:00:20. > :00:28.Very warm welcome to Westminster for November's Scottish questions. A
:00:29. > :00:32.busy day, Philip Hammond delivering his Autumn Statement. The first one
:00:33. > :00:37.since the Brexit vote five months ago. You will not be surprised if I
:00:38. > :00:46.tell you that Scottish questioned also had and economic theme.
:00:47. > :00:50.Devolution and independents also on the agenda. Proceedings began with a
:00:51. > :00:55.very specific question about how fines being levied on banks could be
:00:56. > :01:05.used to help Art galleries and museums in Scotland. Lots of good
:01:06. > :01:12.causes across Scotland have put bids into the Treasury for a extra round
:01:13. > :01:16.of allocations. We will need to be patient and wait for this
:01:17. > :01:25.afternoon's Chancellor's Autumn Statement. Be patient. He knows
:01:26. > :01:31.there is no greater cause in my constituency than that of Holmwood
:01:32. > :01:35.house. Given that next year is the bicentenary of the architect's birth
:01:36. > :01:44.and he knows how keen I am and the Thomson Society are on the promotion
:01:45. > :02:01.of that internationally, will he try to make that happen? You should be
:02:02. > :02:07.commended for trying to make Alexander Greek Thompson known. I
:02:08. > :02:12.can assure the honourable gentleman, particular after my own visit to
:02:13. > :02:19.Holmwood house and meeting with the Thomson Society that we will do all
:02:20. > :02:34.we can to promote the bicentenary. The Chancellor of extractor suggests
:02:35. > :02:45.that it could be used... Open casket since 2016? The UK Government have
:02:46. > :02:49.done a great deal to work with East Ayrshire Council to ensure that
:02:50. > :02:54.opencast restoration could proceed in that area following the collapse
:02:55. > :02:57.of various companies involved in opencast mining. We continue that
:02:58. > :03:08.dialogue with both the Scottish Government and east Ayrshire Council
:03:09. > :03:15.to bring this to a satisfactory resolution. Scotland has wonderful
:03:16. > :03:21.tourist attractions. Many in the border region. Same price to
:03:22. > :03:27.Cumbria. The Secretary of State agree that there are real
:03:28. > :03:31.opportunities to promote the border area, but it requires close
:03:32. > :03:38.corporation between both sides and it is not just about finance. I am
:03:39. > :03:45.very keen to promote cross-border working between Cumbria County
:03:46. > :03:53.Council, Dumfries and Galloway Council. That is why I am a big
:03:54. > :04:00.supporter of the so-called borderlands initiative to bring
:04:01. > :04:07.those together and help significant economic development in that area.
:04:08. > :04:11.Tourism would play a important part. We have made significant process to
:04:12. > :04:16.transfer powers in the Scotland act of 2016 to the Scottish parliament.
:04:17. > :04:20.A large number of provisions of the act are already in force and we will
:04:21. > :04:26.continue to work with the Scottish Government for the smooth transition
:04:27. > :04:31.of remaining powers. As the SNP Government has failed to introduce a
:04:32. > :04:35.single piece of legislation in the last six months, the First Minister
:04:36. > :04:41.prepares grandstanding across Europe in order to block Brexit. Isn't it
:04:42. > :04:46.time she used the powers devolved to her in Scotland to start governing
:04:47. > :04:56.rather than engaging in pointless photo opportunities? Mr Speaker, I
:04:57. > :05:01.can update the honourable gentleman. This cottage Government have now
:05:02. > :05:07.brought forward one piece of legislation since the Scottish
:05:08. > :05:13.Parliament elections in May. We may be interested that this Government
:05:14. > :05:19.has 19 pieces of legislation before this Parliament. Of course, I agree
:05:20. > :05:22.with him and I think that the majority of people in Scotland who
:05:23. > :05:26.want the First Minister and the Scottish Government to get on with
:05:27. > :05:29.the day job of running Scotland and the devolved responsibilities and
:05:30. > :05:36.not constantly talk about independence. The Scottish
:05:37. > :05:42.Government has announced that new powers over benefits would be used
:05:43. > :05:47.to end the misery being meted out on disabled Scots by the UK Government.
