:00:26. > :00:29.A very warm will come up to it a decidedly wet Westminster for
:00:29. > :00:35.Scottish Questions. Because of the way the parliamentary timetable
:00:35. > :00:41.works, this is the final Scottish Questions of 2012 oz up we will see
:00:41. > :00:44.whether there is any Christmas goodwill on offer. The economy at
:00:44. > :00:51.the Scottish independence referendum have featured
:00:51. > :01:00.prominently. Up here is how proceedings got under way.
:01:00. > :01:03.Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland. Thank you Mr Speaker.
:01:03. > :01:09.Up the UK Government firmly believes that Scotland is and
:01:09. > :01:12.always will be better off as part of the UK. We are undertaking
:01:12. > :01:18.analysis to see how Scotland contributes to an benefits from
:01:18. > :01:25.being part of the UK. Can I thank the Minister for that answer. I
:01:25. > :01:33.would also like to explain to the House why is so much concern among
:01:33. > :01:38.industries in Scotland about the future of their jobs. As it was in
:01:38. > :01:45.April, there are 15,000 regular armed forces and minis their
:01:45. > :01:50.defence personnel based in Scotland, and that the additional 40,000
:01:50. > :01:57.employed in related industries. Not one of those people could guarantee
:01:57. > :02:01.their jobs under an independent Scotland. The SNP's commitment to a
:02:01. > :02:07.nuclear three Scotland would presumably mean the end of Trident
:02:07. > :02:15.and that would mean the end of 6000 jobs in Scotland. What those be
:02:15. > :02:18.replicated elsewhere are what they simply lose their jobs? I can
:02:18. > :02:24.advise the honourable gentleman that by Twenty20, there will be
:02:24. > :02:28.8000 jobs based at Faslane following the announcement of an
:02:28. > :02:33.additional 1500 jobs by the Secretary of State for Defence.
:02:33. > :02:36.There is no certainty what would happen to anybody employed by the
:02:36. > :02:42.defence under-threes within Scotland under an independent
:02:42. > :02:47.Scotland. -- Industries. The recent list of job announcements and
:02:47. > :02:54.Scotland has been quite remarkable. In the renewable sector, the
:02:54. > :03:00.ministry will no there was �2.3 billion worth of announcements this
:03:00. > :03:03.year and further jobs attached. Each of those decisions have been
:03:03. > :03:13.taking in the sure and certain knowledge that the referendum is
:03:13. > :03:22.
:03:22. > :03:26.coming and independence as likely. -- is likely. LAUGHTER Why are
:03:26. > :03:31.these decisions continuing to be made and why has nobody listening
:03:31. > :03:36.to the scare stories? These investments are taking place
:03:36. > :03:40.despite the uncertainty, not because of it. I tend to agree with
:03:40. > :03:44.the person who gave evidence yesterday to one of the committees
:03:44. > :03:50.of this Parliament, who said they supported benefits of independence
:03:50. > :03:56.are small, 10 years and are likely to arise, while the dangers are
:03:56. > :04:01.large and serious. The Minister mentioned uncertainty but the only
:04:01. > :04:06.uncertainty we have seen as the massive increase in the North Sea
:04:06. > :04:13.supplementary charge. The Government are now making it easier
:04:13. > :04:18.to sack people. As it not the case as another set earlier this year,
:04:18. > :04:23.that in the event of independence, the Scottish government's approach
:04:23. > :04:32.will be to make Scotland more and not less competitive? Is that not
:04:33. > :04:36.the truth, instead of scare stories? When the people of
:04:36. > :04:42.Scotland have a decision on independence in the referendum,
:04:42. > :04:47.they must be sure that that decision is a long-term decision.
:04:47. > :04:52.Independence is not for Christmas 2014, and that the honourable
:04:52. > :04:56.gentleman look at the report, he would see it that an independent
:04:56. > :05:03.Scotland would face much harder decisions than the rest of the UK
:05:03. > :05:09.in the longer term. Are we aware that 30,000 Scots are employed by
:05:09. > :05:15.UK agencies to work as civil servants were in Scotland? --
:05:15. > :05:22.within. What would happen to those jobs that Scotland opted for
:05:22. > :05:27.independence and has there been clarity from the SNP? There has
:05:27. > :05:31.been no discussion between the SNP and the UK Government about the
:05:31. > :05:40.future of defence based jobs in Scotland, or indeed civil-service
:05:40. > :05:50.jobs or any other jobs. Those people face a great uncertainty if
:05:50. > :05:53.
