Oral Answers to Questions

Lord Soames of Fletching Excerpts

Wednesday 5th February 2014 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex) (Con)]

1. What steps his Department is taking to encourage Scottish business leaders to participate in the independence debate.

[The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr Alistair Carmichael)]

I speak to businesses from across Scotland regularly and frequently. In those meetings we highlight the importance of the decision the Scottish people will make on 18 September, and encourage them to get involved in this important debate.

[Nicholas Soames]

Has my right hon. Friend seen the recent intervention of Bob Dudley, the chief executive of British Petroleum—which, after all, has a major stake in Scotland—whose views should be taken seriously? Does he agree that other business leaders with a big interest in Scotland’s future should follow that example, and set out clearly the implications and consequences of independence for their employees, suppliers, and shareholders?

[Mr Carmichael]

I have seen and studied the intervention from Bob Dudley yesterday. The terms of that intervention do not surprise me at all as they very much reflect the concerns expressed to me when I speak to businessmen and women across Scotland who represent businesses of all sizes. They all tell me the same: they see independence as being bad for their business. It brings uncertainties, uncertainty means risk, and that is bad for their business future.