:05:48. > :05:51.Our First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has pledged to reduce the need for
:05:52. > :05:55.assessments for personal independence payment and disability
:05:56. > :05:59.living allowance, particularly for those with long-term illness. Bobby
:06:00. > :06:05.Secretary of State take the opportunity to welcome this and
:06:06. > :06:10.urges UK colleagues to follow suit? What I will welcome when I see it is
:06:11. > :06:20.some detail behind these fine words. We have heard lots of fine words,
:06:21. > :06:27.but to date on welfare we have absolutely no detail as to what the
:06:28. > :06:32.Scottish Government plan to do. He believes that they are fine words.
:06:33. > :06:35.Perhaps he will follow the initiative of the Scottish
:06:36. > :06:39.Government. It is fair to say that the majority of welfare and economic
:06:40. > :06:43.powers are not being devolved to the Scottish parliament. So, will the
:06:44. > :06:48.Secretary of State confirm that he has no plans to devolve powers to
:06:49. > :06:53.deal with Scottish legal partnerships and the risks that they
:06:54. > :06:55.pose in the fight against global money-laundering and organised
:06:56. > :07:00.crime? I've raised this with the Prime Minister, I have spoken to him
:07:01. > :07:07.about this. Will he now tell the house what he and the UK Government
:07:08. > :07:15.will now do about it? As he knows, the settlement in relation to the
:07:16. > :07:21.Scotland axe 2016 was the outcome of the commission and the Scottish
:07:22. > :07:25.legal partnerships was not part of that and will not be devolved. I do
:07:26. > :07:29.take the issue extremely seriously. I commend him for the way in which
:07:30. > :07:33.he has highlighted it in this house and elsewhere. I commend the Herald
:07:34. > :07:37.newspaper for the way in which they have highlighted the issue.
:07:38. > :07:41.Colleagues within the UK Government are looking at how we can best take
:07:42. > :07:47.the situation forward to end the abuses which are evident. I was
:07:48. > :07:51.concerned to read in the Sunday Times that the Scottish Government
:07:52. > :07:54.are delaying the introduction of the devolved welfare powers. Can my
:07:55. > :08:02.right honourable friend confirm that this is the case? All members will
:08:03. > :08:09.have access to the minutes of the last meeting of the last joint
:08:10. > :08:14.welfare group between myself and the Scottish Government ministers. Those
:08:15. > :08:19.minutes confirm that the introduction of the welfare powers
:08:20. > :08:30.in Scotland are indeed being delayed potentially until 2020. The transfer
:08:31. > :08:35.of powers of these is over to the Scottish Government. The UK
:08:36. > :08:42.Government will not allowed non-EU fishermen to come in. People would
:08:43. > :08:49.be welcome and required, but this Government is threatening jobs and
:08:50. > :08:54.industry in the outer Hebrides. Willie deserving about it or will
:08:55. > :08:59.you do nothing as usual? I recognise the concerns. Others have expressed
:09:00. > :09:05.them. There are specific rules about who can work on fishing boats, but
:09:06. > :09:12.immigration does remain a reserved issue and the responsibility of the
:09:13. > :09:26.Home Office. Always a pleasure to follow hurricane came Angus. Thank
:09:27. > :09:30.you for your generous to allow us to stand here. I have been immersing
:09:31. > :09:35.myself in Scottish legislation and Irn-Bru for the last week. Mr
:09:36. > :09:39.Speaker, can I tell the Secretary of State that many of us on this site
:09:40. > :09:51.would give our right TV to get the powers contained in 2016. Does he
:09:52. > :09:59.feel like the reluctance of Scotland to use their powers is a lack of
:10:00. > :10:03.ambition or modesty? I welcome the member here. The one question I
:10:04. > :10:10.would have is who is next? Because we have had a selection of
:10:11. > :10:14.individuals. What I would say to the honourable gentleman is that these
:10:15. > :10:18.are very significant powers over tax and welfare. Although today in the
:10:19. > :10:22.Autumn Statement here in this house is a very important event, on the
:10:23. > :10:28.15th of December, we will see the Scottish budget for the first time.
