Contributions
638 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDUnion Connectivity ReviewI have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on transport connectivity in Scotland and throughout the United Kingdom. I welcome Sir Peter’s interim report and I look forward…10 Mar 2021HANSARDUnion Connectivity ReviewMr Speaker, why should I not just completely agree? Improving connectivity across the entire United Kingdom, including through the north-west of England, will boost tourism…10 Mar 2021HANSARDUnion Connectivity ReviewI share my hon. Friend’s frustration, I really do. This review is part of our levelling-up agenda to improve the national infrastructure and create jobs and prosperity, and I…10 Mar 2021HANSARDUnion Connectivity ReviewI agree with my hon. Friend, and I hope he will be aware that next week we are signing the full borderlands growth deal, which will include funding for the feasibility study into…10 Mar 2021HANSARDNew Free Trade AgreementsI regularly discuss with my Cabinet colleagues opportunities for Scotland arising from the signing of trade deals. This Government have already struck deals with more than 65…10 Mar 2021HANSARDNew Free Trade AgreementsMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. This is brilliant news for the Scotch whisky industry, in the same week that the Chancellor announced a freeze on alcohol duty. The UK…10 Mar 2021HANSARDContingencies Fund AdvanceI hereby give notice of the Scotland Office’s intention to seek an advance from the Contingencies Fund. The Department requires an advance to meet an urgent cash requirement…25 Feb 2021HANSARDStrength of the UnionI say again: now is not the time. Now is the time for us to focus on rebuilding our economy and protecting jobs. I see the hon. Gentleman up there with his gold disc behind him,…27 Jan 2021HANSARDStrength of the UnionI wish my hon. Friend many happy returns, and my birthday present to him is to say that I could not agree with him more. Rather than waste time on a divisive separatist agenda,…27 Jan 2021HANSARDStrength of the UnionFirst, I align myself with the remarks that the hon. Lady made about the holocaust. The referendum took place in 2014. We respect that; it was a democratic outcome. The hon. Lady…27 Jan 2021HANSARDStrength of the UnionScotland receives over £1,600 more in support per man, woman and child than the UK average—that is incredibly important. Added to that is the £8.6 billion of extra coronavirus…27 Jan 2021HANSARDStrength of the UnionScotland benefits greatly from being part of a strong United Kingdom. The most obvious recent examples are the unprecedented economic support offered to people and businesses in…27 Jan 2021HANSARDStrength of the UnionThere has been unprecedented support. The sort of support that the United Kingdom has delivered through the furlough scheme, the self-employment income support scheme, the…27 Jan 2021HANSARDCovid-19 Vaccine Roll-outThe UK Government are ensuring that NHS Scotland gets an equitable share of those vaccines. How it is distributed is a matter for NHS Scotland and, rightly, as health is devolved,…27 Jan 2021HANSARDCovid-19 Vaccine Roll-outGovernment Ministers in both the UK and the devolved Administrations are committed to transparency around the numbers of people who have been vaccinated. There are also a number…27 Jan 2021HANSARDCovid-19 Vaccine Roll-outI am absolutely delighted to echo my hon. Friend’s comments. Our British armed forces have played a number of essential roles in Scotland during the pandemic. They have airlifted…27 Jan 2021HANSARDCovid-19 Vaccine Roll-outThe devolved Administrations are receiving their shares of vaccine based on population, and the schedule of deliveries will fully support vaccinations of the first four priority…27 Jan 2021HANSARDCovid-19 Vaccine Roll-outThe Government are procuring vaccines on behalf of all parts of the United Kingdom and supplying them to the devolved Administrations. It is for the Scottish Government to manage…27 Jan 2021HANSARDStrength of the UnionThat is ridiculous. The Prime Minister is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and wherever he needs to go in his vital work against this pandemic, he will go.27 Jan 2021HANSARDStrength of the UnionI absolutely agree with my right hon. Friend. People in Scotland want to see politicians across the United Kingdom working in partnership to focus on defeating the coronavirus.…27 Jan 2021