22/06/2011 Scottish Questions


22/06/2011

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Hello and a warm welcome to Westminster for the June edition of

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the Scottish questions. What a difference a few weeks makes. The

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last programme came the day before the Hollyrood elections which gave

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the SNP an overall majority and now we have the commitment to an

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independence referendum within the next five years. So no shortage of

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topics for MPs to get their teeth into. Here is a flavour of how

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things began... Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland, Mr

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Graham Morris. Question number one. I have regular discussions with my

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right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on a

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wide range of issues including the state of the economy. Inflation is

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being pushed higher by rising global commodity prices, a global

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problem that requires global solutions. I thank the Minister for

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his answers. It is clear the government's VAT hike in January

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has helped to drive up inflation which is hitting consumer spending,

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squeezing family incomes and holding back growth. Will the

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Secretary of State now speak up for families and businesses in Scotland

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and urge the Chancellor to reverse that rise to help boost consumer

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confidence and bring down inflation? As the honourable member

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knows the former Chancellor and Scottish MP the right honourable

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member for Edinburgh South said he would have done exactly the same in

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relation to VAT. And a cut in VAT would do nothing to reverse global

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commodity price rises but we do a lot to reverse the government's

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hard-won credibility for getting the deficit down. Credibility on

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economic matters does not seem to be important to the party opposite.

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In answer to a written parliamentary questions by me the

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Office for National Statistics confirmed that four out of the last

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five years the rise in domestic gas prices outstripped the rate of

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inflation and that is before the latest rise. Yet family income is

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about best remain static. What steps can the government take to

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help hard-pressed families to avoid these costs in the winter? As the

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honourable member will know the government is concerned about the

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rise of fuel prices, particularly gas prices as he highlights. One of

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the measures it has taken is to ensure that the poorest families do

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have protection a relation to their fuel costs. I am sure the Minister

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will welcome the inquiry announced today but Ofgem on the price rise

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to be announced by ScottishPower and the way they have announced it

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to consumers. Does he agree with me that it is inappropriate for energy

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companies do have added to the increased cost of living in

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Scotland with a decision to hike domestic bills and can he tell us

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what he is doing about it? As the honourable lady knows there is

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widespread concern in Scotland at the actions, particularly in

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relation to the recent rises in fuel costs by ScottishPower. As the

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honourable lady knows the Secretary of State and I have raised these

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issues with the energy companies. Although it is very nice to meet up

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I think what Scottish consumers want it action as their bills are

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facing a rise an average of �198 a year when wages are being frozen

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cod prices are rising above the target inflation rate and now that

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borrowing is �46 billion higher unexpected because of that decrease

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in economic activity, would the Minister now greet his time for

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another plan and a temporary cut in VAT which Labour called for?

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will not surprise the honourable lady to say that most certainly not.

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The honourable lady, in setting it out -- in setting out the woes she

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does, never acknowledges her part as a minister in bringing this

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country to the verge of bankruptcy, or a party's part. Or the need to

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take action, she knows as well that the shadow chancellor is in a

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majority of one in terms of his proposals and has not set out...

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must move on. This was a question about the benefits of the union

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from the Tory MP for Carlisle. There are government formally

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believes - Matt Ridley Scott and benefits from being part of the UK

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and that the UK benefits from having Scotland within it. I agree

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wholeheartedly. As someone who represents a seat just over the

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border in England would the Minister also agree that England

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benefits from being part of the Union and it is in the interests of

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all of us that we all remain part of the UK? I endorse what my

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honourable friend has just said. The union is of great benefit to

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all of the UK, however, my constituents still want to see

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fairness between Scotland and England. With this in mind what

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plans as the Minister had to review the current Barnett Formula? Grey M

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Evans is the Tory MP for Weaver Vale. Last night we recognised this

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was an issue across the UK, however, we are committed to reviewing it

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when we have resolved at the current financial problems we

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inherited from the party opposite. Is that a separate Scotland simply

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would not have been able to answer by the global banking crisis on its

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own and had it been separate would now be heading the way of Ireland

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The scale of the financial disaster that befell the Royal Bank of

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Scotland and Halifax Bank of Scotland would have put a crippling

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burden on Scotland by being part of the UK. We are sharing the risks

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and recovery and that is the right way forward. Does the Secretary of

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State agree with me that whilst the future of the Constitution is hotly

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debated there is no place for leading Unionists to describe the

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supporters of Scottish independence as neo-fascists? It is incumbent

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upon all of us in this debate to ensure we use moderate appropriate

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language. Given what the Secretary of State has just said is it a

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benefit to the union and Scotland that the House of Commons Scottish

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affairs select committee is chaired by somebody who last night

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described Scotland's majority party of government as neo-fascist?

