:00:25. > :00:28.Westminster for Scottish Questions. It was delayed for a week after the
:00:28. > :00:31.funeral last week of Margaret Thatcher. There has been discussion
:00:31. > :00:36.over the last few days about the currency that an independent
:00:36. > :00:40.Scotland might use. That the result of a Treasury paper which has set
:00:40. > :00:44.the two governments and Scottish nationalists and their opponents at
:00:44. > :00:49.odds. More discussion also here about the coalition's welfare
:00:49. > :00:59.reforms, the impact on Scotland. This is how proceedings got under
:00:59. > :01:05.
:01:05. > :01:10.way. Questions to the Secretary of the common wealth office and the
:01:10. > :01:18.David Livingstone 200 partnership on the programme to mark the
:01:18. > :01:23.anniversary of the birth of Dr David Livingstone. We hosted a
:01:23. > :01:27.commemoration at Dover House in the presence of the president of Malawi.
:01:27. > :01:33.I am sure the whole House will be pleased to hear what the Scottish
:01:33. > :01:40.Office is doing and it is fitting that especially to those of us who
:01:40. > :01:46.remember the childhood trips to Blantyre, birthplace of David living
:01:46. > :01:51.stone, that tributes should be paid in Parliament. Although a minority
:01:52. > :01:58.of Scots want to put artificial barriers around Scotland, the
:01:58. > :02:03.majority of Scots believe in the pioneering enterprising spirit of
:02:03. > :02:13.David Livingstone and want Scotland to play its full part in the United
:02:13. > :02:15.
:02:15. > :02:24.Kingdom and indeed in the world in general I couldn't agree more with
:02:24. > :02:31.her, David Livingstone was a great Scot and a Great Briton. He had an
:02:31. > :02:34.outward look on the world and shows why Scotland and Britain are better
:02:34. > :02:41.together. Could I place on record my thanks to the Scottish Office and
:02:41. > :02:46.the Foreign Office for ensuring that the president was able to visit
:02:46. > :02:50.Scotland to mark the start of those celebrations. Could I draw the
:02:50. > :02:56.House's attention to the wide range of events happening and encourage as
:02:56. > :03:03.many people as possible to come to Blantyre and visit the centre there
:03:03. > :03:07.and take part in the sell braces. -- celebrations. I thank the member for
:03:07. > :03:11.noting the work that the UK Government and the Scottish
:03:11. > :03:17.Government has done. He too is to be commended, for the way he has played
:03:17. > :03:22.his part in promoting the David Livingstone anniversary and he is
:03:22. > :03:27.correct there are a number of events continuing and those who wish should
:03:27. > :03:31.take the opportunity to take part. welcome the sell wragss --
:03:31. > :03:36.celebrations which have been announced. Would he agree there can
:03:36. > :03:46.no finer commemoration of this missionary, scientist, statesman and
:03:46. > :03:48.
:03:48. > :03:55.explorer than his gravestone in Westminster Abbey, which simply says
:03:55. > :04:01.David Livingstone. Indeed it is a very poignant memorial and it was
:04:01. > :04:06.particularly MEPable to e -- memorable to see members of his
:04:06. > :04:12.family lay a wreath on that gravestone along with the president.
:04:12. > :04:21.I am grateful. I presume that Dr Livingstone was a great
:04:21. > :04:25.educationalists. Who believed in fact in education. I wonder what his
:04:25. > :04:32.right honourable friend has done to set up the schools committees he
:04:32. > :04:36.promised some months ago. honourable gentleman shouldn't be
:04:36. > :04:43.speculating about what Mr Livingstone would have said. Because
:04:43. > :04:53.the fact is he didn't. He wasn't in a position to do so. I think we had
:04:53. > :04:56.
:04:56. > :04:59.million to secure the Caledonian sleeper service. Responsibility for
:04:59. > :05:05.the project is with the Scottish Government. We look forward to
:05:05. > :05:09.seeing some progress. I am pleased that the Government has invested in
:05:09. > :05:16.the future of the Caledonian sleeper, which is a vital transport
:05:16. > :05:18.link for business and tourism alike. However does my honourable friend
:05:19. > :05:25.share my disappointment that the Scottish Government has not shown
:05:25. > :05:30.the same degree of urgency in updprading this link? -- upgrading.
