at these cases and
0:12:11 > 0:12:15provide support as necessary. I Right Honourable Friend is
0:12:15 > 0:12:19absolutely right to say that it is an important step forward for the
0:12:19 > 0:12:26Highlands and Islands and I hope the Scottish Government will fight
0:12:26 > 0:12:30carefully on what others have said. Yesterday I had a debate in
0:12:30 > 0:12:36Westminster Hall on fuel duty and is the Secretary of State aware
0:12:36 > 0:12:40that the duty is then taxed by VAT? Everybody in this house is very
0:12:40 > 0:12:44aware of the realities of fuel taxation and I'm sure he was
0:12:44 > 0:12:49welcoming the fact that in the Budget earlier this year, we
0:12:49 > 0:12:52reduced fuel duty rather than increasing it in the way the last
0:12:52 > 0:12:56government planned. And it gives me some opportunity to remind the
0:12:56 > 0:13:04House that we have made further progress in the derogation for the
0:13:04 > 0:13:08Highlands and Islands fuel prices, The economy is being held back by
0:13:08 > 0:13:13the high price of fuel, I warmly welcome the Government's progress
0:13:13 > 0:13:17on the fuel discount and the cut in fuel duty in the budget, but
0:13:17 > 0:13:22further increase in fuel duty is planned for January, and if the
0:13:22 > 0:13:30price of fuel remains high, I hope that will not go ahead. Will the
0:13:30 > 0:13:35Secretary of State make reputations to the Chancellor? I am very aware
0:13:35 > 0:13:39of the extremely channelling circumstances for users of cars and
0:13:40 > 0:13:44vehicles across rural area, indeed all of Scotland. I particularly
0:13:44 > 0:13:48therefore welcome and repeat the point about the budget reduck shund
0:13:48 > 0:13:51-- reduction and the announcement made by the European Commission and
0:13:51 > 0:13:55their sup foth port for our derogation. What we want the see is
0:13:55 > 0:13:59we keep all the things in balance. His comment also have been heard by
0:13:59 > 0:14:02the Chancellor but he alone is responsible for taxation matters.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05It is to be welcome that unemployment is down in Scotland
0:14:05 > 0:14:09and employment is up, but challenges remairpbgs not least in
0:14:09 > 0:14:16the north of Scotland, where because of defence cuts, 30 million
0:14:16 > 0:14:21pounds is going to be lost every year due to the closure of RAF
0:14:21 > 0:14:24Kinloss as an air base. Will the Secretary of State confirm no
0:14:24 > 0:14:27financial support has been provided by the UK Government to help with
0:14:27 > 0:14:33this economic shock? I hope the honourable gentleman will recognise
0:14:33 > 0:14:37in reaching some very difficult and complex decisions, over the future
0:14:37 > 0:14:42of not only RAF basing but army and navy too, we will see an increased
0:14:42 > 0:14:46footprint in Scotland as a whole, and in his own area, we will see
0:14:46 > 0:14:50additional army resources, going into Kinloss in particular. As far
0:14:50 > 0:14:55as the discussions about how we support the communities through the
0:14:55 > 0:15:02next few years, we will be aware these are at an early stage. I am
0:15:02 > 0:15:06looking forward to them continuing in a constructive manner. He wasn't
0:15:06 > 0:15:10able to confirm there hasn't been any specific financial support,
0:15:10 > 0:15:15because there hasn't beenlet. It has been nearly a year since the
0:15:15 > 0:15:18closure, more than two months confirmation about the army
0:15:18 > 0:15:21deployment. Agencies supported by the Scottish Government have been
0:15:21 > 0:15:25active in support of economic diversification, in contrast, UK
0:15:26 > 0:15:31Government has provided little or no details to these local agencies
0:15:31 > 0:15:34to assist in the transition. Why is this? Well I have discussed this
0:15:34 > 0:15:38matter particularly with the Finance Secretary, on a couple of
0:15:38 > 0:15:44occasions, now. We are continuing the Scotland Office to be engaged
0:15:44 > 0:15:49with the task forces, in his of the world and in Fife as well. We are
0:15:49 > 0:15:53working very hard, and we get the detail and the other aspects of the
0:15:53 > 0:15:59plan in place, and I am sure the honourable gentleman will welcome
0:15:59 > 0:16:09the announcement whence there are made. There are too many noisy
0:16:09 > 0:16:12conversations taking place in the chamber. I want to hear Fiona Bruce.
