0:00:18 > 0:00:23June's Scottish Questions. A mixed bag this month with questions on
0:00:23 > 0:00:26employment, the independence referendum and the common Common
0:00:26 > 0:00:30Agricultural Policy. Proceedings began with a specific questions
0:00:30 > 0:00:36about the blacklisting of employees in Scotland.
0:00:36 > 0:00:41THE SPEAKER: Order. Order. Questions to the Secretary of State for
0:00:41 > 0:00:45Scotland. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Question one.
0:00:46 > 0:00:52Mr Speaker, I regularly meet with Scottish Government Ministers to
0:00:52 > 0:00:57discuss a wide range of issues. I commend the work of the Scottish
0:00:57 > 0:01:02Affairs Committee. The Committee's final report will be given careful
0:01:02 > 0:01:07consideration by the Government. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the
0:01:07 > 0:01:17Minister for his response. Perhaps the most ridiculous case of
0:01:17 > 0:01:21
0:01:21 > 0:01:25blacklisting that I'm aware of. One of my constituents lost the sight in
0:01:25 > 0:01:35his eyes serving his country. He found himself on the blacklist. What
0:01:35 > 0:01:37
0:01:37 > 0:01:42was his crime? He wrote to a newspaper condemning a decision to
0:01:42 > 0:01:47buy a portrait of Nelson Mandela. What can the Government do to wipe
0:01:47 > 0:01:51out this practice of blacklisting? What I am able to undertake is when
0:01:51 > 0:01:55the Scottish Affairs Committee report is published I will undertake
0:01:55 > 0:01:59to discuss the recommendations in that report with appropriate
0:01:59 > 0:02:09Scottish Government Ministers. someone who has been blacklisted
0:02:09 > 0:02:11
0:02:11 > 0:02:15three times in the past, I can tell him that it is an obnoxious way to
0:02:15 > 0:02:20go about business. Will he make sure legislation is in place so many
0:02:20 > 0:02:24others are not facing such a practice in future? Thank you. The
0:02:24 > 0:02:33Government takes this matter very seriously. There is already
0:02:33 > 0:02:37legislation in place in the Employment Relations Act 1999. We
0:02:37 > 0:02:42await the Scottish Affairs Committee report to see whether they propose
0:02:42 > 0:02:46any further measures. This practice has been going on for decades. The
0:02:47 > 0:02:50law is not working. Has the Minister looked at the legislation to see
0:02:50 > 0:02:57whether further action is required to make sure we bring an end to this
0:02:57 > 0:03:01practice? We have looked at the regulations which were obviously
0:03:01 > 0:03:06brought forward by the previous Government. We do very much respect
0:03:06 > 0:03:11the work of the Scottish Affairs Committee and if it identifies that
0:03:11 > 0:03:16the current legislation isn't working, we will look at that.
0:03:16 > 0:03:24Question two. This is a question about what is being done to keep the
0:03:24 > 0:03:27UK and Scotland together. To allow voters to make an informed choice.
0:03:27 > 0:03:33We are publishing papers on all the key issues throughout this year and
0:03:33 > 0:03:36next. Does the Secretary of State agree the programme already
0:03:36 > 0:03:42highlights clear benefits from Scotland being part of the UK and
0:03:42 > 0:03:48the UK having Scotland within it? certainly agree with my honourable
0:03:49 > 0:03:52friend on that. It demonstrates Scotland enjoys the best of both
0:03:52 > 0:03:56worlds, a strong Scottish Parliament and a strong voice here at
0:03:56 > 0:04:01Westminster. An economy able to benefit from the support of the
0:04:01 > 0:04:09whole UK, our place in the world is all the stronger as a result of
0:04:09 > 0:04:19being part of the United Kingdom. Yesterday, the Chamber of commerce
0:04:19 > 0:04:20
0:04:20 > 0:04:25highlighted information gaps. What will the Government do to make sure
0:04:26 > 0:04:29that all voters in Scotland have the facts, not assertions that we get
0:04:29 > 0:04:34from the SNP and the Scottish Government? I commend the Scottish
0:04:34 > 0:04:43Chamber of Commerce for the work they are doing along with other
0:04:43 > 0:04:45others. -- along with others. Both with our devolution paper, with the
0:04:45 > 0:04:52currency paper and also the financial services paper, we are
0:04:52 > 0:04:57showing that we are setting out the arguments and the analysis so
0:04:57 > 0:05:01Scotland makes an informed choice. May I commend my right honourable
0:05:02 > 0:05:05friend for the positive case he's making, but since he's been joined
