Contributions
165 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDYemen Peace ProcessFor SNP Members, the question of an arms embargo, or stopping arms sales to Saudi Arabia, is more about messaging. I know that there are jobs at stake, but does the right hon.…23 May 2019HANSARDEbola Outbreak: DRCMay I thank the Secretary of State for pre-sight of his oral statement? Thanks are due in no small measure to those who are already working on the ground. That point was made by…20 May 2019HANSARDDefence ManufacturingIn recent days, we have heard of foreign shipbuilders pulling out of the bidding process for the fleet solid support ships. If the Government are being true to the national…20 May 2019HANSARD Billy McNeill MBEMy hon. Friend knows that I am not a Celtic fan, although I am not quite in the same camp as the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon). Nevertheless, I have six brothers-in-law…20 May 2019HANSARD Business of the HouseI hear that the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, which runs driving test centres, may close a centre in Dunfermline in my constituency. That will cause great inconvenience to…16 May 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsI am sure that the whole Government Front Bench team will be aware of the bad news today from Thomas Cook, whose travel business looks unsustainable as a result of the Brexit…16 May 2019HANSARD Defence Industry: ScotlandMy hon. Friend has hit the nail on the head. There are huge pressures on the defence budget overall, but the Minister knows that if he had another £3.5 billion to spend every year…30 Apr 2019HANSARD Defence Industry: ScotlandThat is the line pointed out every time we have this discussion, but it really is time for an adult conversation. The figures in the “Trouble Ahead” report show that £3.5 billion…30 Apr 2019HANSARD Defence Industry: ScotlandIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Hollobone. I pay tribute to the hon. Member for Rutherglen and Hamilton West (Ged Killen) for bringing this important and…30 Apr 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsT2. This Government are not even hiding their disdain for Scottish business, with one of them telling the BBC recently:“Once you’ve hit the”—Brexit—“iceberg, you’re all on it…30 Apr 2019HANSARDExiting the European Union (Sanctions)My comments will be relatively brief, but there are important issues to be discussed. This will certainly be part of ongoing discussions as the UK decides how to leave the EU. The…29 Apr 2019HANSARDYemenLike many hon. Members, I attended some of the #YemenCantWait events over the past week. I was struck by one quote: “We’ve had 4 years of WAR, and the SUFFERING is reflected on…26 Mar 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland Assembly ElectionThank you very much, Mr Speaker. I thank the Secretary of State for her statement this morning. Talks collapsed more than 12 months ago, and Scottish National party Members want…21 Mar 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsT3. The Secretary of State was unable to answer a written parliamentary question on the legal costs of Eurotunnel’s court proceedings and the settlement deal. Has he now done his…21 Mar 2019HANSARDPassengers from British AirportsTo encourage passenger numbers flying out of Scottish airports, why will the Secretary of State not guarantee public service obligations for additional slots for the new runway at…21 Mar 2019HANSARDFuture of the Oil and Gas IndustryThe UK Government has had a spend, spend, spend approach, but as I said, I would like us to put away much more of that wealth for future generations. Perhaps it is a bit late to…14 Mar 2019HANSARDFuture of the Oil and Gas IndustryIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Walker. I thank the Committee members and the witnesses for helping to reach the well-considered conclusions and…14 Mar 2019HANSARDFuture of the Oil and Gas IndustryMy hon. Friend makes an excellent point. Norway’s population is very similar to Scotland’s and it has a similar ability make good from the resource it found on its doorstep. It…14 Mar 2019HANSARDFuture of the Oil and Gas IndustryThat is a fantastic option that Norway has, but in the UK we do not have that wealth fund to decide how we will invest in the future. That makes a bit of a mockery of us. We have…14 Mar 2019HANSARDFuture of the Oil and Gas IndustryCertainly, Mr Walker; I will move on to my final comment. The report’s conclusions focus on the positives: developing an ambitious deal for the sector as a whole, which I hope…14 Mar 2019