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is an issue he should take up with the honourable gentleman himself.

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In this House we do not like challenges to one another's on a,

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or otherwise. It is a matter for the honourable gentleman to raise.

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I have made my commission -- position clear. It is important we

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are careful about language and we have a debate on the substance of

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the issues. I will answer question three and five together with

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permission. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State and I

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have had regular discussions with my right honourable friend the

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debited from in astonishes. The government is committed to

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establishing they Commission later this year to consider the West

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Lothian question. Time is of the essence here because this is a

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difficult question. The commission will need time to consider its

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recommendations and then this House will need time to consider the

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outcome of those recommendations. It would be much better that this

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is done at a time of constitutional peace rather than at a time of

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crisis. I respect the honourable lady's passion on the subject and

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she has a Bill before the House was charters on these issues which I

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understand will be heard on the first Friday of the September sit-

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in which will give the House eight chance to debate these issues. I

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will convey her call for urgency to the debited Prime Minister. Having

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passed the Scotland Bill and with new powers devolved to Wales does

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my honourable friend agree that the last thing we want is another

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expensive Parliament Assembly, or talking shop in England? The

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British Parliament here can cope with matters than with -- with

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English matters but decided by English MPs. I have always

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expressed the view that there was no desire for an English parliament

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and the same two be but always written to me after two so I was

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wrong. -- people have always written to me after to say I was

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wrong. Does he agree the issue is more complex than some members give

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to understand and a good example of that was the debates we had before

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Christmas on tuition fees for universities. That might have been

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regarded as a purely English issue but in fact it had tremendous

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consequences for Scotland. I do acknowledge that comment, it is a

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complex issue and that is why the coalition government is committed

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to establishing a commission to look at the issue and I hope it

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will be able to take evidence from people like the honourable lady.

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am sure the honourable gentleman is right when he says there is no

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demand for an English parliament but does he not accept that the

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proposal to it effectively have two classes of MPs in his house does

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amount to setting up an English parliament in this building and

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that is a road he will go down if his government except having two

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classes of MPs in his house. I do not acknowledge that. Because the

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devolution settlement -- that comment because the devolution

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settlement means there are different spot it --

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responsibilities in this House. The government is committed to looking

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at the issue of the West Lothian question which is based at standard

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issue which the previous government ignored and will set up a

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With permission I will answer the questions together. The plan for

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growth published in the March Budget set at Ibrahim Mogra forms

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to create the right conditions for private sector-led growth. This

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month the government launched the next stage of the growth of the

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with the central purpose of creating the right conditions for

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business to be established to invest, grow and create jobs.

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time when the Treasury is bringing about stability to the banking

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sector and banking regulation does my right honourable friend agree

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with me that the SNP's right for independent Scotland could

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:11:51.:11:57.

destabilise gone and Oz are The number of questions and the

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timing is uncertainty which is no good for the Scottish economy.

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Small and medium-sized companies are vital engines of growth and

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also job-creation in Scotland and across the UK. In the economic

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climate improving access to funding for those is a priority. Can my

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right honourable friend tell the House was at sea is taking to

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address this challenge and do those steps include working with

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organisations like the Federation for small businesses in Scotland?

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The Conservative MP for Macclesfield.

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Access to Finance is a critical issue and unless we get another

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lending to small and medium-sized businesses we will not get the

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economy growing once again. That is why it is central to the plan for

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growth to make sure we create the conditions in which we can see

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businesses start, grow and invest in the appropriate way. And why we

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have set out tough targets for Way to the Secretary of State agree

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that it is essential for business growth that businesses have access

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to faster broadband? Dotty to share my concern that many constituencies

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in Scotland do not have access to this, and can he say what

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discussions he has had with the Scottish Government over this?

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week or so ago when I met the honourable lady to discuss the

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situation with the economy in Ayrshire, this was one of the key

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issues she wanted to raise. We are committed to fast broadband across

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the United Kingdom, and we're in discussions with the Scottish

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Government about how they should go about implementing that. It is

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vital that we see it in M and the Borders and all parts of the

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country, and we're happy to work with her to make sure we achieve

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that. Has the Secretary of State had an opportunity to read the

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government expenditure and revenue study published this morning, which

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shows that the Scottish economy is outperforming the UK economy and

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carrying a lower deficit? Will he take this opportunity to

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congratulate the Scottish Government on its efforts to

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promote stability pride promoting economic growth. Us that is a

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typically interesting interpretation of the figures in

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the report this morning, which show that Scotland is running at a

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deficit. That highlights the volatility and the difficulties

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that are associated with the different measures. Can I say that

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it is absolutely vital that we get Scotland's economy back on the

