Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Union’s Impact on Scotland

Wednesday 29 June 2022 · 6 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 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Angela Crawley asked about the impact of the Union on Scotland, noting the Scottish Tory manifesto's stance and the party's electoral performance.
  • David Duguid questioned why independent countries are wealthier and more productive than Scotland, suggesting the Union benefits Scotland economically.
  • Mhairi Black inquired why the UK Government refuses another Scottish independence referendum, referencing the Scottish Conservatives' shifting stance on the Prime Minister.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Angela Crawley SNP
Scotland
Context

The MP raised concerns about the effect of the Union on Scotland following a recent poll indicating low approval ratings for the Prime Minister in Scotland.

Question

If he will make an assessment of the impact of the Union on Scotland. Last year, the Scottish Tory manifesto stated that a vote for them was a vote to stop an independence referendum, yet they achieved only 22% of the vote. Does the Minister accept that the people of Scotland have a right to have a vote on 19 October 2023 because their campaign message has failed?

Answer from Iain Stewart

The constitutional issues were so far down the list of people's priorities when that poll took place. What the people of Scotland want are their Governments, whether that is local, Scottish or UK, to be working together on addressing the issues that matter to them and responding to the big challenges we face as a country and a world.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific request for recognition of the need for a new referendum due to manifesto failure was not addressed directly.

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Q2 Angela Crawley SNP
Economy Climate Scotland
Context

The MP highlighted recent polling showing the Prime Minister has a net approval rating of -71 in Scotland, suggesting his continued leadership poses risks to the Union.

Question

In the latest poll in Scotland, the Prime Minister has a net approval rating of minus 71. Included in that negative figure are the Scottish Conservative leader and every Conservative MSP and Scottish MP except for the Secretary of State. So does the Minister think that the threat to the Union posed by the Prime Minister clinging to his job is a price worth paying?

Answer from Iain Stewart

First, I would be delighted to congratulate the café in the hon. Gentleman's constituency and when I am next in Edinburgh I will endeavour to pay a visit. I do not agree with the hon. Gentleman. This Government and this Prime Minister are focusing on the big issues that face Scotland and the whole United Kingdom: keeping the west safe from Russian aggression; dealing with the global economic challenges from the pandemic and the war; and addressing the long-term challenges such as energy security and climate change.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific question about whether clinging to his job is a risk was not directly answered, focusing instead on achievements.

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Q3 Ian Murray Lab Edinburgh South
Scotland
Context

The MP argued that the First Minister's efforts to deflect criticism were indicative of her poor governance, urging the Minister to prioritise the Union over blind support for the PM.

Question

Yesterday was nothing more than an attempt by the First Minister to deflect from her horrendous record in government and to hinder the prospect of a future Labour Government replacing the Prime Minister's Government. That is what she fears the most. The only thing that matters to Nicola Sturgeon is, of course, independence—not soaring NHS waiting times, hungry children, drug deaths, increasing poverty, a widening educational attainment gap or Scots worried about their bills. Why will the Minister not recognise that the Prime Minister is nothing but a gift to the SNP and put the future of the UK ahead of his blind loyalty to the Prime Minister?

Answer from Iain Stewart

I do agree with one part of the hon. Gentleman's question, and that is about the real focus of the Scottish Government: it is, as he says, not about addressing the real challenges in Scotland; it is about appeasing the hard-liners in the separatist party. We are not going to be deflected from getting on with the job we were elected to do.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific question regarding PM's tenure risk was not directly answered, focusing instead on Scottish Government's priorities.

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Q4 Ian Murray Lab Edinburgh South
Scotland Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP suggested that the SNP's refusal to adopt gene editing technologies mirrors their EU adherence, hindering agricultural progress.

Question

All of those are very challenging, but one simple thing the Scottish Government could do is adopt the UK Government's approach to genetic technology and precision breeding. Does my hon. Friend agree that that would be a simple way to meet the priorities of Scottish farmers, food producers and research institutes?

Answer from Iain Stewart

The gene editing of crops is an important issue, and my hon. Friend is right to raise it. There is a widespread view in the agriculture sector in Scotland that it is a good move and would improve crop yields and resilience, which are part of our food security. It is only the dogma of the SNP Government that prevents Scotland from joining the rest of the UK in adopting this important technology.

Answered

Not addressed: null

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Q5 David Duguid Con
Economy Scotland
Context

The MP questioned why independent countries are wealthier and more productive compared to Scotland within the Union, suggesting it holds back economic progress.

Question

Given that the UK wields the most control over the Scottish economy, my question is pretty simple: why is it that independent countries similar to Scotland are wealthier and more productive and have higher social mobility, lower poverty levels, a smaller gender pay gap and lower inequality? In other words, can the Minister not see that, when it comes to Scotland, it is this Government and this Union that are holding us back?

Answer from Iain Stewart

Before I answer the hon. Lady's question, may I congratulate her on her recent wedding? Although we will disagree on many subjects, on this one I hope we can agree that a union is better than independence. On the substance of the hon. Lady's question, this Union has been one of the most economically productive in history.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific economic comparisons were not directly addressed; instead, the focus was on historical productivity.

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Q6 Mhairi Black SNP
Scotland
Context

Unions are required to be voluntary, but there is reluctance from the government regarding a new referendum in Scotland despite changes in political views.

Question

I welcome the Minister's warm words, but I remind him that unions have to be voluntary as well. The leader of the Scottish Conservatives has changed his view on the Prime Minister three times in six months, so why do this Government refuse to let people in Scotland change their view after eight years?

Answer from Iain Stewart

The Union is voluntary. The question in the referendum was put and decisively answered. Of all recent comments, the most revealing was from Cabinet Secretary Angus Robertson, who said that even if there was another referendum and Scotland voted to stay part of the Union, the SNP would keep pushing for independence—it would be a neverendum. That uncertainty and chaos would be bad for Scotland and bad for the United Kingdom.

Not addressed: The specific request for a new referendum was not addressed directly; instead, the answerer discussed potential outcomes of another referendum.

How: Discussed Potential Outcomes, Refused To Address Reluctance

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