:05:53. > :05:58.Scotland were to become independent. The agreement reached between the
:05:58. > :06:01.United Kingdom and Scotland's governments recognises that a
:06:01. > :06:07.referendum should be based on the normal rules for referenda across
:06:07. > :06:11.the United Kingdom. It is clearly important that all parties respect
:06:11. > :06:15.the independence of the Electoral Commission. Do you agree that if
:06:15. > :06:20.the SNP administration were to ignore the advice of the Electoral
:06:21. > :06:30.Commission, it would take the whole process at column to question
:06:31. > :06:33.
:06:33. > :06:37.whether the referendum was there. - - taint. -- fair. I do not think it
:06:37. > :06:40.would be in the interests of the Scottish government on any
:06:40. > :06:46.nationalists to put themselves against the advice of the Electoral
:06:46. > :06:54.Commission. Does the Minister shared concerns that the referendum
:06:54. > :06:57.question some that it is weighted in favour of a positive outcome?
:06:57. > :07:02.understand the concerns some people have with the particular
:07:02. > :07:07.formulation put forward, but I think the Electoral Commission with
:07:07. > :07:13.its great experience is in the correct position to do the right
:07:13. > :07:19.thing. I am ready to stand by the advice they get and I hope the
:07:19. > :07:23.Scottish government is as well. you except that while the Electoral
:07:23. > :07:30.Commission might be at a full week on occasions, it is necessary to
:07:30. > :07:35.have an impartial body deciding on these questions? The alternative is
:07:35. > :07:39.to have separate arrests as both the referee and player in these
:07:39. > :07:49.circumstances. It is unacceptable to have a side which is arguing on
:07:49. > :07:50.
:07:50. > :07:55.one side also deciding the rules. quite agree with that. He and his
:07:55. > :08:00.colleagues have been carrying out a series of investigations into this
:08:00. > :08:05.on the question of independence. The referendum has to be seen to be
:08:05. > :08:08.fair to both sides. We cannot possibly have circumstances at the
:08:08. > :08:15.end of this process where people are calling into question the
:08:15. > :08:23.outcome. I hope the Scottish government well accept the
:08:23. > :08:26.Electoral Commission's advice. Given that any proposals to extend
:08:27. > :08:32.the franchise to 16 and 17 year- olds is not likely to take into
:08:32. > :08:40.effect until the spring of 2014, will advise be available and how
:08:40. > :08:45.those people should register and vote? She raises at a very
:08:45. > :08:48.important point about the extension of the franchise. This will be a
:08:48. > :08:58.matter for the Scottish government to bring forward their detailed
:08:58. > :08:59.
:08:59. > :09:04.proposals. I imagine the Electoral Commission will outline advice.
:09:04. > :09:10.Given that yesterday in front of the honourable gentleman from the
:09:10. > :09:20.Scottish Affairs Select Committee, the gentleman who gave it evidence
:09:20. > :09:22.
:09:22. > :09:27.on behalf of BES to separation campaign campaign -- yes to
:09:27. > :09:30.separation campaign, what sanctions are there within government foray
:09:30. > :09:39.campaign which blatantly refuse to take the advice of the Electoral
:09:39. > :09:45.Commission? I have to say, this government and its spread assessors
:09:45. > :09:49.have always followed the advice of the Electoral Commission and I
:09:49. > :09:54.would expect the Scottish government to do that as well. --
:09:55. > :10:00.predecessors. The Secretary of State has just asserted once again
:10:00. > :10:05.that no government has ever in -- ignored the advice of the Electoral
:10:05. > :10:11.Commission. Far from ignoring, a Scottish government is yet to
:10:11. > :10:14.receive its advice while his government have rejected the advice
:10:14. > :10:22.on the council tax in England. Could he put the record straight
:10:22. > :10:26.now? I hope I can reassure the honourable gentleman at help him to
:10:26. > :10:33.come down, because it as John Cormack said on television last
:10:33. > :10:41.weekend, for a very referendum that has taken place, the Electoral
:10:41. > :10:46.Commission's advice and question have been accepted. Noah referenda
:10:46. > :10:50.have taken place on the council tax matters he mentioned. We have
:10:50. > :11:00.reflected on the advice and will be bringing forward proposals on that
:11:00. > :11:05.