0:16:12 > 0:16:17Scottish forces provided assistance to forces in England through the
0:16:17 > 0:16:21provision of police support units. During the debate in this House on
0:16:21 > 0:16:2511 August my Right Honourable friend the Prime Minister said I am
0:16:25 > 0:16:28aware of the role Scottish police officers played particularly
0:16:28 > 0:16:32helping the West Midlands force. Say the impact when they arrived in
0:16:32 > 0:16:37Birmingham, it is good our forces can co-operate in this way. I thank
0:16:37 > 0:16:41him for that. Does he agree the excellent cross border support
0:16:41 > 0:16:47provided by Scottish police have exemplified to everyone in Britain
0:16:48 > 0:16:52the advantages of a flexible devolved United Kingdom? I fully
0:16:52 > 0:16:57agree with my honourable friend, and there are many example, Mr
0:16:57 > 0:17:01Speaker of Scottish forces playing an important role in incidents
0:17:01 > 0:17:08elsewhere in the United Kingdom. Not least in the shootings which
0:17:08 > 0:17:12took place this Cumbria in 2010. Londoners welcome the robust
0:17:12 > 0:17:16standard of policing brought from Scotland during the recent riots.
0:17:16 > 0:17:21What plans are there now, for closer cooperation, joint
0:17:21 > 0:17:28operations, and further training so we can learn the lessons from the
0:17:28 > 0:17:31past? He is the Conservative MP for Harrow East. On 11th August, there
0:17:31 > 0:17:35has been significant success with the Strathclyde Police,
0:17:35 > 0:17:40particularly in Glasgow in pursuing gang initiatives, and initiative
0:17:40 > 0:17:44known as the community initiative to reduce violence and Strathclyde
0:17:44 > 0:17:51Police are committed to work with the Metropolitan Police and other
0:17:51 > 0:17:55forces, in England to share best practise in that regard. I, during
0:17:55 > 0:17:59the recess spent six days with the police as part of the Parliamentary
0:17:59 > 0:18:03police scheme. I have to say among the people I work with, there is
0:18:03 > 0:18:08some concern that the call on Scottish forces will deny them for
0:18:08 > 0:18:13example any holidays in August next year, during Olympics. And also the
0:18:13 > 0:18:17question about the impact on the budget of Scottish forces. Is the
0:18:17 > 0:18:20Secretary of State hoping to get adequate recompense for the
0:18:20 > 0:18:24Scottish forces for the contribution they have made, will
0:18:24 > 0:18:27make to the future of English policing? The honourable member
0:18:27 > 0:18:30will know there are arrangements in place with the Home Office when
0:18:30 > 0:18:33police forces are deployed from other parts of the United Kingdom,
0:18:33 > 0:18:38but I am sure the Home Secretary will have heard the specific points,
0:18:38 > 0:18:44that he has made, and we will, I will raise them directly also with
0:18:44 > 0:18:48the Scottish Government. This is a question from a Conservative MP
0:18:48 > 0:18:53about the West Lothian question. With permission Mr Speakerly answer
0:18:54 > 0:18:56questions eight, nine, ten and 11 together. I have regular
0:18:56 > 0:18:59discussions with my right honourable friend the Deputy Prime
0:18:59 > 0:19:03Minister on a range of issue, the Government last week set out the
0:19:03 > 0:19:08steps we were taking to establish a commission on the West Lothian
0:19:08 > 0:19:13question. Will the Secretary of State tell the House what the
0:19:13 > 0:19:18timescale for the Commission is, and will he reassure every one of
0:19:18 > 0:19:24us that the present unfair voting system is resolved by the end of
0:19:24 > 0:19:28this Parliament? Can I say to my honourable friend that the details
0:19:28 > 0:19:31of the remit and the timescale will be set out by my right honourable
0:19:31 > 0:19:35friend the constitution minister at the appropriate moment as he
0:19:35 > 0:19:38indicated earlier last week. As far as all the issues to be considered
0:19:38 > 0:19:46by the Commission are concerned, I am sure they have heard his opening
0:19:46 > 0:19:49bid. Will the Secretary of State make reputation to the Deputy Prime
0:19:49 > 0:19:53Minister to make sure it is taken into consider as part of the terms
0:19:53 > 0:19:58of reference on the Commission on the West Lothian question. Can I
0:19:58 > 0:20:02say specifically, the Commission will not be looking at the Barnett
0:20:02 > 0:20:04Formula or the funding arrangements round the UK. We have made a
0:20:04 > 0:20:08separate commitment within the coalition agreement which will look
0:20:08 > 0:20:15at all these matters when we have got our primary objective of
0:20:15 > 0:20:18sorting out the public finances, sorted well and good. Thank you.
