Contributions
638 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDFirst Minister: MeetingsI am committed to a constructive relationship with the First Minister of Scotland and other Scottish Government Ministers. Now is not the time to be planning face-to-face…25 Mar 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Economic SupportI thank the hon. Lady for raising that really important point. The self-catering industry, including self-catering cottages, is a massive issue for rural Scotland, and not just in…25 Mar 2020HANSARDBudget 2020: Scottish Block GrantI absolutely agree. I would add that the British economy is the sixth-strongest economy in the world, and it is that that is seeing us through these difficult times. We are…25 Mar 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Economic SupportIt was remiss of me not to welcome the hon. Gentleman to his role, albeit maybe a temporary one—a reshuffle is coming, so it may be a brief role. If he is invited back, that would…25 Mar 2020HANSARDFirst Minister: MeetingsThe hon. Gentleman raises an extremely important point. I think we have all received in our parliamentary inboxes cases of people who are trapped abroad. Only yesterday, I heard…25 Mar 2020HANSARDBudget 2020: Scottish Block GrantI would like to start by endorsing the words of my fellow Minister. I have regular discussions with the Chancellor, and all my Cabinet colleagues, on how the Government can help…25 Mar 2020HANSARDFirst Minister: MeetingsI think it is fair to say that that is a UK-wide issue. Normally, asylum seekers cannot work while their case is being considered; however, they can volunteer. NHS England…25 Mar 2020HANSARDFirst Minister: MeetingsYes, and we have done so. We want Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs to speed up the registration process for those companies, because the tax treatment of alcohol used in hand…25 Mar 2020HANSARDBudget 2020: Scottish Block GrantI think everyone in the House agrees about the climate challenge. In particular, on the Scotch whisky sector, we announced in the Budget £10 million of green funding to help…25 Mar 2020HANSARDTrade: Scotland and the Rest of the UKMy hon. Friend will not be surprised to hear that I do agree with him. I emphasise that Scotland does more than three times the trade with England, Northern Ireland and Wales as…25 Mar 2020HANSARDTrade: Scotland and the Rest of the UKScottish exports to the rest of the UK increased in 2018 by £1.2 billion to £51.2 billion. The official Scottish Government figures show that more than 60% of all Scotland’s trade…25 Mar 2020HANSARDRenewable EnergyAs the hon. Gentleman knows, interconnectors are a devolved matter, but we are looking at upgrading the schemes so that we can transfer our power across the United Kingdom and the…12 Feb 2020HANSARDRenewable EnergyMy Department has regular engagement with colleagues in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on a range of issues relevant to Scotland, including the…12 Feb 2020HANSARDTradeThe hon. Gentleman makes an exceptionally good point. That is a border we need to avoid, and it makes no sense to have any sort of border between Gretna and Berwick. As for the…12 Feb 2020HANSARDTradeI absolutely agree with my hon. Friend that Nicola Sturgeon’s separatist agenda is a real threat to Scotland’s jobs, businesses and the economy, and that is why I am against the…12 Feb 2020HANSARDBudgetI have regular discussions with all my Cabinet colleagues on issues important to Scotland’s economy, including the forthcoming Budget in March. The Government will deliver a…12 Feb 2020HANSARDBudgetI welcome the recent freeports announcement, and I have no doubt that freeports will unleash the potential of our proud historic ports, boosting and regenerating communities…12 Feb 2020HANSARDTaxationThat figure about less tax is correct—about 56% of Scots will pay less tax. [ Interruption. ] Before the Scottish nationalists become over-jubilant, I point out that that is the…12 Feb 2020HANSARDBudgetThere already has been a Barnett consequential relating to HS2 spending. In the next spending round, we will see what money is allocated to the Department for Transport. That…12 Feb 2020HANSARDTaxationIt goes without saying that I agree with my hon. Friend, and it is disappointing that Scottish taxpayers who earn more than £27,000 will pay more tax in Scotland than they would…12 Feb 2020