0:05:05 > 0:05:09on the Treasury bench by his right honourable friend the Secretary of
0:05:09 > 0:05:14State for Defence, will he ensure that all Government departments,
0:05:14 > 0:05:18including the Ministry of Defence, take every opportunity to examine
0:05:18 > 0:05:22critically the defence proposals of the Scottish National Party and
0:05:22 > 0:05:27Government which were yet again this week subject to great criticism from
0:05:27 > 0:05:32an independent report? My right honourable and learned friend makes
0:05:32 > 0:05:37an important point. I can assure my my right honourable friend is
0:05:37 > 0:05:46engaged in this debate. Central to this debate will be the SNP's
0:05:46 > 0:05:51attempt to have it both ways by signing up to NATO but not being
0:05:51 > 0:05:57willing to accept the obligations and rules that go with it, which
0:05:57 > 0:06:01include a nuclear umbrella. emerged at the weekend that those
0:06:01 > 0:06:06insiders at the "no" campaign against Scottish independence called
0:06:06 > 0:06:14the campaign Project Fear. This is a campaign based on scaremongering and
0:06:14 > 0:06:19negativity. Is the Secretary of State embarrassed? Well, I do think
0:06:19 > 0:06:22that anybody on the proUK side of the campaign can show what
0:06:22 > 0:06:27negativity and scaremongering is all about. I think the honourable
0:06:27 > 0:06:35gentleman should be a little careful about casting aspersions and
0:06:35 > 0:06:44concentrate on getting on with the proper arguments that Thank you, Mr
0:06:44 > 0:06:47Speaker. Could my right honourable friend comment on the possible
0:06:47 > 0:06:53independent Scotland would have an army and would that independent
0:06:53 > 0:07:03Scotland be able to employ the same number of Scottish soldiers that the
0:07:03 > 0:07:03
0:07:03 > 0:07:09British Army employs at the moment? Bob Stewart is a Conservative MP.
0:07:09 > 0:07:13makes a very important point. Again, this week, the Scotland Institute's
0:07:13 > 0:07:19report has asked real serious questions of the SNP and the "yes"
0:07:19 > 0:07:23campaign which they cannot answer. This is a question about housing
0:07:23 > 0:07:30ownership. The Government is providing wide-ranging support to
0:07:30 > 0:07:33help people buy their homes. That support includes UK-wide help to buy
0:07:33 > 0:07:37mortgage guarantee scheme and opens in January 2014. The Treasury have
0:07:37 > 0:07:44worked with the Bank of England to implement the Funding for Lending
0:07:44 > 0:07:49Scheme. Next year, homebuyers in Scotland will have the opportunity
0:07:49 > 0:07:53to access the Scottish Government's shared equity scheme, the Scottish
0:07:53 > 0:07:58Government mortgage guarantee scheme and the UK Government scheme. What
0:07:58 > 0:08:02it is doing is leading to confusion now amongst people that what is the
0:08:02 > 0:08:06best way to access these schemes? Why doesn't the Government take more
0:08:06 > 0:08:10action to ensure there is a close relationship between what the
0:08:10 > 0:08:15Scottish Government is doing here to make sure that the benefits of these
0:08:15 > 0:08:19schemes go not to second homebuyer homebuyers, but actually to people
0:08:19 > 0:08:25who need them on modest incomes? honourable gentleman will be pleased
0:08:25 > 0:08:28to know we are working close closely with the Scottish Government in
0:08:28 > 0:08:35relation to their equity scheme which is the equivalent, not the
0:08:35 > 0:08:40same, as the equity loan scheme available in England. The home buy,
0:08:40 > 0:08:44the home to buy mortgage guarantee scheme will be available in
0:08:44 > 0:08:48Scotland. We are working with the Scottish Government to ensure there
0:08:48 > 0:08:56is a communications plan so potential homebuyers fully
0:08:57 > 0:09:02understand how all the schemes work. As my honourable friend has pointed
0:09:02 > 0:09:07out, the limit is �600,000. This is hardly designed for those on low and
0:09:07 > 0:09:12modest incomes. Would the money not be better spent in providing social
0:09:12 > 0:09:15housing which is badly needed across Scotland? Mr Speaker, I would have
0:09:15 > 0:09:20thought the honourable lady would have welcomed the fact there has
0:09:20 > 0:09:25been a 10% increase in loans to first-time buyers in Scotland in the
0:09:25 > 0:09:29first quarter of 2012. The limit of the scheme reflects house prices
0:09:29 > 0:09:35across the United Kingdom and I believe is fair and equitable.
