Contributions
280 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDUnion ConnectivityYes. I was pleased to be able to visit my hon. Friend’s constituency and see the value of the levelling-up projects in his area as part of the growth deal in and around Carlisle…29 Jun 2022HANSARDShipbuilding SectorScotland has a long and proud history of shipbuilding. What I can say to the hon. Gentleman is that the biggest threat to future orders is his party’s plan to break up the United…29 Jun 2022HANSARDHigh Speed Rail 2I know my hon. Friend is a doughty campaigner against HS2, but we have had that debate, I am afraid. I am always happy to discuss with him how we can optimise the building work. I…29 Jun 2022HANSARDHigh Speed Rail 2As I have just said to the hon. Member for Kilmarnock and Loudoun, the removal of the Golborne link was because Sir Peter Hendy’s connectivity review had found that it was not the…29 Jun 2022HANSARDUnion ConnectivityThe hon. Gentleman is, I am afraid, completely wrong. Scotland will be connected to HS2 from day one and the project will deliver enormous capacity and journey time improvements.…29 Jun 2022HANSARDUnion ConnectivityThe Government are grateful to Sir Peter Hendy for his work and we are considering his recommendations carefully. The Prime Minister has welcomed, and intends to accept, the…29 Jun 2022HANSARDShipbuilding SectorMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. Not only are the two overbudget ferries languishing in the yard, but the head of CalMac’s engineering division has revealed that the existing…29 Jun 2022HANSARDUnion ConnectivityScotland’s love affair with Blackpool has existed for decades and is well known. The more Scots who can visit my hon. Friend’s lovely constituency, the better. We of course…29 Jun 2022HANSARDShipbuilding SectorI completely agree with the hon. Lady. Our shipbuilding strategy gives a long-term vision and yards in Scotland and the supply chain confidence to make the investments and deliver…29 Jun 2022HANSARDShipbuilding SectorMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. SNP Members are usually only too keen to tell us about what the Scottish Government are doing and how the UK Government should follow suit.…29 Jun 2022HANSARDUnion’s Impact on ScotlandI do agree with one part of the hon. Gentleman’s question, and that is about the real focus of the Scottish Government: it is, as he says, not about addressing the real challenges…29 Jun 2022HANSARDUnion’s Impact on ScotlandFirst, I would be delighted to congratulate the café in the hon. Gentleman’s constituency and when I am next in Edinburgh I will endeavour to pay a visit. I do not agree with the…29 Jun 2022HANSARDUnion’s Impact on ScotlandThe Union is, of course, voluntary. The question in the referendum was put and decisively answered. Of all the comments recently, the most revealing was from Cabinet Secretary…29 Jun 2022HANSARDUnion ConnectivityI regularly discuss important issues on improving Union connectivity with ministerial colleagues. Earlier this year, for example, I co-chaired a roundtable discussion with…29 Jun 2022HANSARDUnion’s Impact on ScotlandBefore I answer the hon. Lady’s question, may I congratulate her on her recent wedding? Although we will disagree on many subjects, on this one I hope we can agree that a union is…29 Jun 2022HANSARDUnion’s Impact on ScotlandThe United Kingdom is the most successful political, economic, social and cultural union the world has ever seen, and is the foundation on which our citizens and businesses are…29 Jun 2022HANSARDUnion’s Impact on ScotlandThe gene editing of crops is an important issue, and my hon. Friend is right to raise it. There is a widespread view in the agriculture sector in Scotland that it is a good move…29 Jun 2022HANSARDShipbuilding SectorAs you were notified, Mr Speaker, the Secretary of State is unable to attend today as he has long-standing commitments in Scotland. However, I am very pleased to be joined by the…29 Jun 2022HANSARDUnion’s Impact on ScotlandThe constitutional issues were so far down the list of people’s priorities when that poll took place. What the people of Scotland want are their Governments, whether that is…29 Jun 2022HANSARDHigh Speed Rail 2As I just said in answer to the hon. Member for Kilmarnock and Loudoun (Alan Brown), Scotland is set to benefit from the boost in connectivity and huge economic benefits that HS2…29 Jun 2022