:11:05. > :11:11.I have all answer questions three and 12 together. This government is
:11:11. > :11:16.committed to promoting United Kingdom businesses including
:11:16. > :11:25.Scotland's around the world. The review is currently being taken
:11:25. > :11:30.under -- on Scottish exporting. Does he agree that as well as
:11:30. > :11:36.promoting business, we also need to support businesses at that time
:11:36. > :11:39.when access to finance is so important? What steps is she taking
:11:39. > :11:43.to work with the Scottish government to ensure prompt payment
:11:43. > :11:50.and in particular, that private sector suppliers are paid and the
:11:50. > :11:54.timely fashion? It is certainly something we as the Government are
:11:54. > :11:59.committed to to ensuring that private sector suppliers are paid
:11:59. > :12:02.on time, to make sure business as sustained and by a happy to work
:12:03. > :12:08.with the Scottish government or anybody else to make sure everyone
:12:08. > :12:14.adheres to best practice. What action is being taken to ensure
:12:14. > :12:19.there is no conflict between Scottish Development and elsewhere
:12:19. > :12:24.when they are using public money to attract companies the north side of
:12:24. > :12:30.the border with a big a character? He underlines the importance of
:12:30. > :12:34.trade between the Scottish and British economies. Up it comes to
:12:34. > :12:44.half the value of what we sell into England, Wales and the rest of the
:12:44. > :12:53.
:12:54. > :12:57.UK. UKTI Has 162 offices in 96 countries. This offers a get
:12:57. > :13:01.network for Scottish business to get the best out of the United
:13:01. > :13:08.Kingdom. I think it is important we work together but it is clear we
:13:08. > :13:12.would be stronger together and weaker apart. As we have seen, the
:13:13. > :13:17.work that is being undertaken here has an impact on Scottish
:13:17. > :13:20.businesses at home and abroad. Can I draw the Secretary of State's
:13:20. > :13:25.attention to the Troubles Scottish businesses are currently
:13:25. > :13:30.experiencing close up unemployment is now higher in Scotland than in
:13:30. > :13:37.the rest of the UK. Recent research reveals a further challenge for the
:13:37. > :13:42.Scottish economy and Scottish businesses also up -- business is
:13:42. > :13:45.also up welfare changes alone will remove Ilott the money from the
:13:46. > :13:55.economy and lead to the loss of jobs across Scotland. What does he
:13:56. > :13:56.
:13:56. > :14:00.Where they share this analysis is that there is a huge mess that
:14:00. > :14:04.needs to be cleared up. There are some deep-seated problems in the UK
:14:04. > :14:09.and Scottish economy is in real problems in Europe. But what she
:14:09. > :14:13.cannot do, what she tries to do every time that she comes to this
:14:13. > :14:19.dispatch box, is to duck Labour's responsibility for what we have
:14:19. > :14:26.inherited. We are hoping that to welfare reform we make work pay.
:14:26. > :14:30.The risk or at -- -- support the most vulnerable and help people
:14:30. > :14:40.back into work. From next April islanders and 62,000 Scots will be
:14:40. > :14:41.
:14:41. > :14:49.taken out of tax altogether. Some colleagues from their Liberal
:14:49. > :14:56.Democrats do not share his views, and Katie asked then to -- and
:14:56. > :14:59.Katie asked them if to give him some more support? The Secretary of
:14:59. > :15:06.State has to start addressing the work his government is doing in
:15:06. > :15:10.Scotland. Earlier this month in a letter to new Secretary of State
:15:10. > :15:15.revealed that he is not on one of the Cabinet committee meetings
:15:15. > :15:21.dealing with the economy or welfare. We had no action on the banks, now
:15:22. > :15:29.no action on Scotland's economy. He does not understand the end Peck of
:15:29. > :15:37.the welfare changes on Scotland. -- the impact. When is he going to
:15:37. > :15:41.start doing his job? I am certainly doing my job. Is he doing his?
:15:41. > :15:46.are going to take no lessons from the Labour Party about the state of
:15:46. > :15:51.the United Kingdom economy. We will deal with the mess that they left
:15:51. > :16:01.us, get us back on the right track, and give ourselves a sustainable
:16:01. > :16:03.
:16:04. > :16:10.growth. Labour had no plan whatsoever. With permission, I will
:16:10. > :16:15.answer questions 4 and 5 together. I have discussed a referendum with
:16:15. > :16:19.the Scottish Government on a number of occasions, most recently on 15th
:16:19. > :16:25.October, when Scotland's two governments came to an agreement to
:16:25. > :16:28.make sure that there is a legal and decisive referendum. Does the
:16:28. > :16:33.Secretary of State's agree with me that one of arguments for a
:16:33. > :16:36.referendum is based on the false premise that independence to be
:16:36. > :16:41.good for the Scottish economy? Does he agree with me that it would be
:16:41. > :16:45.good for the English economy but not for the Scottish economy?