0:20:18 > 0:20:22Will the minister confirm that the Commission will not only look at
0:20:22 > 0:20:30the issue with regards to Scotland, but also with regards to the other
0:20:30 > 0:20:34devolved assemblys in Wales and Northern Ireland? May I ask he
0:20:34 > 0:20:38repeated the first pat of his question again. There is far too
0:20:38 > 0:20:40much noise in the chamber which is very discourteous. The honourable
0:20:40 > 0:20:43gentleman should repeat his question. Will the minister confirm
0:20:43 > 0:20:48the Commission will not only look at the issue with regards to
0:20:48 > 0:20:51Scotland, but also with regards to the other devolved assembly? I am
0:20:51 > 0:20:55happy to confirm that, although it is called the West Lothian
0:20:55 > 0:21:00commission it will look at all issues to do with the matters we
0:21:00 > 0:21:04discussed before this House, regarding all parts of the UK.
0:21:04 > 0:21:08does the Secretary of State share my view resolving the question does
0:21:08 > 0:21:12not damage the union? I think what we have now got the opportunity to
0:21:12 > 0:21:16do, is ensure that we consider carefully the issues that have,
0:21:17 > 0:21:21were first posed back famously in 1977, but as we have seen
0:21:21 > 0:21:26devolution develop in recent years, we come more and more urgent for
0:21:26 > 0:21:29people to add cress. We are dene see that is done, that is, why with
0:21:29 > 0:21:32rethe first Government set up a commission to look at it and we
0:21:32 > 0:21:36look forward to them getting on with their work. Does the Secretary
0:21:36 > 0:21:40of State accept there is an elegance solution to the question.
0:21:40 > 0:21:49It is about Scotland having the normal powers of a normal nation
0:21:49 > 0:21:52and it is called independence. I say nobody could ever doubt's
0:21:52 > 0:21:55honourable gentlemans in this. It only begs the question why the
0:21:55 > 0:22:04Scottish Government is delaying having the referendum on
0:22:05 > 0:22:09independence. Thank you. Thank you Mr Speaker. Can I vieant the
0:22:09 > 0:22:12Secretary of State to ignore the little englaers behind him and the
0:22:12 > 0:22:18little Scotlanders behind me and come to the despatch box and tell
0:22:18 > 0:22:23us we are going to allow the Scottish MPs to the Scot r discuss
0:22:23 > 0:22:26Scotland as a grand committee. Can he reconvene that as soon as
0:22:26 > 0:22:29possible? May say that this was a plea that the honourable gentleman
0:22:29 > 0:22:33made on many occasions to the previous Government, we are of
0:22:33 > 0:22:39course keen to ensure that all matters Scottish continue to be
0:22:39 > 0:22:42debated in the appropriate way in this House and will ensure they are.
0:22:42 > 0:22:46Mr Speaker, I am sure the right honourable is embarrassed by the
0:22:46 > 0:22:50four questions that have been looped together which is planted by
0:22:50 > 0:22:55his frontbench. Can I ask him, when he is looking at these things will
0:22:55 > 0:22:58he remember London and treat Scotland the same way London has
0:22:58 > 0:23:01been treated. I have no idea what the honourable gentleman is saying
0:23:01 > 0:23:06about the way the questions have appeared. Perhaps he would like to
0:23:06 > 0:23:12look to the way the previous Government behaved. I have no idea
0:23:12 > 0:23:15if he is giving us an insight to we are determined, unlike the previous
0:23:15 > 0:23:19government, to recognise there San issue that needs to be discussed.