0:09:35 > 0:09:43Number four. This is a question about the working of the common ag
0:09:43 > 0:09:51kul Common Agricultural Policy. aim to deliver a strong outcome for
0:09:51 > 0:09:55farm eR farmers in Scotland. Notwithstanding the proven need for
0:09:55 > 0:09:59environmental schemes, does the Secretary of State agree it is very
0:09:59 > 0:10:02important to enable farmers to make decisions about their own production
0:10:02 > 0:10:07methods so they can improve production and provide more
0:10:07 > 0:10:14sustainable food for this country's future? I agree with my honourable
0:10:14 > 0:10:23friend. I spoke to the Secretary of State for environment, Food and
0:10:23 > 0:10:26Rural Affairs, after he had his all night ne go Asians in --
0:10:26 > 0:10:31negotiations in Luxembourg. He wants a scheme that is regionalised for
0:10:31 > 0:10:36Scotland. We have an arrangement which will be fair to farmers,
0:10:36 > 0:10:41consumers and to taxpayers. While the Minister will be aware that the
0:10:41 > 0:10:44most important issue for my constituents is the future of the
0:10:44 > 0:10:49shipyards threatened by separation, nevertheless they are also concerned
0:10:49 > 0:10:54about the way in which the Common Agricultural Policy provides public
0:10:54 > 0:11:00money to landlords who have surplus acres while the Government finds
0:11:01 > 0:11:04tenants who are deemed to have surplus bedrooms. Is this fair?
0:11:04 > 0:11:09will pay tribute to the chairman of the Select Committee who has
0:11:09 > 0:11:12returned to robust good health and welcome that fact. I agree about the
0:11:12 > 0:11:18importance of the shipyards in this debate on independence. On
0:11:18 > 0:11:23agriculture, he is a long time campaigner on the reform of the CAP.
0:11:23 > 0:11:28I hope what he will see delivered is one that is fair to his constituents
0:11:28 > 0:11:34and to farmers. Regionalisation is just as important to delivering the
0:11:34 > 0:11:37CAP as it is to delivering the CFP. Is my right honourable friend aware
0:11:37 > 0:11:42of the cross-border impact on those constituencies close to Scotland,
0:11:42 > 0:11:52what the effect might be on the way that the reforms are implemented in
0:11:52 > 0:11:57Scotland? I obviously defer to the honourable lady and her expertise in
0:11:57 > 0:12:00this area. I'm very well aware of the issues that she raises. What the
0:12:00 > 0:12:04Secretary of State has been negotiating in Luxembourg is an
0:12:04 > 0:12:09arrangement which regionalises for the whole of the UK and makes it
0:12:09 > 0:12:17fair to farmers around the UK and allows us to design the CAP fit for
0:12:17 > 0:12:27local circumstances. Mr Speaker, I am disappointed the UK Government is
0:12:27 > 0:12:27
0:12:27 > 0:12:37set to negotiate a CAP deal which will leave Scottish with the low
0:12:37 > 0:12:42lowest rural budget. Does the Secretary of State accept that being
0:12:42 > 0:12:47tied to the UK will cost Scottish farming �300 million a year for the
0:12:47 > 0:12:56next seven years? I'm disappointed by the tone from the honourable
0:12:56 > 0:13:00lady. I hope she might just have studied the tweets from the Scottish
0:13:00 > 0:13:09agriculture minister. We have done it as a member of the UK at the top
0:13:09 > 0:13:15table with the clout to deliver a regionalised CAP. It is for Richard
0:13:15 > 0:13:21Lockhead to get on designing a policy that suits Scotland's needs.
