Contributions
638 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDPromoting Scotland OverseasYes, my hon. Friend is of course right. The island communities have been terribly let down by this Scottish Government. I know he is referring to the ministerial direction…17 May 2023HANSARDPromoting Scotland OverseasYes, of course I do, and I also welcome the Scottish Government’s deciding not to ban advertising, for instance, for whisky producers. It is simply the case that the UK Government…17 May 2023HANSARDHighly Protected Marine AreasWe are committed to working with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Scottish Government on our shared ambition to protect marine ecosystems. However,…17 May 2023HANSARDHighly Protected Marine AreasFor those who heard the question, the answer is yes.17 May 2023HANSARDHighly Protected Marine AreasWe will share the results of those pilot schemes. I reiterate what the Prime Minister said at Prime Minister’s questions last week to the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and…17 May 2023HANSARDPromoting Scotland OverseasAs the UK Government in Scotland, we have an important role in promoting Scotland internationally. The Scotland Office, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the…17 May 2023HANSARDPromoting Scotland OverseasI certainly do.17 May 2023HANSARDPromoting Scotland OverseasAs the hon. Gentleman will know from my submission to his Committee and its inquiry, that is not what I think. I think that the UK Government should work with the devolved…17 May 2023HANSARDPromoting Scotland OverseasYes, indeed. Scotland’s membership as part of the United Kingdom of those incredible organisations is just another advantage of being part of the United Kingdom.17 May 2023HANSARDPromoting Scotland OverseasThe hon. Gentleman should not be taking all the credit: that work is done by the United Kingdom Government. We have 282 embassies, high commissions and consulates in 180…17 May 2023HANSARDDevolution SettlementI quoted earlier the chief executive of Tesco, the largest retailer in the United Kingdom. In the paper yesterday he made the very good point that there is one drinks industry…29 Mar 2023HANSARDDevolution SettlementLet me pick up the hon. Lady’s first point, because we do not want the grievance factory to say, as I have seen on social media today, that the English Government blocked people…29 Mar 2023HANSARDDevolution SettlementThis is a very serious issue and my sympathies are with David and his family. I know that he has written to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. I am a great…29 Mar 2023HANSARDDevolution SettlementThere is a precedent for political parties voting in new leaders who then assume office: Henry McLeish replaced Donald Dewar, Jack McConnell replaced Henry McLeish, Gordon Brown…29 Mar 2023HANSARDDevolution SettlementThis is an important point and has had a lot of airtime in the media in Scotland. I can say to the hon. Lady that, while officials and civil servants spoke to one another over a…29 Mar 2023HANSARDDevolution SettlementI am not sure that there has been much joined-up thinking on the questions here. Again, I have suggested that the deposit return scheme should be paused. I think a UK-wide…29 Mar 2023HANSARDDevolution SettlementYes. I have heard the new First Minister say that it was anti-devolution to block a Bill that had been passed by the Scottish Parliament, but section 35 exists for that very…29 Mar 2023HANSARDDevolution SettlementLet us be absolutely clear about this: the letter the hon. Gentleman refers to was a letter to the Chancellor about value added tax treatment of the deposit return scheme. The…29 Mar 2023HANSARDDevolution SettlementI take this opportunity to congratulate Humza Yousaf on becoming Scotland’s new First Minister. I look forward to working with him. I heard him say that he wanted to put the…29 Mar 2023HANSARDStrength of the UnionYes. The cost of living support package has been a total of £94 billion, an average of £3,300 for every household in the United Kingdom.29 Mar 2023