:05:30. > :05:35.Yes, he might be aware since the spending review, the Scottish
:05:35. > :05:41.Government has received over a billion pound in additional funding.
:05:41. > :05:45.The only shovelling they seem capable of doing disdiging the sort
:05:45. > :05:51.of -- is digging the sort of hole they did yesterday over the
:05:51. > :05:58.currency. The SNP Government has invefsed �130 million in the sleeper
:05:58. > :06:04.service. -- invested. If the honourable gentleman wants to be
:06:04. > :06:14.quiet he can. It is a win/win for all concerned. In Spain the linking
:06:14. > :06:20.
:06:20. > :06:25.of Madrid and self-has benefitted the country. When is the UK
:06:25. > :06:29.Government go to see England keep pace with Scottish prosperity after
:06:30. > :06:35.independence. The Government is committed to ensuring connectivity
:06:35. > :06:40.within the United Kingdom just as it is committed to ensuring that we
:06:40. > :06:43.stray a United Kingdom. -- stay a United Kingdom. I wonder if my
:06:43. > :06:47.honourable friend has given consideration to the fact that the
:06:47. > :06:53.sheer service would be -- sleeper service would be better served if
:06:53. > :07:00.there was electrification of East Coast Main Line between ebb and
:07:00. > :07:06.Aberdeen. Which would pass through my constituency and provide a better
:07:06. > :07:11.service for the stations around there. The honourable gentleman is
:07:11. > :07:17.always keen to promote his constituency. And rightly so. But he
:07:17. > :07:23.will be aware this is one of the many projects the SNP, when in
:07:23. > :07:28.opposition said they would deliver but now it doesn't seem to be on the
:07:28. > :07:32.agenda any more. Would the minister accept that the Caledonian sleeper
:07:32. > :07:36.is a vital link between the Ministry of Defence in London and the
:07:36. > :07:41.shipyards on the Clyde? Does he accept that the trade on the
:07:41. > :07:50.Caledonian sleeper will reduce in the event that we have separation
:07:50. > :07:56.and the Clyde shipyards close? have separation there would be a
:07:56. > :08:01.great deal of uncertainty, not just for the operators of sleeper
:08:01. > :08:06.service, as we saw, those promoting independence have no idea what
:08:06. > :08:12.currency would be used in an independent Scotland. That will be a
:08:12. > :08:18.significant factor in creating uncertainty. A question about the
:08:18. > :08:21.Ryder Cup. I am pleased that the Ryder Cup is coming to Scotland. We
:08:21. > :08:27.will work with the Scottish Government and the organisers to
:08:27. > :08:32.make it a success. I thank the minister for that response. Does he
:08:32. > :08:36.agree having to pay to volunteer is a contradiction in terms and bars
:08:36. > :08:43.many people from taking part in sport like golf. Will he make
:08:43. > :08:48.representations to the organisers of the Ryder Cup to follow the lead by
:08:48. > :08:53.Glasgow council and generate genuine volunteers? I do understand the
:08:53. > :08:56.honourable gentleman's concerns. And I will take them forward with Event
:08:56. > :09:04.Scotland and the minister in the Scottish Government with
:09:04. > :09:09.responsibility for the Ryder Cup. The Ryder Cup is a unique
:09:09. > :09:13.tournamentment none of the -- tournament, because none of the
:09:13. > :09:20.competitors compete for cash. It seems perverse that volunteers will
:09:20. > :09:26.be asked to pay for that service. Can I ask minister to add to to his
:09:26. > :09:33.representations when he meets the organisers? I will add the
:09:33. > :09:39.honourable gentleman's concerns to those of the member for Paisley.
