Lord Advocate
Debate between Lord Jack of Courance and Baroness Curran
Baroness Curran (Lab)
I pay tribute to the noble Baroness as well, who commands great respect in Scotland across the political divide. Her comments therefore are of great significance. I repeat that I will take that back, because if someone of her standing is making that point, I regard that as significant.
Lord Jack of Courance (Con)
In the spirit of good will, I start by agreeing with the noble Lord, Lord Foulkes. If we are to look again at this Scotland Act, that requires primary legislation, and if we are going to have primary legislation opening up the Scotland Act again, which I think we should, can we further look at Schedule 5? Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act is everything that was a reserved matter, and anything that was not on Schedule 5 back in 1998 was not a reserved matter. Since then, many things have come to pass: AI, hydrogen gas and other things. I would be happy to give the Minister a list. I think it is important we look again at Schedule 5 and review all the things that should be reserved to this Parliament.
Baroness Curran (Lab)
Again, as a former Secretary of State for Scotland, I pay tribute to the work of the noble Lord and recognise his status within these discussions. I would not want to be in a position where I contradict many of the things that I have recently said about Scottish politics, and I do not dismiss or undermine any of the points that have previously been made. But in Scotland there is a real appetite to talk less about the constitution and more about the interests of ordinary Scots, the standards of public services and some of the failures of the SNP Government. I will be honest with the noble Lord and say that that is my priority going forward.