Contributions
638 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDAllegations of Impropriety in Public LifeAbsolutely.22 Feb 2023HANSARDStrengthening the UnionThe Government’s commitment to Scotland is best demonstrated by what we are doing on the ground. We are investing more than £2 billion to level up across Scotland and working with…22 Feb 2023HANSARDRetained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) BillWe are working constructively and collaboratively with the Scottish Government on those retained EU laws. Where we have agreement on a cross-UK piece of policy, we will legislate…22 Feb 2023HANSARDAllegations of Impropriety in Public LifeI did not catch all of that, but I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave earlier. There is a ministerial code that sets standards of behaviour for Ministers, and Ministers are…22 Feb 2023HANSARDStrengthening the UnionYes, the hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. This is just another example of how anti-business this Scottish Government are—the SNP and its coalition partners, the Greens. The…22 Feb 2023HANSARDRetained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) BillMy right hon. Friend is absolutely right, and I know that he was in the Scotland Office when those powers were devolved in 2016. Some of them will not come into operation until…22 Feb 2023HANSARDStrengthening the UnionI am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising that important matter and for his efforts in this area. The latest statistics on exports of Scotch whisky and salmon underline how much…22 Feb 2023HANSARDScotland Act 1998: Section 35 PowerThe point of the Scottish Parliament is to serve the people of Scotland in the areas that are devolved to it, but, to be clear, within the terms of the Scotland Act. It is not an…17 Jan 2023HANSARDScotland Act 1998: Section 35 PowerI absolutely agree. I thank the hon. Lady for her comments. As will be in the statement of reasons, we do not believe there are sufficient protections and safeguards for women and…17 Jan 2023HANSARDScotland Act 1998: Section 35 PowerWe are fortunate to have among us a colleague of great political sagacity who was there when the legislation was debated. He is right that that democratic Bill went through…17 Jan 2023HANSARDScotland Act 1998: Section 35 PowerAgain, I do not want to bore everyone with a long list, but we could add ferries and many other things to that list.17 Jan 2023HANSARDScotland Act 1998: Section 35 PowerNo, obviously I do not. In 24 years, the Scottish Parliament has passed 347 Acts and the United Kingdom Government have never used a section 35 order. The legal advice deems that…17 Jan 2023HANSARDScotland Act 1998: Section 35 PowerNo, we are not. The Minister for Women and Equalities has provided a written ministerial statement on that. There are changes, which include 16 to 18-year-olds self-identifying…17 Jan 2023HANSARDScotland Act 1998: Section 35 PowerWell, it is. It is also about protecting the devolution settlement and two UK-wide Acts.17 Jan 2023HANSARDScotland Act 1998: Section 35 PowerFirst of all, of course we respect and support the trans community. If the hon. Lady wants to raise specific issues, the Minister for Women and Equalities is very happy to have a…17 Jan 2023HANSARDScotland Act 1998: Section 35 PowerYes.17 Jan 2023HANSARDScotland Act 1998: Section 35 PowerMy hon. Friend is absolutely right that tone is important in these matters, and I have not taken this decision lightly. I took it after due consideration of the legal advice. Yes,…17 Jan 2023HANSARDScotland Act 1998: Section 35 PowerYes, indeed.17 Jan 2023HANSARDScotland Act 1998: Section 35 PowerAs I think I have said, the Minister for Women and Equalities and civil service officials had a number of engagements. My involvement comes after the event, because it is a…17 Jan 2023HANSARDScotland Act 1998: Section 35 PowerI will not go into the details of Lady Haldane’s judgment in December, but the hon. Lady is right to say that that has created part of the conflict. Again, that will be laid out…17 Jan 2023