:09:39. > :09:44.question about welfare reforms. will answer questions four and five
:09:44. > :09:49.together. The Secretary of State and I are in contact with colleagues in
:09:49. > :09:57.the Treasury and the department for work and pensions for matters
:09:57. > :10:02.erelating -- relating to welfare reform in Scotland. We know over
:10:02. > :10:09.100,000 Scots will be affected by his bedroom tax. A tax which has
:10:09. > :10:16.appalled civic Scotland. It is p oez pod -- opposed in every area in
:10:16. > :10:21.Scotland. Does he agree this is becoming his Government's Poll Tax.
:10:21. > :10:25.He will not be surprised that what I would say is that my honourable
:10:25. > :10:31.friend and I have been going around Scotland talking to councils and
:10:31. > :10:36.different groups who are, who have no interest in this and are
:10:36. > :10:40.concerned about different aspects, but what people are clear about is
:10:40. > :10:47.the shared values that created the welfare state are things we want to
:10:47. > :10:51.keep within the United Kingdom and not become an independent country.
:10:51. > :10:57.family in my constituency with children aged two, three, four and
:10:58. > :11:01.five hit by the bedroom tax were yesterday advised by the Government
:11:01. > :11:11.benches to take in a lodger. Does the Secretary of State think that
:11:11. > :11:12.
:11:12. > :11:15.was good advice? I cannot comment on constituency details the lady has
:11:15. > :11:18.brought to the floor. Nor the full extent of the exchange from
:11:18. > :11:22.yesterday. What I said to the honourable gentleman a few moments
:11:22. > :11:28.ago is that we need to look carefully at how this is being
:11:28. > :11:33.implemented. I would be happy to hear further details on that
:11:33. > :11:37.particular case. The Secretary of State will be aware the largest part
:11:37. > :11:42.of the welfare budget goes on pensions. And the state pension,
:11:42. > :11:47.pension credit and related pensioner benefits. What discussions has he
:11:47. > :11:50.had with the Scottish Government about how pensions would work in a
:11:50. > :11:54.separate Scotland? Well the honourable gentleman raises a hugely
:11:54. > :11:58.important issue. Which of course is going to be one of the big questions
:11:58. > :12:03.we ask in Scotland as we build up to the referendum. I think the security
:12:03. > :12:06.and the scale of the United Kingdom allows us to have to solidarity of
:12:06. > :12:10.common provision across the United Kingdom and we have the means to pay
:12:10. > :12:15.for that. Even in difficult economic times, we have not seen or heard
:12:15. > :12:20.anything from the SNP or their supporters about how they would do
:12:20. > :12:26.it in an independent Scotland. is a link between welfare and the
:12:26. > :12:32.use of food banks. #i6 raised -- I have raised food banks a number of
:12:32. > :12:36.times in this place. And they all seem to go unanswered. The Secretary
:12:36. > :12:45.of State will have seen the report today revealing the number of people
:12:45. > :12:50.using food banks in Scotland has increased from �5,000, from under
:12:51. > :12:56.�5,000 to -five thousand to over 14,000. My honourable friend and I
:12:56. > :13:02.have been, we have met with people at food bank and I met with the
:13:02. > :13:06.Executive chairman of the trussle trust and as he would point out,
:13:06. > :13:10.there are a range of reasons going back many years why people need food
:13:10. > :13:18.banks. We continue to look at this carefully. I do not want people to
:13:18. > :13:28.go to food banks to get support. I am happy to continue that dialogue
:13:28. > :13:37.
:13:37. > :13:44.This budget will help households in Scotland against a challenging
:13:44. > :13:49.economic background. The budget has set out a range of measures.
:13:49. > :13:55.Ministers will be aware of our report today that three times as
:13:55. > :14:01.many women as men have suffered long-term unemployment in the last
:14:01. > :14:06.two years. Hardly surprising given that budget decisions. Is it
:14:06. > :14:14.tolerable for women to bear the brunt of his government's failed
:14:14. > :14:20.economic policy? I do not accept that analysis, but I do commend the
:14:20. > :14:30.honourable lady. We needed to continue looking at this issue. We
:14:30. > :14:40.have introduced proposals on child care and low income families. We
:14:40. > :14:44.