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right that in. That is why we are cutting corporation tax, keeping

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interest rates low, reducing the burden on national insurance. I am

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happy to work with the Scottish Government to ensure the economy

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grows. We need to work in partnership. This is a question

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about the Greenock coastguard station. I want to pay tribute to

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David Cairns who had been campaigning to save the Clyde

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coastguard station before his tragic death. The waters around

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Argyll and Bute presents a unique challenges seafarers. And if the

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Clyde coastguard station is closed, all that valuable local knowledge

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held by the people who work there will be lost. Will the Minister

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please drop his to the attention of the Transport Secretary and urge

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him to keep the station opened? is appropriate there is mention of

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David Cairns at this first Scottish Questions since his death, having

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served with such distinction as a Scotland Office minister. I can

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assure my honourable friend that the points he made will have been

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heard, as they were in the recent Westminster Hall debate that he

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took part in, and the Department of Transport will not make any

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announcement on the future of Coastguard stations until the

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transport select committee has reported. I would like to associate

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myself with the comments regarding David Cairns. The Minister would be

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aware of the concern in Scotland about what it is it at -- he

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actually does. Could I offer him the opportunity to LA that concern

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by making, in a very clear and unambiguous way, his opposition to

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his government's plans to close the coastguard centre in Greenock. Will

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he stand up for Scotland now in regard to Greenock? As he knows,

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the Scotland offers always makes the case for Scotland and poor

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facilities and resources within Scotland. I very much welcome the

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approach of my colleagues in the Department of Transport, saying

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that they will listen to all the representations that are made,

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having carried out a consultation and awaiting the report of the

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Transport Select Committee. Clyde Coast Guard is important on the

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west coast, and as a West Coast MP I believe we have already suffered

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enough on this. Does he agree that we need Stornoway, Shetland and the

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Clyde as an insurance policy? characterise the honourable member

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as a doughty fighter for the station in Stornoway. He has made

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very significant representations, and they have been heard, and my

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colleagues in the Department of Transport will announce their

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conclusion after the Transport Select Committee has delivered its

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:17:48.:17:53.

report. The Scottish Government included to the devolution of

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corporation tax within his requests for the amendment of the devolution

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Bills. On the same day, the Business Secretary said that the

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logic of devolving corporation tax was irresistible. He then said that

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he fully supported the government's position in opposing it. Is not the

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Business Secretary at bit of an embarrassment bows to the

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government and to Scottish Business? And is it not about time

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that he starts speaking to the Secretary of State of Scotland

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about important matters like corporation tax? For I can assure

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him that the Business Secretary and I are at one on this issue. This is

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a question about discussions with the agriculture industry. We

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regularly discussed devolution issues as part of the Scotland Bill,

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which is delivering the government's commitment to settle

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in -- strengthening the devolution settlement. I thank him for that

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response. He will no doubt be acutely aware of how important

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reform of the Common Agricultural Policy is, to farming in Scotland

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and elsewhere in the UK. Given the importance of the industry to the

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economy, does he agree with me that it is essential we secure a deal

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that is fairer and more transparent for our farmers? He gave an answer

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to a different question, and the Speaker is now telling us that.

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Just to clarify that. Thank you Mr Speaker, I can advise the

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honourable lady that that my right honourable friend the Secretary of

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State for Scotland was in Brussels last week and was making the very

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:19:58.:20:02.

point that she has made in her questions. I could referred the

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honourable lady to my previous answers. I am most grateful as ever

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to my honourable friend. Has the Advocate-General had time, have

:20:14.:20:19.

they received an update on progress being made by the expert group set

:20:19.:20:25.

up by the Scottish Government looking at the role of the UK

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Supreme Court? The Advocate-General wrote to the chair of the Scottish

:20:31.:20:35.

Government's expert group offering to meet with them, but now has

:20:35.:20:40.

received a response saying that their timetable means they have not

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had time in the first instance to receive submissions or hear

:20:43.:20:49.

evidence. So what we appear to have his and you expert group set up by

:20:49.:20:53.

the First Minister one week, which meets the following week, no

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evidence taking in any week, and reports the next week. That is a

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disappointing response. Will the government has start supporting the

:21:05.:21:15.
:21:15.:21:16.

integrity and independence of Scots Lough? -- Scots Law. I would have

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hoped Mr Speaker that the honourable gentle man, like his

:21:23.:21:27.

colleague, it would have sought to disassociate himself from the

:21:27.:21:32.

appalling comments which the First Minister has made about Lord Hope,

:21:32.:21:40.

which had been described as foolish as juvenile. There are too many

:21:40.:21:47.

private conversations taking place here. It is discourteous. What

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possible confidence can we have in the findings of a group which is

:21:52.:21:55.

unwilling to meet the Advocate- General, who last year established

:21:55.:22:00.

an inquiry for precisely the same purpose as this group has been

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established? He makes an extremely good point, as I said in my initial

:22:07.:22:13.

response, it seems incredible that a great set up to look at this very

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complicated issue is not going to take evidence, not going to receive

:22:18.:22:23.

submissions. I'm pleased to say that the Lord Advocate -- the

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Advocate-General has made his information available to the grave.