0:13:21 > 0:13:26If agreement is reached this week on the common agriculture policy that
0:13:26 > 0:13:30works to the benefit of farmers across Scotland, is this not more
0:13:30 > 0:13:34evidence that Scotland speaks with a louder voice in EU negotiations as
0:13:34 > 0:13:38part of the United Kingdom? I'm in complete agreement with the
0:13:38 > 0:13:43honourable gentleman. The moral of these negotiations reinforces his
0:13:43 > 0:13:49point, the fact that the Scottish Farming Minister has been involved
0:13:49 > 0:13:54in discussions with the Secretary of State for Environment, food and
0:13:54 > 0:14:01Rural Affairs all the way through this process. Number five, Mr
0:14:01 > 0:14:05Speaker. This is a question about employment in Scotland. The most
0:14:05 > 0:14:10recent Labour statistics show that from February to April 2013,
0:14:10 > 0:14:13employment in Scotland has increased by 47,000, while unemployment has
0:14:13 > 0:14:17dropped by 6,000 and jobseeker's allowance claimants have reduced by
0:14:17 > 0:14:23900. The Government will continue to take the necessary steps to build a
0:14:23 > 0:14:26stronger economy in a fairer society. Mr Speaker, unemployment in
0:14:26 > 0:14:33Scotland has fallen for seven months in a row. Does he agree that this
0:14:33 > 0:14:40could be put at risk should Scotland vote to become independent?
0:14:40 > 0:14:43believe that Scotland as part of the United Kingdom has the most
0:14:43 > 0:14:46appropriate opportunities, as the great strength of that economy, not
0:14:47 > 0:14:50just for businesses there, but for consumers. They get greater choice
0:14:50 > 0:14:54and greater security as part of the United Kingdom and when times get
0:14:54 > 0:15:03tough, as we saw with the banking crisis, the UK is there to help out.
0:15:03 > 0:15:07That is a good deal and we should stick with it. Like my honourable
0:15:07 > 0:15:14friend from Glasgow South West, the main employer in my constituency are
0:15:14 > 0:15:20the shipyards. 2,000 people are employed. What will happen to these
0:15:20 > 0:15:252,000 people if independence is voted for next year? Well, once
0:15:25 > 0:15:29again, the honourable gentleman makes a very important point. It is
0:15:29 > 0:15:34a question that is directed to the SNP routinely and for which they
0:15:34 > 0:15:37have no answer. The arrangement we have with the shipyards, with the
0:15:37 > 0:15:44construction, is very good for Scotland and we should continue to
0:15:44 > 0:15:48be part of the UK. Can the Secretary of State confirm that many of the
0:15:48 > 0:15:53jobs in the offshore oil and gas industry, where we must not forget
0:15:53 > 0:16:01what a dangerous environment it is to operate in, especially as we mark
0:16:01 > 0:16:09the 25th anniversary of the Piper Alpha disaster. Will he study the
0:16:09 > 0:16:13outcome of the conference held last week to see if we can make the
0:16:13 > 0:16:20industry as safe as possible? honourable friend is right to draw
0:16:20 > 0:16:25the House's attention to the tragic events of 25 years ago. The loss of
0:16:25 > 0:16:30167 lives is something that the communities, the families are still
0:16:30 > 0:16:35dealing with 25 years later. We all remember that tragedy and remain
0:16:35 > 0:16:38committed to ensuring that we have the highest possible standards of
0:16:38 > 0:16:41health and safety in the North Sea and, as a Government, we remain
0:16:41 > 0:16:44committed to working with the sector to ensure that is the case. Of
0:16:45 > 0:16:53course, we will study the recommendations from the conference
0:16:53 > 0:16:59to which he referred. THE SPEAKER: There has been - I know
0:16:59 > 0:17:04members will want to be quiet for Margaret Curran. Thank you very
0:17:04 > 0:17:11much. For those who are in employment, can the Secretary of
0:17:11 > 0:17:15State for Scotland tell the House have average wages gone up or down
0:17:15 > 0:17:19since in last election? I would have hoped the honourable lady would have
0:17:19 > 0:17:24welcomed the fact that more people are in employment as a result of the
0:17:24 > 0:17:29measures we are taking, that we have created 150,000 private sector jobs
0:17:29 > 0:17:33in Scotland. Of course, there are still challenges facing the economy,
0:17:33 > 0:17:37but she will remember the legacy that she left us. She can see for
0:17:37 > 0:17:43herself the crisis in the eurozone. We remain committed to taking the
0:17:43 > 0:17:46steps that will get us on the road to recovery. Once again, the
0:17:47 > 0:17:53Secretary of State doesn't let the facts get in the way of the same old
0:17:53 > 0:17:59answer. Average wages in Scotland have gone down by �1,100 since he
0:17:59 > 0:18:04took office. That is the equivalent of 14 tanks of petrol, 15 weekly
0:18:04 > 0:18:08shops or over nine months of gas and electricity bills. The Secretary of
0:18:08 > 0:18:14State has said in the past the horrible truth is everyone is going
0:18:14 > 0:18:18to have to make a contribution. Is this what he had in mind? Well, the
0:18:18 > 0:18:21honourable lady, despite the changes from the Shadow Chancellor, doesn't
0:18:21 > 0:18:25seem to have caught up with the new script, the recognition that the
0:18:25 > 0:18:29Labour Party left the decks burning when it went out of office three
0:18:29 > 0:18:32years ago. She is not going to be credible until she faces up to that.
