The Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland supports the Secretary of State in promoting the best interests of Scotland within a stronger United Kingdom. It ensures Scottish interests are fully and effectively represented at the heart of the UK Government, and the UK Government’s responsibilities are fully and effectively represented in Scotland.
Alister Jack
Secretary of State for Scotland
Oral Answers to Questions is a regularly scheduled appearance where the Secretary of State and junior minister will answer at the Dispatch Box questions from backbench MPs
Other Commons Chamber appearances can be:Westminster Hall debates are performed in response to backbench MPs or e-petitions asking for a Minister to address a detailed issue
Written Statements are made when a current event is not sufficiently significant to require an Oral Statement, but the House is required to be informed.
| Date | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|
| May. 20 | Oral Questions | Oral Answers to Questions |
| Nov. 18 | Urgent Questions | Northern Ireland Protocol: Implementation Proposals |
| Nov. 11 | Westminster Hall | Pat Finucane |
| Mar. 17 | Adjournment Debate | St Patrick’s Day |
Scotland Office has not tabled any Bills during the current Session.
| Dates | Department | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
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Laid 16 Sep 2020 In Force 9 Nov 2020 |
Scotland Office |
Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 (Young Carer Grants, Short-term Assistance and Winter Heating Assistance) (Consequential Provision and Modifications) Order 2020 Parliamentary Status - Text of Legislation |
Made negative procedure |
| This Order amends social security legislation in Great Britain as a consequence of sections 24 (duty to give assistance), 28 (carer’s assistance), 30 (winter heating assistance), and 36 (short-term assistance) of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 (asp 9) (“the 2018 Act”), and regulations made under section 28 of the 2018 Act. The regulations in relation to which consequential provision is made in this Order are the Carer’s Assistance (Young Carer Grants) (Scotland) Regulations 2019 (S.S.I. 2019/324), made under section 28 of the 2018 Act. | |||
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Laid 6 May 2020 In Force Not stated |
Scotland Office |
Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 (Information-sharing and Scottish Child Payment) (Consequential Provision and Modifications) Order 2020 Parliamentary Status - Text of Legislation |
Made negative procedure |
| In consequence of the range of information necessary for the proper administration of social security functions, this Order provides a mechanism for the sharing of information relevant to devolved Scottish social security functions between Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (“HMRC”) and the Scottish Ministers. It also amends social security legislation in Great Britain as a consequence of the making of regulations under section 79 of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 (asp 9) to provide for a top-up payment (“the Scottish Child Payment”) to be made in respect of various reserved benefits. | |||
Scotland Office Select Committee Home Page
Select Committees are a formally established cross-party group of backbench MPs tasked with holding a Government department to account.
At any time there will be number of ongoing investigations into the work of the Department, or issues which fall within the oversight of the Department. Witnesses can be summoned from within the Government and outside to assist in these inquiries, and the Select Committee will occasionally publish formal reports of their findings.
| Date | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 13 | Five young entrepreneurs from Scotland win national award | News and Communications |
| Jan. 12 | Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland departmental spend over £25,000: November 2020 | Transparency |
| Jan. 12 | Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland departmental spend over £25,000: December 2020 | Transparency |
Written Questions are submitted by Members of Parliament and the House of Lords to receive information or updates from a Department.
Departments are required to respond in a timely fashion and provide a response or requested information. Written Questions can compel detailed and specific information to be produced, and are frequently used as the source of news stories about the work of a Department.
| Date | Title | Questioner |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Dec 2020, 3:53 p.m. | Lord Goodlad (Conservative - Life peer) | Lord Goodlad (Conservative - Life peer) |
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Question to the Scotland Office: To ask Her Majesty's Government what communications they have received from the Shetland Islands Council about exploring options for achieving financial and political self-determination; and what has been the reply. Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip) The Shetland Islands Council have communicated their views for achieving financial and political self-determination to the UK Government. The UK Government’s position remains consistent; we are keen to see power sit at the most appropriate level of Government, including local government and there is much that the Scottish Government could learn from United Kingdom Government practice in that respect.
The UK Government engages closely with local government and the devolved administrations, as well as wider public and private sector organisations. We will always work constructively with all layers of government to ensure the best outcomes for people, businesses and jobs. |
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