0:23:19 > 0:23:25It is complex b there are lots of issues we have to consider and then
0:23:25 > 0:23:29we can get on with this House doing all the work it needs to do.
0:23:29 > 0:23:34Speaker, as a West Lothian member of Parliament, does the minister
0:23:34 > 0:23:38not agree with me, it is unsatisfactory a commission on a
0:23:38 > 0:23:43constitutional issue affecting Scotland has been set up with no
0:23:43 > 0:23:48opportunity for any consultation on its terms of ren reference, nor any
0:23:48 > 0:23:51involvement by Parliament, until the Commission presents its
0:23:51 > 0:23:55findings. I am sorry that is the honourable's gentleman's attitude.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58I thought he would have welcomed the fact we are setting up the
0:23:58 > 0:24:02Commission. I am sure that when it is set up he will want to
0:24:02 > 0:24:05contribute to it. But particularly, on the terms of reference, my
0:24:05 > 0:24:12honourable friend the minister has made it clear, we will listen to
0:24:12 > 0:24:16all points that are made to us. House is in a very excitable state.
0:24:16 > 0:24:22It is not even lunchtime. The House must calm down and compose itself
0:24:22 > 0:24:30in an ordinary manner. Mr William bain. This is a question about
0:24:30 > 0:24:34National Insurance. Mr Speaker, as of 7th September HMRC has received
0:24:34 > 0:24:40922 application for the National Insurance holiday scheme from new
0:24:40 > 0:24:45businesses located in Scotland. Of the 396 applications received, for
0:24:45 > 0:24:532010, 2011 financial year, 386 claimed the National Insurance
0:24:53 > 0:24:58contributions holiday, supporting approximately 1300 new jobs.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01Shouldn't the minister be lobbying the Chancellor to create a proper
0:25:01 > 0:25:05strategy for growth for Scottish manufacturing and construction
0:25:05 > 0:25:09instead of offering support for a scheme which has created less than
0:25:09 > 0:25:13so% of the jobs forecast and described by the Federation of
0:25:13 > 0:25:18Small Businesses in Scotland as badly designed, and failing to
0:25:18 > 0:25:22deliver at a time when the country needs new jobs. Mr Speaker, we
0:25:22 > 0:25:27certainly won't be taking any lectures from the party opposite on
0:25:27 > 0:25:31National Insurance, party that sought to introduce a jobs tax, in
0:25:31 > 0:25:342009. I had the benefit of visiting the honourable members constituency
0:25:34 > 0:25:39last week, and I would have thought he would have welcomed the fact
0:25:39 > 0:25:47these jobs did not exist before, and they have a better chance of
0:25:47 > 0:25:56becoming permanent with the NIC holiday. Order. I want to hear Mr
0:25:56 > 0:26:02Angus McNeil. Thank you. It seems you are not alone! Job creation is
0:26:02 > 0:26:06maidgely affected by fuel costs. It is 1.50 a litre many my stit. A
0:26:06 > 0:26:12huge component is the cost of distribution. A few months ago the
0:26:12 > 0:26:17Secretary of State gave assurances he would look into. I wonder if he
0:26:17 > 0:26:21can update me. What I can update the honourable member is progress
0:26:21 > 0:26:25in receiving the derogation from the EU to allow fuel prices in his
0:26:25 > 0:26:28constituency, and other remote parts, to be lower than they
0:26:28 > 0:26:32currently are. I would have thought he would welcome this coalition
0:26:32 > 0:26:37Government delivering that commitment. I am photograph --
0:26:37 > 0:26:38afraid that is all we have time for at the moment. Because of the party
0:26:39 > 0:26:42political conferences which are just about to get under way, the
0:26:42 > 0:26:46next Scottish questions here at Westminster isn't until Wednesday