:16:45. > :16:50.certainly agree with my honourable friend that Scotland is stronger as
:16:50. > :16:55.part of the United Kingdom economy and would be weaker outside it.
:16:55. > :17:00.Primarily because we have access to this single market which takes
:17:00. > :17:04.twice as many exports as anywhere else in the world. We have the
:17:04. > :17:10.cloud, internationally, to be at the top table were all the key
:17:10. > :17:13.economic decisions are made. That is far better for Scotland.
:17:14. > :17:16.Does the Secretary of State agree at me that last week we signed
:17:16. > :17:24.example of what happens when you do not listen to the electoral
:17:24. > :17:32.commission, in that the Debach call on the police commissioners's
:17:32. > :17:35.elections -- the disaster. Will the Secretary of State us top to the
:17:35. > :17:39.Scottish Government to make sure that the same disaster does not
:17:39. > :17:42.happen in Scotland has happened last week? And I do not agree with
:17:42. > :17:46.him on the example that he uses, but on the principle that we should
:17:46. > :17:54.listen to their electoral commission and follow his advice, I
:17:54. > :18:04.am in complete agreement with pence. I was not particularly standing on
:18:04. > :18:10.
:18:10. > :18:14.this particular issue. Mr Wisheart, have a go. Thank you, Mr Speaker.
:18:14. > :18:22.Can the Minister confirm that following the end -- the Edinburgh
:18:22. > :18:27.Agreement, the referendum is now a matter are the Scottish parliament
:18:27. > :18:30.and this House has no further role? I know that the honourable
:18:30. > :18:34.gentleman always wants to denigrate the parliament of which he has a
:18:34. > :18:38.part, and I wish he would stop doing that, but a rather important
:18:38. > :18:43.part of that agreement is that we will pass the section 30 order
:18:43. > :18:46.which will transfer the power was to the Scottish Parliament. That
:18:46. > :18:50.one of debates in this place and the other place as well as in the
:18:51. > :18:57.Scottish Parliament. We are all part of this debate and all Scots
:18:57. > :19:01.will be part of that political process. When the Secretary of
:19:01. > :19:11.State does next meet the First Minister will he sure where pen a
:19:11. > :19:11.
:19:11. > :19:16.powerful call by Hillary Clinton, that reminds us that there things
:19:16. > :19:20.that bind us together for a more powerful than any distinctions and
:19:20. > :19:29.identity. Wasn't the institute were does cost studies right to point
:19:29. > :19:34.out that we want to diversify the Scottish economy away from revenue
:19:34. > :19:38.dependence on oil and gas revenues. We need an economy which benefits
:19:38. > :19:47.Scotland and is the likely result of our shared prosperity in the
:19:47. > :19:50.future? The honourable gentleman makes two important points. House
:19:50. > :19:54.senior international figures, when you look at their decision that
:19:54. > :20:01.confronts Scots, time and again say that eight in Scotland would be
:20:01. > :20:08.better as part of the United Kingdom. And it is significant to
:20:09. > :20:12.show Scotland's economy as stronger within the UK. There are far too
:20:12. > :20:22.many noisy conversations taking place, mainly on the opposition
:20:22. > :20:26.benches. Scotland is stronger in defence terms as part of the United
:20:26. > :20:31.Kingdom within Nato. That is the bedrock of our national security
:20:31. > :20:38.and the UK is one of its largest contributors. There is no guarantee
:20:38. > :20:46.that an independent Scotland would gain automatic membership. What
:20:46. > :20:51.discussions has my right honourable friend held with the Scottish
:20:51. > :20:59.Government and discussing Scotland's stance on Natal, given
:20:59. > :21:03.that so many within the government anti- nuclear. It is not clear that
:21:03. > :21:08.the Scottish Government has had any dialogue a tall with Nato about
:21:08. > :21:12.prospective membership. It is clear or that membership could not be
:21:12. > :21:21.guaranteed. The door does not open just because you stand in front of
:21:21. > :21:25.it. The dockyard in my constituency works for the Ministry of Defence
:21:25. > :21:30.and the Royal Navy. Will the Minister clarify whether of
:21:30. > :21:37.Scotland was a separate country, regardless of its Nato membership,
:21:37. > :21:47.the dockyard be not be getting work from the Royal Navy. Mr Speaker,
:21:47. > :21:48.
