Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Strength of the Union

Wednesday 2 February 2022 · 8 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 5 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government are committed to upholding and strengthening the United Kingdom through record investment in Scotland.
  • The creation of freeports in Scotland is expected to result in investment and job creation, demonstrating the Union's effectiveness.
  • The levelling-up White Paper will decentralize the UK shared prosperity fund to local areas in Scotland and Wales, according to the Secretary of State.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Stephen Kinnock Lab Aberafan Maesteg
Scotland
Context

MP asked about steps taken to strengthen the Union.

Question

What recent steps has the Department taken to help strengthen the Union?

Answer from Alister Jack

This Government are committed to upholding and strengthening the United Kingdom. My Department works closely with our partners across Government and with Scottish stakeholders. This Government are delivering record investment in Scotland and are ensuring that the many benefits of the Union are shared across the United Kingdom.

Partly answered
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Q2 Stephen Kinnock Lab Aberafan Maesteg
Scotland
Context

MP inquired about the impact of negative comments made by a government leader.

Question

Does the Secretary of State believe that describing the Scottish Conservatives' leader as 'a lightweight figure' helped to strengthen the Union?

Answer from Alister Jack

I have made my position very clear: I do not think that Douglas Ross—[Interruption.] Well, I made it very clear in the Scottish media, which hon. Members may not have noticed, but that is fair enough. He is the leader of the Scottish Conservatives and was put there by the membership, and we are a constitutionally devolved organisation. He is doing a very good job and holds Nicola Sturgeon to account, and he has my full backing.

Not addressed: The Secretary of State did not address whether derogatory comments helped strengthen the Union.

How: Changed Subject To Leadership

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Q3 Virginia Crosbie
Economy Business & Trade
Context

MP questioned about freeport creation in Scotland and its benefits for the Union.

Question

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the creation of at least one freeport in Scotland will result in investment and thousands of jobs, demonstrating why our Union is so effective at delivering for communities?

Answer from Alister Jack

I am pleased to say that, after a lot of initial opposition and resistance, we are close to agreeing two freeports with the Scottish Government. My hon. Friend is a great champion for Wales, and I hope that the Welsh Government will also accept a freeport.

Partly answered

How: Changed Subject To Wales

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Q4 Ian Murray Lab Edinburgh South
Scotland Democracy & Elections
Context

MP asked about the Prime Minister's conduct and its impact on the Union.

Question

Does the Secretary of State think that the Prime Minister, in refusing to resign after damning reports and multiple police investigations, is good for the Union or helps those who want to break it up?

Answer from Alister Jack

The Prime Minister is resolute in opposing a second Scottish independence referendum and therefore very good for the Union.

Answered
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Q5 Ian Murray Lab Edinburgh South
Economy Energy
Context

MP questioned about the UK Government's response to rising energy costs.

Question

Why are Scotland's two Governments refusing to take any action to help Scots with spiralling energy costs, given that Labour voted to give every household support?

Answer from Alister Jack

The UK Government are taking action. The energy price cap is being maintained and will be renegotiated—that is ongoing work for the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. We are providing a £140 rebate on energy bills for 2.2 million households with the lowest incomes, and we have the £300 winter fuel payment for pensioners.

Partly answered
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Q6 Mhairi Black SNP
Standards & Ethics
Context

MP asked about the Secretary of State's response to the Prime Minister being under investigation.

Question

If given evidence that the man running his company was incompetent, dishonest, subject to a police investigation, would he let him carry on in the role?

Answer from Alister Jack

As has been said many times at this Dispatch Box, the Prime Minister is very sorry for what happened—he has apologised. He has said that if he could have done things differently, with hindsight, he would have done. It is also the case that no one has said that he is the subject of a police investigation. The police are looking into the events that have been passed on to them by Sue Gray, and we will wait for the outcome of that inquiry.

Partly answered

How: Deflected Question

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Q7 Mhairi Black SNP
Scotland Democracy & Elections
Context

MP inquired about the Secretary of State's actions regarding the Prime Minister given the allegations against him.

Question

What would it take for the Minister to ask for the Prime Minister's resignation, as Scotland's only representative in Cabinet?

Answer from Alister Jack

The Prime Minister is doing a fantastic job. He is focusing on the things that matter: delivering on the recovery from this pandemic, the vaccine programme that he backed early on, the booster programme that he led before Christmas, trade deals that will improve outcomes for Scottish food and drink, and many other things. He is a very good leader. The hon. Lady is absolutely prejudging the outcome of the police inquiry.

How: Changed Subject To Pm'S Performance

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Q8 Robin Millar
Scotland Wales Local Government
Context

The question follows a reference to confidence by Mhairi Black regarding the levelling-up White Paper. The publication highlights the Government's commitment to decentralising the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to local areas in Scotland and Wales.

Question

Following the reference to confidence by the hon. Member for Paisley and Renfrewshire South, I welcome the publication of the levelling-up White Paper, and the Government's commitment to decentralising the UK shared prosperity fund to local areas in Scotland and Wales. Does my right hon. Friend agree that that is an example of confidence in local decision-making, of real devolution and of good Union working?

Answer from Alister Jack

My hon. Friend is absolutely right—I know that he is a great champion of the Union. The levelling-up paper, which will be launched today, will contain a lot of initiatives and show that we are using structural funds to practise real devolution by giving that money directly to local authorities.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not explicitly address the specific ask about confidence in local decision-making or provide detailed commitments on decentralisation.

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