:22:27.:22:35.

So that may give us some confidence in the report he produces.

:22:35.:22:39.

White Paper set out a strategy for creating opportunities and

:22:39.:22:42.

providing the conditions for private sector growth through trade

:22:42.:22:48.

and international investment. The Minister for trade and investment

:22:48.:22:55.

is visiting Scotland in July. he share my fear that has got a

:22:55.:22:58.

should government's plans for a referendum on 7th -- separation

:22:58.:23:03.

will undermine its efforts to create jobs in Scotland? He is

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right to highlight what we are focusing on as a government. The

:23:07.:23:11.

plan for growth is 60 make us the most competitive tax system in the

:23:11.:23:16.

G20, to insure that we are the best place in Europe to start, grow

:23:16.:23:23.

Llansannan said business. -- and finance and business. None of that

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can be done in the and 70 which the independence referendums would

:23:28.:23:34.

create. Does he agree that the Olympics offer as splendid

:23:34.:23:38.

opportunities for promoting investment to Scotland? In that

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regard, is it not tragic that the talks will fly over John O'Groats?

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He makes his point as elegantly as I would expect him to. I'm sure

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those who are organising the trip will have heard his points.

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seminar I hosted in Arizona last month discussed how to tackle a

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high level of youth unemployment in M. The Scotland Office is working

:24:09.:24:13.

with key partners to focus resources on the most challenging

:24:13.:24:17.

areas identified at the seminar. We look forward to working with the

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government on this issue. One of the areas of major concern

:24:24.:24:31.

identified at a seminar was a high levels of unemployment fast amongst

:24:31.:24:36.

people between 16 and 18, of which seems to have slipped off the radar.

:24:37.:24:43.

He was present at that meeting and Mark that as a very important point.

:24:43.:24:48.

What assessment has been made, and what is going to be done about that

:24:48.:24:55.

particular issue? I thank him for his participation in that seminar,

:24:55.:24:59.

the first in a series we will be holding to tackle what is a deep-

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rooted problem, not just in Ayrshire but elsewhere. It is one

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that has defied governments through the ages. He rightly points out

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that the Secretary of State was at that salmon are. If we continue to

:25:12.:25:15.

discuss the challenges faced by youth unemployment, and I'm happy

:25:15.:25:21.

to discuss it with him again in due course. As he knows, Ayrshire has

:25:21.:25:25.

some of the worst rates of unemployment and youth unemployment

:25:25.:25:31.

in Scotland. In 2007, Scotland had the highest levels of employment in

:25:31.:25:37.

Britain, it now has the lowest levels. What more can the

:25:37.:25:41.

Westminster government do to work with the Scottish Government to

:25:42.:25:47.

bring in concrete steps to address this problem? He I would make two

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observations. On the first of those, of course, we are at a stage now

:25:52.:25:56.

when we need to get the economy in a place where we can see sustained,

:25:56.:26:00.

balanced growth. In complete contrast to the situation we

:26:01.:26:05.

inherited from her government. On her second point, she is right to

:26:05.:26:08.

highlight the serious economic power is that the Scottish

:26:08.:26:14.

Government already have. And it is vitally important that we work

:26:14.:26:22.

together to ensure that we do the best for people across Scotland.

:26:22.:26:28.

the issue was raised in discussions between the Deputy Prime Minister

:26:28.:26:32.

and the Secretary of State for Scotland, and the First Minister,

:26:32.:26:36.

on 9th June. As announced by the Chancellor and the Secretary of

:26:36.:26:41.

State on 13th June, the government is bringing forward to 2011 the

:26:42.:26:50.

power for Scottish ministers to make repayments. As the Minister

:26:50.:26:56.

will be aware, there are teenagers game is about to take case in the

:26:56.:27:03.

UK. The force road rage is to be funded by the Treasury, the Mersey

:27:03.:27:08.

gateway interests should -- Cheshire to be funded by tolls. How

:27:08.:27:14.

can the Government justified that? The justification is devolution, it

:27:14.:27:19.

is a decision of the Scottish Government to proceed with the 4th

:27:19.:27:21.

road bridge replacement crossing on the basis that there will be no

:27:21.:27:28.

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