:21:48. > :21:54.many UK defence contractors benefit from contracts which are exclusive
:21:54. > :21:58.to the UK. Many have been awarded in the honourable member's
:21:58. > :22:07.constituency in there is no guarantee that these contracts
:22:07. > :22:17.would be awarded in an independent Scotland. Does my honourable friend
:22:17. > :22:20.
:22:20. > :22:26.agree that there is an hour problem with saying that there is a an
:22:26. > :22:32.opposition to nuclear weapons and a membership of Nato? I agree. Some
:22:32. > :22:39.members of the Scottish National Party agree with pen. They cannot
:22:39. > :22:42.reconcile their positions. -- with Hearn. But many SNP's continue to
:22:42. > :22:49.sit in government in Scotland where they cannot reconcile those two
:22:49. > :22:54.positions. The United Kingdom government has reduced the deficit
:22:55. > :22:58.by a quarter. We are taking important steps to promote growth
:22:58. > :23:02.and corporation tax, accelerating infrastructure projects and the
:23:02. > :23:07.funding for lending scheme are just some of the measures being
:23:07. > :23:10.implemented. Does the Secretary of State agree with a recent
:23:10. > :23:13.assessment by the Institute of Fiscal Studies that in the event of
:23:13. > :23:18.a separate Scotland the economy will not be sustainable in the long
:23:18. > :23:21.term? I quite agree with the honourable gentleman. We have got a
:23:21. > :23:31.much stronger opportunity to continue as part of the United
:23:31. > :23:35.
:23:35. > :23:37.Kingdom than we do if we go alone separate way. The meat processing
:23:37. > :23:47.factory at Port less than in my constituency has been put up for
:23:47. > :23:52.
:23:52. > :23:56.sale. -- in Aberdeenshire. honourable friend makes an
:23:56. > :24:00.important point. Clearly these had been very important months,
:24:00. > :24:05.particularly for those who had been implied in West Lothian in meat
:24:05. > :24:11.producing, and now we have the sale of the rest of the grip. I would be
:24:11. > :24:21.happy to meet with my honourable friend to discuss the implications.
:24:21. > :24:21.
:24:21. > :24:27.Hopefully we will sustain the jobs that run the company.
:24:27. > :24:31.constituency in Cambuslang have also been affected by a company
:24:31. > :24:37.ceasing operations in Scotland. Those 400 people are obviously very
:24:37. > :24:40.anxious about their future. We do contact the company to make sure
:24:40. > :24:46.that their employees get a guarantee on their position as soon
:24:46. > :24:51.as possible? The honourable gentleman makes a very fair point.
:24:51. > :25:00.How will certainly on his staff have take that up with the company.
:25:00. > :25:09.I will be happy to meet the pen to discuss it further. -- meet with
:25:09. > :25:15.him. The UK government is committed to providing the best high-speed
:25:15. > :25:23.broadband by 2015. The Scottish Government was allocated money to
:25:23. > :25:28.support broadband improvements. It is now in their hands. This
:25:28. > :25:32.Government had allocated over �100 million to Scotland for rural high-
:25:32. > :25:38.speed broadband. Will the Minister please do all that they can to
:25:38. > :25:42.encourage the Scottish Government to get in Avon to make sure that --
:25:42. > :25:48.to get a move on to make sure that there is high-speed broadband in
:25:48. > :25:58.Argyll and Bute as soon as possible. I will encourage these agencies to
:25:58. > :25:58.
:25:58. > :26:03.get on with it in terms of their -- in terms of rural broadband. I am
:26:03. > :26:09.very concerned about all Scotland getting super-fast broadband. As
:26:09. > :26:15.the Minister aware that BT had just announced that they are going to
:26:15. > :26:24.roll-out copper wire into parts of my constituency. It is last
:26:24. > :26:30.century's technology. Could he Totty BT about rolling out fibre-
:26:30. > :26:40.optic wiring across sold Scotland at -- could he talked to be tea.
:26:40. > :26:41.
:26:41. > :26:45.would be happy to discuss this issue. Does the Minister agree that
:26:46. > :26:52.broadband coverage per cent say us to be based on local authority
:26:52. > :26:56.airier rather than national area -- percentages. The Scottish
:26:56. > :26:59.Government has been given �100 million and they should get on with
:26:59. > :27:05.it in his constituency and elsewhere.