:14:44. > :14:49.have taken over 200,000 families Unemployment figures in Scotland
:14:49. > :14:59.have not been helped by the devastating use of the closure of a
:14:59. > :15:04.number of opencast coal sites. 348 people have lost their jobs in our
:15:04. > :15:11.area. I am sure that the Minister will want to do everything possible
:15:11. > :15:16.to ensure that a buyer is encouraged to come in. Would he
:15:16. > :15:21.make representations about the access charges and the increasing
:15:21. > :15:27.due to come in in 2016 which may put Scottish companies in the coal
:15:27. > :15:34.sector at a disadvantage Quetta mark first of all, may I join her
:15:34. > :15:44.and her concern about the future of the families who will be affected
:15:44. > :15:47.
:15:47. > :15:52.by this. She has been working tirelessly on this issue. She
:15:52. > :15:56.raises a particular issue which or I will be happy to discuss further.
:15:56. > :16:06.I want to congratulate the Government for cancelling Labour's
:16:06. > :16:07.
:16:07. > :16:13.planned feel a duty increase -- planned fuel duty increase. It
:16:13. > :16:19.means that fuel will be cheaper on the islands. A Labour government
:16:19. > :16:29.would have destroyed the Argyll and Bute to economy. The Labour Party
:16:29. > :16:34.
:16:34. > :16:40.did not care and wanted to increase fuel. 18 pence a litre. That is how
:16:40. > :16:49.much are measures have saved Ireland communities. 13p on the
:16:49. > :16:54.mainland. A huge help to hard- pressed families. Many jobs in
:16:54. > :17:03.Scotland depend on investment in the oil and gas industry. Does the
:17:03. > :17:09.Secretary of State recognise the important role the budget has
:17:09. > :17:16.played? My honourable friend makes a powerful case for the oil and gas
:17:16. > :17:20.industry. It is important to recognise the their input to the
:17:20. > :17:26.decisions about decommissioning. It gives good news for investments now
:17:26. > :17:30.and for decades to come. International Monetary Fund has cut
:17:30. > :17:40.the UK growth forecast and the questioned the government's
:17:40. > :17:41.
:17:41. > :17:51.austerity programme. Why should anyone believe what the Chancellor
:17:51. > :17:54.
:17:54. > :17:59.says on at the budget, currency or the economy? I do not think anyone
:17:59. > :18:07.will listen to the right honourable gentleman when it comes to currency.
:18:07. > :18:13.The best option is to stay part of the UK. The Secretary of State did
:18:13. > :18:18.not answer the question. The UK is the 4th most unequal country in the
:18:18. > :18:22.developed world. The number of people using food banks has doubled.
:18:22. > :18:28.Citizens Advice Scotland says it that this increase illustrates of
:18:28. > :18:33.the devastating impact of this government's policy. Why should the
:18:33. > :18:43.people in Scotland put off by the government that they did not elect
:18:43. > :18:43.
:18:43. > :18:47.introducing these damaging the decisions. We are absolutely
:18:47. > :18:57.determined to ensure we get their economy on a strong footing, that
:18:57. > :19:02.we invest in our future and support families. This government promised
:19:02. > :19:09.they would get people back to work. How much has a long-term
:19:09. > :19:17.unemployment reduced in Scotland? The honourable lady did not
:19:17. > :19:22.actually welcome the reduction in unemployment announced last week.
:19:23. > :19:30.We have some very long term deep- seated problems. We inherited them
:19:30. > :19:40.from her government and we continue to tackle them. The number of
:19:40. > :19:40.
:19:40. > :19:43.people out of work in Scotland for two years has 517 increased during
:19:43. > :19:49.his time in office. -- has increased during his time and
:19:49. > :19:58.offers. Cannot the secretary of state opera these people out of
:19:58. > :20:05.work anything, or is he content to be a Tory puppet? The honourable
:20:05. > :20:11.lady knows that we are working hard to make sure that we provide
:20:11. > :20:14.support for people who are in very difficult circumstances. She just
:20:14. > :20:23.picks one statistic which is important and ignores the rest of
:20:23. > :20:33.it. 70,000 more people are in work in Scotland. We are determined to
:20:33. > :20:35.