:10:29. > :10:33.The Scottish Government able to raise income tax at its will in
:10:34. > :10:37.relation to the Scottish budget. That I think is a very significant
:10:38. > :10:47.moment in terms of taking responsibility and accountability.
:10:48. > :10:53.The Government will continue to provide an environment when S M Es
:10:54. > :10:57.everywhere can thrive. Cutting red tape, keeping taxes low, tackling
:10:58. > :11:02.late payment and improving access to finance. We are committed to making
:11:03. > :11:10.sure the whole of the UK is a great place to start and grow a business.
:11:11. > :11:18.Figures produced by the Scottish Government show that SME take up
:11:19. > :11:22.more than... If there is any sort of setback and the Chancellor is
:11:23. > :11:26.predicting one, these enterprises are hardest hit. Given their
:11:27. > :11:31.importance, what is the Minister doing to reduce uncertainty and to
:11:32. > :11:37.support their growth? The UK economy is strong in spite of uncertainty.
:11:38. > :11:44.Scottish SMEs are currently benefiting from more than ?400
:11:45. > :11:47.million of investment from the business bank. It will help
:11:48. > :11:55.capitalise on new technologies and new export markets. Does the
:11:56. > :12:00.Minister agree that the UK market is four times the size of the U market
:12:01. > :12:03.in Scotland. It is very clear why businesses are saying loud and
:12:04. > :12:07.clearly that they do not want talk of another independence referendum,
:12:08. > :12:18.but instead wants stability to strengthen the economy. I do agree.
:12:19. > :12:23.SMEs in Scotland trade four times as much in the single market of the
:12:24. > :12:26.United Kingdom as they do in the European Union. Indeed, they trade
:12:27. > :12:34.more with markets and the rest of the world than they do across the
:12:35. > :12:37.entire EU. One of the key thing is that the Scottish Government and the
:12:38. > :12:42.UK Government could do to take away uncertainty for the SMEs across
:12:43. > :12:47.Scotland is to take off the table the second independence referendum.
:12:48. > :12:53.Another thing that the Government could also do is to conclude the
:12:54. > :12:58.Edinburgh city deal so that we want to make sure that we hear that in
:12:59. > :13:02.the next few minutes. I share the enthusiasm for that city deal. But
:13:03. > :13:05.the honourable gentleman, we will have to wait for another hour to
:13:06. > :13:10.hear more detail on that. I could not agree with him more the
:13:11. > :13:14.uncertainty in Scotland is coming far more from talk of another
:13:15. > :13:22.referendum than it is from the EU referendum outcome. Thank you, Mr
:13:23. > :13:26.Speaker. Yesterday it was announced that over 500 jobs in the tannic
:13:27. > :13:33.side area of my constituency are under threat. Kwik-Fit insurance
:13:34. > :13:37.have announced plans to axe their entire Scottish operation. If these
:13:38. > :13:40.plans proceed it would be a devastating brooch at the local
:13:41. > :13:48.community just before Christmas. -- devastating blow. What can you offer
:13:49. > :13:52.to comfort these people in this tickled time? It will be a very
:13:53. > :13:56.difficult time for the Kwik-Fit workforce and their families. At the
:13:57. > :14:00.moment, particularly because the honourable gentleman mentions it is
:14:01. > :14:04.in the art elite Mac run-up to Christmas. I understand Kwik-Fit are
:14:05. > :14:08.consulting on closure by the end of March by the end of next year. I
:14:09. > :14:13.hope they will be able to quickly move into alternative on climate.
