Oral Answers to Questions
Adam Holloway Excerpts(14 years ago)
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Michael Moore
It is interesting that the hon. Lady interpreted the question by seeking to get away from anything that might focus attention on Labour’s record on the economy and on our determination to create the conditions that will get us back to sustainable growth for Scotland and the United Kingdom.
Mr Adam Holloway (Gravesham) (Con)
6. What recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Scotch whisky industry; and if he will make a statement.
The Secretary of State for Scotland (Michael Moore)
I regularly have exchanges with the industry and will be meeting the Scotch Whisky Association in the near future.
Mr Holloway
The Prime Minister’s recent trade delegation to China succeeded in securing geographical indication of origin status for Scotch whisky. How much will that be worth to the UK trade balance?
Michael Moore
The importance of the Scotch whisky industry, not just to Scotland but to the United Kingdom, is shown by the fact that it contributes roughly £4 billion to our economy, £3 billion of which is represented by exports. At the moment our exports to China are very small in comparison with those to the rest of the world. This important new concession—this agreement with the Chinese—which we very much welcome, will ensure that we can grow our exports in China as we have done in the rest of the world.
Oral Answers to Questions
Adam Holloway Excerpts(14 years, 6 months ago)
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David Mundell
The hon. Gentleman was a strong supporter of Lord Myners and will know therefore that the latter said:
“The Government cannot create jobs. The Government can create an environment that is conducive to the creation of jobs”.—[Official Report, House of Lords, 8 June 2010; Vol. 719, c. 625.]
That is the priority of this coalition Government.
Mr Adam Holloway (Gravesham) (Con)
9. What recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on Scotland’s future energy needs.
The Secretary of State for Scotland (Michael Moore)
My colleagues and I are fully committed to ensuring that Scotland is able to continue to play an important role in meeting the UK’s aspirations for climate change and security of supply.
Mr Holloway
Can my right hon. Friend give us an assurance that Scotland’s energy capacity will remain at the forefront of global renewable advances?
The Prime Minister
I would certainly meet the hon. Gentleman. I know how frustrating this can be; Siemens is a big investor in my constituency, too. The jobs that he is speaking about are exactly the sort of high-tech, high-skill jobs that we want to keep in this country. Therefore, I will certainly meet him, and we will do what we can in the Budget to ensure that we have in this country a tax regime, support for apprenticeships and support for training that will want to make businesses locate, stay and invest in Britain.
Mr Adam Holloway (Gravesham) (Con)
Q10. Every household in Gravesham has inherited a sort of second mortgage of debt. Can the Prime Minister give us some idea of the level of debt per household across the country?
The Prime Minister
My hon. Friend is entirely right that every single person in this country is now carrying £22,000 of debt because of the mess that the last Labour Government left us. The fact is this: if we do not do something about it, by the end of this Parliament, we will be paying £70 billion in debt interest. That is more than we spend on schools and more than we spend on defence. It would be a tragic waste of money. That is why, however painful it is, we have to get to grips with the deficit that we were left by the last Labour Government.