Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Baroness Laing of Elderslie Excerpts
Wednesday 11th September 2013

(11 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Mundell Portrait David Mundell
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Spending on state pensions and public sector pensions is driven by demographics and is set to rise. The UK Treasury and the Department for Work and Pensions absorb the risk of growth in demand and there would be more volatility in spending in an independent Scotland. Those are not my words, but the words of John Swinney. It is a pity that he said them in private, not in public.

Baroness Laing of Elderslie Portrait Mrs Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest) (Con)
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10. Does the Minister agree that the ability of the Scottish economy to support the pensions that the people of Scotland depend on will be greater and better if Scotland remains part of the United Kingdom?

David Mundell Portrait David Mundell
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I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend, not least because the Scottish Government and the Scottish National party have set out no coherent plans for a sustainable pensions system in an independent Scotland.