:14:14. > :14:18.The UK Government will assist with support with the Jobcentre plus
:14:19. > :14:28.rapid reaction service, working also with North Lanarkshire Council to
:14:29. > :14:32.help all those being made redundant. What is my honourable friend's
:14:33. > :14:36.estimate in the number of jobs action involved in this process and
:14:37. > :14:38.does that not demonstrate the importance to Scotland and the
:14:39. > :14:49.economy of Scotland and staying in the United kingdom? Specifically to
:14:50. > :14:56.SMEs which the honourable gentleman I'm sure intended to mention. The
:14:57. > :14:57.employment rate is less in Scotland than in United Kingdom. Two free
:14:58. > :15:08.benefit for this. On the 12th of October in response
:15:09. > :15:14.to a question about the deal struck at Nissan the Secretary of State
:15:15. > :15:17.said, and I quote, it whatever support is put in place for
:15:18. > :15:22.businesses in the north-east will be put in place for Scotland. Is the
:15:23. > :15:26.Secretary of State or minister willing to confirm this is still the
:15:27. > :15:35.case and, if so, will she provide more detail of the. SMEs need to
:15:36. > :15:40.know. My right honourable friend was right in what he said about the
:15:41. > :15:43.Nissan deal. That level of support will be available to Scottish
:15:44. > :15:46.businesses. As the detail, the honourable gentleman will have to
:15:47. > :15:52.wait until the Autumn Statement for that. I am grateful, especially for
:15:53. > :15:57.promotion to the Privy Council. Welcoming back commitment and I am
:15:58. > :16:01.sure businesses of all sizes will be reassured, but in view of the
:16:02. > :16:05.commitment there must've been an analysis of costs. Will the minister
:16:06. > :16:11.informed the house what assessment has been made of the cost of
:16:12. > :16:14.supports? My right honourable friend the Secretary of State will make an
:16:15. > :16:27.assessment of costs and benefits of all such deals on an ongoing basis.
:16:28. > :16:33.Mr Speaker, the Secretary of State for Scotland has had discussions
:16:34. > :16:36.with me about the intra- UK budget allocations under the CAP and I've
:16:37. > :16:41.had discussions with the National Farmers' Union Scotland, Scottish
:16:42. > :16:49.members of Parliament and the Scottish Government's Cabinet
:16:50. > :16:54.Secretary. The convergence uplift is worth 230 million euros. The UK
:16:55. > :17:00.Government has withheld that money that should support Scotland's rural
:17:01. > :17:07.economy. When will Scotland's man in the Cabinet do something about this?
:17:08. > :17:11.Or will he continue to do nothing? I said to the honourable gentleman we
:17:12. > :17:19.will give an update on the review of CAP allocations. The context has
:17:20. > :17:23.changed following the decision to leave the EU and some argue the area
:17:24. > :17:29.based payments as required have never suited Scotland well and NFU
:17:30. > :17:33.Scotland have previously raised concerns about the level of payments
:17:34. > :17:37.going to large landowners and argued we should instead direct support to
:17:38. > :17:41.farmers and producers through livestock payments. We have an
:17:42. > :17:53.opportunity to look at these issues and I will work with NFU Scotland
:17:54. > :17:57.and officials. What we are seeking in Scottish questions is the
:17:58. > :18:01.confirmation the Scottish Secretary of State backs Scottish farmers and
:18:02. > :18:04.will get this promised money delivered. It is fantastic we have
:18:05. > :18:18.the farming minister here but we have had so far is no detail, just
:18:19. > :18:22.words. Can we have the detail? I disagree. As I make clear the
:18:23. > :18:27.Secretary of State discusses this issue with me regularly. I am
:18:28. > :18:32.passionate about Scotland and I discussed this with NFU Scotland
:18:33. > :18:35.from January onwards and we are working on joint proposals and