:20:35. > :20:39.get the economy back from the brink. On 15th October 1920 12, the UK and
:20:39. > :20:43.Scottish government signed an agreement to ensure that a
:20:43. > :20:50.referendum can take place. It is for the Scottish Parliament to
:20:50. > :20:52.determine the franchise for the referendum. Would it be completely
:20:52. > :21:01.are Regis were the Scottish Parliament to decide to use the
:21:01. > :21:11.local election franchise and allow the possibility of the future make-
:21:11. > :21:12.
:21:12. > :21:17.up of the United Kingdom have to be decided by -- of the lighter
:21:17. > :21:24.kingdom to be decided by non-UK nationals? My honourable friend is
:21:24. > :21:29.incorrect. The number of EU nationals able to vote is less than
:21:29. > :21:39.2% of the total. Those at that defend our country should be
:21:39. > :21:42.
:21:42. > :21:47.allowed to take part in deciding the future of our country. There is
:21:47. > :21:51.a service declaration which allows Armed Forces Day with a link to
:21:51. > :21:55.Scotland to register at an address within Scotland. It will also be
:21:55. > :22:04.for the Scottish Parliament if they so choose to put additional
:22:04. > :22:10.measures in place. Yet another difficulty with the people that
:22:10. > :22:16.will be able to bought in this referendum will be the 16 and 17-
:22:16. > :22:26.year-olds? Have discussions been held to a their severe problems at
:22:26. > :22:27.
:22:27. > :22:31.that will entail? -- it to the severe problems. They have brought
:22:31. > :22:41.forward a draft bill for debate m. The Scottish Parliament and that is
:22:41. > :22:41.
:22:41. > :22:47.their appropriate place for those issues to be considered.
:22:47. > :22:54.I would be very happy to visit Corby where, as a Scot, I would
:22:54. > :23:00.feel very much at home with plentiful supplies of the dairy
:23:00. > :23:04.record and Irn Bru. Can I thank the Minister for that reply? Corby
:23:04. > :23:13.people are very proud of their Scottish connections. But they are
:23:13. > :23:22.worried that if the break-up of the union goes through, they will not
:23:22. > :23:27.be able to use the currency? Corbett is a great example of the
:23:27. > :23:31.British family of nations and we should celebrate it. I would heard
:23:31. > :23:41.his constituents to tell their friends and families in Scotland to
:23:41. > :23:48.
:23:48. > :23:58.board no in the referendum. -- to vote. What discussions are being
:23:58. > :23:59.
:23:59. > :24:09.held to Kate the East Coast line him public ownership? -- 2 pay. --
:24:09. > :24:16.
:24:16. > :24:23.We have regular discussions on cap reform. On 27th March, will be
:24:23. > :24:28.facilitated a meeting between my Right Honourable Friend and NFU
:24:28. > :24:31.Scotland on these issues. The UK Government is pressing hard for and
:24:31. > :24:41.you cab wish it takes account of the range of interests across the
:24:41. > :24:45.
:24:45. > :24:53.United Kingdom. Has he considered the impact of screening Bat and
:24:53. > :24:59.will there be matched funding? -- the 80. This is one of the many
:24:59. > :25:05.issues that has been discussed. We continued to argue for Scotland's
:25:05. > :25:10.interests in these matters. Does that the minister support the
:25:10. > :25:16.efforts of death are to end it direct payments and can he tell us
:25:16. > :25:21.what effect he thinks that would have on Scottish farming?
:25:21. > :25:25.honourable member is misrepresented the situation. Scotland will have
:25:25. > :25:33.flexibility to determine in his own arrangements in relation to this
:25:33. > :25:42.reform. With the rising food prices and growing food poverty, has he
:25:42. > :25:50.made any representations with colleagues about the need to grow
:25:50. > :25:54.more food and Secure food growth in Scotland? In his constituency,
:25:55. > :25:58.there are very strong views that we should grow more of our own food