Strength of the Union 2021-09-08
2021-09-08
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
Discussion about the current state and future prospects of the UK union.
What recent assessment has his Department made on the strength of the Union?
My assessment continues to be that the United Kingdom is the most successful political and economic union that the world has ever seen. It is the foundation on which all our citizens and businesses are able to thrive. The United Kingdom Government are committed to protecting and promoting the strengths of our United Kingdom.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Concern over the status of the Acorn carbon capture storage project and high grid charges for renewable projects.
Will the Government back Acorn as one of two clusters next month?
As the hon. Gentleman knows, that is under review. We want Acorn to be one of the tier 1 projects, and we are pressing for that. I think he should press for his colleagues and his Government in Scotland to support the oil and gas industry.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific commitment about backing Acorn as a tier 1 project
Under Review
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Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Concern over the divergent franchises and voter suppression measures proposed by the UK Government.
How does the Union strengthen despite diverging franchises?
I think the coalition with the Greens shows very clearly to everyone that one thing that the SNP failed to achieve in May was an outright majority.
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Assessment & feedback
Explanation of how the Union strengthens despite diverging franchises and voter suppression measures
Snp'S Failure
Response accuracy
Q4
Direct Answer
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Context
Concern over the SNP Government's announcement of a referendum while Scotland has some of the worst covid rates in Europe.
Will this Government work constructively across the UK to defeat covid?
My right hon. Friend is absolutely right. Our focus is on rebuilding our economy. Our focus is on restoring our NHS. I think most right-minded Scots would agree that using civil service resources to design a prospectus for independence is the wrong thing to be doing at this time.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q5
Direct Answer
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Context
Discussion about the Union dividend value in Scotland.
Does he agree that figures confirm the benefit of Scotland remaining part of the UK?
I absolutely would agree with my hon. Friend. I would add that the recent “Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland” reports in August showed that the deficit last year for the Scottish budget was £36.3 billion. That is more than the Scottish Government spend on education, housing, transport, culture and health.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
Concern over the refusal to publish research findings about public opinion on the Union.
Is it time to tell us what was found out about Scottish people's views on the state of the Union?
As I have said before at this Dispatch Box, that is a matter for the Cabinet Office, and I suggest the hon. Gentleman raises it at Cabinet Office questions.
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Assessment & feedback
Publication of research findings about public opinion on the Union
Matter For Cabinet Office
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Q7
Direct Answer
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Context
Concern over additional financial support received by Scotland during the pandemic.
What is the scale of the additional financial resource that Scotland received as a result of the covid pandemic?
I absolutely agree with my right hon. Friend. The strength of support was over £14 billion during the covid crisis, and the furlough support helped 900,000 jobs in Scotland at the height of the pandemic, which is nearly a third of the Scottish workforce.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q8
Partial Answer
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Context
Concern over the removal of £20 from universal credit and tax rise impacting low-income families.
What advice does he give those families who will be affected by these changes?
The uplift in universal credit was always intended to be temporary—it was to help claimants through the economic shock and financial disruption of the pandemic—and we now have the kickstart programme and a multibillion-pound plan for jobs. I understand it is difficult to break a manifesto promise, and the Prime Minister was clear that he was doing that in raising national insurance, but he also had a manifesto promise to address social care, which, since Tony Blair said he would address it in 1997, has not been done.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific advice for families affected by changes
Temporary Uplift
Kickstart Programme
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Q9
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP noted a visit to the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney, which has excess renewable energy due to transmission issues. He also referenced ongoing government support for the Cambo oilfield.
There is no money going into social care, but we will leave that for a different time. Last week, Labour's shadow team visited Orkney and its European Marine Energy Centre, which has facilities such as the most powerful tidal turbine in the world, resulting in excess energy that it cannot get back to the mainland. At the same time, the Scottish and UK Governments are backing the Cambo oilfield. With COP26 coming to Scotland, should the Secretary of State not lead by example, refuse Cambo and reform the outdated transmission charge regime while providing funding for a new large-capacity interconnector between Orkney and Shetland and the mainland? That would bring huge benefits and innovation to the islands and power large parts of Scotland from renewable resources.
On Cambo, all our North sea oil licences are factored into the 2050 net zero plan. Discussions are ongoing on the interconnector. It is partly devolved, with Ofgem and others involved. However, leaving that to one side, I take the overall view that there will be multiple uses for oil and gas for years to come—people must understand that—and we may as well get oil domestically rather than import it.
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Assessment & feedback
Reforming the transmission charge regime and providing funding for a new interconnector between Orkney and Shetland and the mainland
Discussions Are Ongoing On The Interconnector
Partly Devolved With Ofgem Involved
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