:18:36. > :18:46.agreements when it comes to post Brexit agricultural policy. Number
:18:47. > :18:53.six, please. My right honourable friend has held 60 meetings with
:18:54. > :18:57.well over 100 Scottish organisation since the referendum to hear their
:18:58. > :19:01.views and the Business Secretary has met businesses in Aberdeen and the
:19:02. > :19:08.Trade Minister has met business leaders in Edinburgh. Will my
:19:09. > :19:12.honourable friend encouraged Scottish businesses to seize the
:19:13. > :19:17.opportunities of our new relationship with Europe? And the
:19:18. > :19:24.wider world. Including golf course my own constituency of Louth and
:19:25. > :19:28.Horncastle? Will she urged the Scottish Government to support their
:19:29. > :19:36.businesses, stop moaning about referenda and get on with
:19:37. > :19:41.government. I thank my honourable friend and I am happy to give that
:19:42. > :19:47.encouragement. The message the UK Government has heard is businesses
:19:48. > :19:53.in Scotland want stability and not another divisive referendum. Talk of
:19:54. > :19:56.independence is disrupted. People want economic stability that can
:19:57. > :20:08.only be provided by Scotland remaining in the UK. Spit it out,
:20:09. > :20:12.man, coming on this question, yours was similar. In July this Secretary
:20:13. > :20:17.of State's party leader told the BBC, I want to stay in the single
:20:18. > :20:22.market even if the consequence is maintaining free movement of labour.
:20:23. > :20:32.Can the Secretary of State explain the U-turn? No U-turn on that
:20:33. > :20:38.whatsoever, the UK Government will seek the best deal for all parts of
:20:39. > :20:43.the UK and that will include limits on free movement and the best access
:20:44. > :20:51.to and trade within the single market for British companies. The
:20:52. > :20:56.creative industries in Scotland are one of the most successful areas of
:20:57. > :21:00.Scottish business. There is concern about the regulatory regime that
:21:01. > :21:07.off, preside over and its future relationship with the EU and what
:21:08. > :21:15.that looks like. What discussions has she had concerning that
:21:16. > :21:18.regulatory regime? My ministerial colleagues in the Department will
:21:19. > :21:25.have had discussions and I will ask one of them to notify the honourable
:21:26. > :21:31.member of the outcome. In the Northern Isles some of our most it
:21:32. > :21:35.sporting -- important exporting distances are in the successful Food
:21:36. > :21:39.and drinks sector but they say it is almost impossible to plan for the
:21:40. > :21:45.future until they know what access they will have two EU markets. Will
:21:46. > :21:49.the minister ensure their voices are heard in these negotiations as well
:21:50. > :21:57.as the big boys in financial services and the automotive industry
:21:58. > :22:03.is? The Darfur minister has regular meetings with the Scottish fishing
:22:04. > :22:06.industry and agricultural sector. Across government there are
:22:07. > :22:10.discussions with the Scottish whisky association about how they can
:22:11. > :22:18.continue to build on the strengths of their exports beyond the EU as
:22:19. > :22:25.well as within the single market. During a live televised debate two
:22:26. > :22:29.days before Brexit, Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson said the EU
:22:30. > :22:36.provides a level Plainfield for small businesses and if the UK left
:22:37. > :22:43.the EU, the rest of the EU would impose tariffs and taxes. Can the
:22:44. > :22:48.she advised the house how many of the 1.2 million jobs provided by
:22:49. > :22:57.SMEs in Scotland are estimated to be at risk once these tariffs and taxes
:22:58. > :23:01.coming? As I have said, the government is committed to gaining
:23:02. > :23:05.the maximum access to the single market and trade within the single
:23:06. > :23:12.market for all British companies, including Scottish SMEs. Order.