0:18:32 > 0:18:38What I have said is these are tough times, they continue to be
0:18:38 > 0:18:43challenging, but what we are doing by raising the tax threshold so that
0:18:43 > 0:18:47224,000 Scots are out of tax altogether, two million Scots are
0:18:47 > 0:18:51enjoying a �600 per year reduction in their income tax bill. That is
0:18:51 > 0:18:57very important. We continue to work for fairness and for a successful
0:18:57 > 0:19:02economy. Number six.This is a question about housing payments.
0:19:02 > 0:19:12right honourable friend, the Secretary of State and I, met with
0:19:12 > 0:19:12
0:19:12 > 0:19:16the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. The Minister will know
0:19:16 > 0:19:23that some 80% of affected households in Scotland contain a disabled
0:19:23 > 0:19:27adult, yet they only get 6.5% of the total budget. Instead of
0:19:27 > 0:19:31concentrating on his pathetic scaremongering Project Fear, will he
0:19:31 > 0:19:38concentrate on the real fears of real Scots under his Tory-led
0:19:38 > 0:19:42Government? Mr Speaker, what I'm concentrating on is the real
0:19:42 > 0:19:47concerns of local authorities in Scotland. That is why the Secretary
0:19:47 > 0:19:53of State and I have met with every single local authority in Scotland
0:19:53 > 0:19:57to discuss the specific issues that they - and the concerns they have -
0:19:57 > 0:20:01and we will meet at the end of July to discuss the outcome of those
0:20:01 > 0:20:08discussions. Number seven. This is a question about the general state of
0:20:08 > 0:20:12the economy in Scotland. Against a tough economic backdrop, we are
0:20:12 > 0:20:16taking the measures necessary to create a rebalanced economy with
0:20:16 > 0:20:20sustainable public finances. Scottish economy needs people in
0:20:20 > 0:20:25work. Last year, the Government supported the closure of the Remploy
0:20:25 > 0:20:32factory. Since then, nearly a year later, very few of those disabled
0:20:32 > 0:20:35workers have found a full-time job. How does that help the economy?
0:20:35 > 0:20:39recognise the issue that the honourable gentleman raises on
0:20:39 > 0:20:49behalf of his constituents. I will be very happy to meet with him to
0:20:49 > 0:20:50discuss this issue further. What we want to do is help those with
0:20:51 > 0:20:59disabilities to get into the workplace.
