Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Union in Scotland: Public Opinion Polling

Thursday 8 July 2021 · 5 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government regularly commissions research to understand public attitudes across the United Kingdom.
  • The Minister is reviewing how to comply with the first-tier tribunal's judgment regarding the release of information.
  • The Minister states there is no bias in awarding the contract, as confirmed by Lady Justice O'Farrell.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Marion Fellows SNP
Scotland
Context

The question stems from a ruling by the first-tier tribunal on information rights that requires the Cabinet Office to release polling data related to public attitudes towards the Union in Scotland.

Question

What public opinion polling his Department has collected since 2017 on attitudes to the Union in Scotland?

Answer from Michael Gove

The Government regularly commission research across the United Kingdom to understand public attitudes in order to inform and help to deliver relevant policies, and to ensure that we have strong, UK-wide, cross-Government communications campaigns.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific polling information or data requested

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Q2 Allan Dorans
Scotland
Context

A first-tier tribunal ruling has ordered the Cabinet Office to release information on public opinion polling related to the Union in Scotland.

Question

Will the Minister confirm that he will be releasing the information as per the tribunal's order, and provide details of how much it cost?

Answer from Michael Gove

We are reviewing how we can comply with the first-tier tribunal's judgment.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not confirm or provide details about releasing the information as ordered

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Q3 Marion Fellows SNP
Scotland Standards & Ethics
Context

The right hon. Member for Forest of Dean suggested that the government might hide negative information, prompting a question about the Department's reasons for resisting the release of public opinion polling data.

Question

Does the Minister agree with the statement from his colleague that the Government hides bad news? If not, why is there resistance to releasing this data?

Answer from Michael Gove

In my current role I am all in favour of transparency. The public opinion polls show support for independence is declining and support for the United Kingdom is increasing.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address whether there was a tendency to hide bad news or provide reasons for resisting data release

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Q4 Stewart Hosie SNP
Economy Scotland Parliamentary Procedure
Context

The High Court ruled that the Minister for the Cabinet Office acted with apparent bias in awarding contracts to Public First, a company previously advising him, Prime Minister, and Dominic Cummings.

Question

How can the Minister justify siphoning off many tens of thousands of pounds from covid recovery work to fund this political research?

Answer from Michael Gove

I did not award the contract. The Scottish Government have received more than £180 million from the UK Government in covid recovery funds, which they have yet to publish accounts on how it is being spent.

Not addressed: Did not justify siphoning off funds for political research as requested

How: Changed Subject

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Q5 Stewart Hosie SNP
Standards & Ethics
Context

The question follows a ruling by the High Court that found the Minister acted with apparent bias when awarding contracts to Public First without competitive tender.

Question

Given the rise in support for independence and decline of Union, is it suspicious that the contract was awarded to Public First without competition?

Answer from Michael Gove

A bottomless Unionist slush fund does not exist. The contract was not awarded by me and I did not act with any actual or apparent bias, as found by Lady Justice O'Farrell.

Not addressed: Did not address whether the awarding of contracts without competition is suspicious

How: Changed Subject

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