Contributions
638 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDStrengthening the UnionThere are no flies on my hon. Friend—he spotted that I am a Unionist, and he has been able to highlight the importance of improving transport links. That is why I am so…11 Nov 2020HANSARDStrengthening the UnionI am more than happy to join my hon. Friend in thanking today’s servicemen and women, and I am sure the whole House will join me in remembering all those who laid down their lives…11 Nov 2020HANSARDCoronavirus Job Retention SchemeThe hon. Lady will recognise that this is a dynamic and unprecedented situation, and we have to take decisions as we see what is in front of us. The employers of those who lost…11 Nov 2020HANSARDCoronavirus Job Retention SchemeWe have invested more than £230 million in manufacturing any successful vaccine. The vaccines have been procured and paid for by the UK Government on behalf of everyone in the…11 Nov 2020HANSARDCoronavirus Job Retention SchemeI commend the hon. Lady for trying to get a referendum into questions about the job retention scheme. While we are all fighting this pandemic and trying to secure and support…11 Nov 2020HANSARDCoronavirus Job Retention SchemeI agree with my hon. Friend. There has been substantial extra funding, guaranteed funding, to the Scottish Government—£8.2 billion, as he correctly identified. That is money…11 Nov 2020HANSARDCoronavirus Job Retention SchemeAbsolutely not. The Prime Minister was clear from the get-go, following Cabinet on the Saturday when we discussed the new economic situation in England, that it was a UK-wide…11 Nov 2020HANSARDCoronavirus Job Retention SchemeToday, on the 11th day of the 11th month, I am sure the whole House will join me in remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. I have regular…11 Nov 2020HANSARDStrengthening the UnionIn the interests of brevity, as it was a very full question, I will say: absolutely, yes.11 Nov 2020HANSARDStrengthening the UnionThe Union connectivity review that I referred to earlier and the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill, which is currently going through Parliament, will both promote the economic…11 Nov 2020HANSARDEconomic Support: Covid-19Am I answering David Mundell’s question?11 Nov 2020HANSARDEconomic Support: Covid-19I did not bring that with me, sorry.11 Nov 2020HANSARDCoronavirus: EmploymentThe hon. Lady will know that we have brought in a new set of measures, as she said. There is the self-employment support scheme and the new job retention scheme. We have made a…07 Oct 2020HANSARDCoronavirus: EmploymentIn this pandemic, the Chancellor has been very clear that he cannot save every business and every job. The hon. Gentleman mentions Cineworld. Independent cinemas were supported…07 Oct 2020HANSARDCoronavirus: EmploymentThe hon. Gentleman raises a very serious issue not just for the whisky industry, but for biscuits and cashmere. I am pleased that biscuits are now off the tariff carousel. The…07 Oct 2020HANSARDCoronavirus: EmploymentI thank my right hon. Friend for the invaluable work that he did in bringing the borderlands growth deal to fruition. I am also delighted to inform him that the business case for…07 Oct 2020HANSARDCoronavirus: EmploymentWe have had one Budget this year in March. That was slightly delayed and, at the time, the then Finance Secretary in Scotland, Derek Mackay, said that that was going to be…07 Oct 2020HANSARDCoronavirus: EmploymentI say to the hon. Lady that I do not agree that there are negative consequences. The Chancellor and I have had discussions on this matter. I make it quite clear that if Kate…07 Oct 2020HANSARDCoronavirus: EmploymentThe Union connectivity review, which is being led by Sir Peter Hendy, whom I met yesterday, is a really important initiative for Scotland and the whole United Kingdom, and it will…07 Oct 2020HANSARDCoronavirus: EmploymentFirst, the new leader of the Scottish Conservatives cares deeply about the Union, and that is something that we cannot say for the Scottish nationalist party. But I would go…07 Oct 2020