0:20:59 > 0:21:06THE SPEAKER: There's far too much noise in the Chamber! The House must
0:21:06 > 0:21:10and will hear. Super-fast broadband is so important
0:21:10 > 0:21:18for the economy of rural areas, the Government's target is 90% coverage
0:21:18 > 0:21:23by 2015. In the ghlands, the target is only 75% in each local authority
0:21:23 > 0:21:26area by December 2016. Will my honourable friend meet me to discuss
0:21:26 > 0:21:30how we can get this target up to something comparable with the rest
0:21:30 > 0:21:40of the country? Can I say my honourable friend is right to
0:21:40 > 0:21:42
0:21:42 > 0:21:50champion this cause. It is very important. Indeed, we need
0:21:50 > 0:21:58super-fast broadband in the Highlands. Thank you. As part of the
0:21:58 > 0:22:08Project Fear abbing ticks, there has been a ridiculous level of --
0:22:08 > 0:22:08
0:22:08 > 0:22:14tactics, there has been a ridiculous amount... Will the Secretary of
0:22:14 > 0:22:18State apologise for the scaremongering tactic tactics that
0:22:18 > 0:22:22he is a part of? The honourable gentleman needs to relax a bit and
0:22:22 > 0:22:26address this sensibly. What he surely recognises is that that
0:22:26 > 0:22:30record investment comes from the back of a United Kingdom economic
0:22:30 > 0:22:35framework that is supportive to businesses wherever they locate in
0:22:35 > 0:22:38the United Kingdom and where businesses can get access to the
0:22:38 > 0:22:48whole of the United Kingdom economy without any false barriers created
0:22:48 > 0:22:53
0:22:53 > 0:22:56by him and his friends. Mr Speaker, the failing of policies are not
0:22:56 > 0:23:03delivering the gross we require in the UK. Will he take the opportunity
0:23:03 > 0:23:07to welcome the help and support he is getting as part of the Project
0:23:07 > 0:23:15Fear campaign, by those who agree with the Conservative spending cuts
0:23:15 > 0:23:20that have been announced and agree with the bedroom tax? Another neat
0:23:20 > 0:23:24diversion. He can't avoid the central fact - he and his colleagues
0:23:24 > 0:23:28have no answers on the central question of Scotland's economy. How
0:23:28 > 0:23:31the banks and other also be regulated, how trade will work
0:23:31 > 0:23:36across the United Kingdom, on every single important question there are
0:23:36 > 0:23:43no answers from the SNP. They will not be listened to until those
0:23:43 > 0:23:49answers come. Later today, the House will debate the High Speed Two
0:23:49 > 0:23:55preparation bill. Does my right honourable friend agree that this
0:23:55 > 0:23:59project will lead to Scotland's economic growth? This is absolutely
0:23:59 > 0:24:05key to the whole of the UK's economy. I look forward to the
0:24:05 > 0:24:09benefits being enjoyed by all parts of Britain, north and south.
0:24:09 > 0:24:14Speaker, this Government has delivered one-fifth of the promised
0:24:14 > 0:24:18growth since 2010. Is the Minister also aware that the working age
0:24:18 > 0:24:23employment rate in Scotland has fallen by 2% from five years ago,
0:24:23 > 0:24:28leaving a jobs gap for Scotland of more than 71,000? Doesn't that make
0:24:28 > 0:24:38the case for a jobs guarantee now to get Scotland's young and long-term
0:24:38 > 0:24:45jobless people back into work, generate more tax revenues and help
0:24:45 > 0:24:50cut the deficit which... Let me put this to him. Yet again, there's
0:24:50 > 0:24:54denial from him and his colleagues about the good progress we have been
0:24:54 > 0:24:58make making on unemployment. I hope he would recognise that. It is
0:24:58 > 0:25:03essential we take the measures to support individuals into work, which
0:25:03 > 0:25:07we are doing with the Work Programme, which we are doing with
0:25:07 > 0:25:13the Youth Contract. He can shake his head. He needs to get with the
0:25:13 > 0:25:17reality. Does my right honourable friend agree that connectivity
0:25:17 > 0:25:21through regional air hubs to international hubs are vital to the
0:25:21 > 0:25:26performance of the Scottish economy? In that regard, can I ask what the
0:25:26 > 0:25:31Government is able to do to assist in maintaining those links,
0:25:31 > 0:25:35particularly at Inverness and to the Highlands? My honourable friend is a
0:25:35 > 0:25:39real champion of those vital air links to the north and the far north
0:25:39 > 0:25:49which he represents. I know he has been making strong representations.
0:25:49 > 0:25:50
0:25:50 > 0:25:56I will be happy to meet with him further. The OBR states real wages
0:25:56 > 0:26:01in Scotland will be lower in 2015 than when Labour left office. Why
0:26:01 > 0:26:07isn't the Secretary of State standing up for hard-working Scots
0:26:07 > 0:26:12protecting tax credits, but instead giving a tax break to millionaires?
0:26:12 > 0:26:15There we go again. The honourable lady chooses to ignore the absolute
0:26:16 > 0:26:23crisis that the Labour Party left for the incoming Government three
0:26:23 > 0:26:28years ago. She forgets the measures we have taken to take low-paid Scots
0:26:28 > 0:26:32out of tax altogether. She forgets all those things. Without the firm
0:26:32 > 0:26:37measures we have taken, we would not be moving from rescue to recovery as
0:26:37 > 0:26:40we are. That is all we have got time for at the moment and because of the
0:26:40 > 0:26:45parliamentary calendar, that is the last Scottish Questions before the