:23:13. > :23:16.There is far too much noise in the chamber, a number of loud private
:23:17. > :23:21.conversations. Let's have order for a senior and respected member of the
:23:22. > :23:34.house of 33 years standing, Sir David Amis. Question number seven,
:23:35. > :23:39.Mr Speaker. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for
:23:40. > :23:43.Scotland held round tables with the Scottish food and drink industry and
:23:44. > :23:47.in addition my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for
:23:48. > :23:52.environment met with a range of food and drink businesses in a visit to
:23:53. > :23:56.Scotland this month. With Scotch whiskey being the finest in the
:23:57. > :24:03.world and a valuable export, would my honourable friend agree that as a
:24:04. > :24:11.result of the UK deciding to leave the EU, there may be further export
:24:12. > :24:15.opportunities? I very much agree with my honourable friend and the
:24:16. > :24:20.truth is Scotch whiskey is a fantastic success story for this
:24:21. > :24:25.country with overseas sales worth 3.9 billion in 2015. I attended an
:24:26. > :24:28.event in Tokyo to promote great British drinks and it included
:24:29. > :24:43.Scotch whiskey, which is popular in Japan. I wonder if the... I think
:24:44. > :24:48.the honourable lady never fully realise the extent of her own
:24:49. > :24:52.popularity on the government benches. Does the Secretary of State
:24:53. > :24:58.for Scotland realise the value of exports from the rest of the UK to
:24:59. > :25:03.Scotland are more than ?50 billion? That is more than Scotland exports
:25:04. > :25:06.to the rest of the UK, so with the Secretary of State agree that
:25:07. > :25:12.regardless of constitutional arrangements in the future, the
:25:13. > :25:20.Scotland rest of UK trading relationship is an important one? I
:25:21. > :25:24.think the fact is the honourable lady highlights underline the fact
:25:25. > :25:28.the union that is vital to this country is the United Kingdom
:25:29. > :25:36.because we have close trade. Number eight, Sir. I have regular meetings
:25:37. > :25:43.with the Scottish Government ministers and last met the Cabinet
:25:44. > :25:47.Secretary financing Constitution on the 21st of October. Both
:25:48. > :25:50.governments are committed to providing all support to the
:25:51. > :25:55.Scottish Fiscal Commission and Office for Budget Responsibility.
:25:56. > :25:59.Does my right honourable friend agree that a core principle of
:26:00. > :26:06.stable and accountable, but sure government must be government should
:26:07. > :26:12.not bid its own forecasts but answer for its choices and consequences to
:26:13. > :26:20.the people they govern? I absolutely agree and the transfer of income tax
:26:21. > :26:23.and welfare powers to the Scottish Parliament does just that. No longer
:26:24. > :26:29.will the SNP and Scottish Government simply be able to complain if they
:26:30. > :26:32.genuinely have ideas, they will be able to do something about it and
:26:33. > :26:40.the people of Scotland will understand what their tax
:26:41. > :26:44.implications are. Exports from the services sector could be cut by 60%
:26:45. > :26:50.of the UK is out of the single market. That would be a 2.3 billion
:26:51. > :26:54.hit for Scotland and given that, can he tell us why his Conservative
:26:55. > :27:01.colleagues at Holyrood voted against the Scottish Government motion to
:27:02. > :27:06.protect Scotland's position. With reference to the work of the
:27:07. > :27:11.independent Fiscal Commission. I am sure the independent Fiscal
:27:12. > :27:14.Commission will have noted my colleagues, the Conservative group
:27:15. > :27:21.in Holyrood, voted against the SNP motion because we have no idea where
:27:22. > :27:28.the SNPs stand in relation to the UK's future relationship with the
:27:29. > :27:34.EU. I am afraid that is all we have time for. That is the final Scottish
:27:35. > :27:38.Questions of 2016, because of the Christmas break we will not be back
:27:39. > :27:44.again for two months, when we will be back on the 18th of January. Join
:27:45. > :27:46.us then. From all of us at Westminster, goodbye.