Oral Answers to Questions

Alan Brown Excerpts

Wednesday 25th April 2018 Commons Chamber

[Neil Gray (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP)]

4. What his Department’s policy is on using social media consultancies.

[Alan Brown (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP)]

9. What his Department’s policy is on using social media consultancies.

[Brendan O'Hara (Argyll and Bute) (SNP)]

11. What his Department’s policy is on using social media consultancies.

--- Later in debate ---

[David Mundell]

There are very clear rules in relation to such matters. If the hon. Gentleman has any specific suggestion to make, he should take them up through that process.

[Alan Brown]

It must be more than a coincidence that the Scotland Office did a very targeted Facebook campaign in the Secretary of State’s own constituency, excluding cohorts such as those with an interest in Scottish independence, so can he tell the House when he knew that his Department was using social media to target his constituents only?

[David Mundell]

I have clearly answered the point that the hon. Gentleman’s colleague, the hon. Member for Airdrie and Shotts (Neil Gray), raised, and if he has specific suggestions that the very clear rules under which the Government operate have been breached, I would like to hear them. But it is very clear, for example, that the Scottish Government target specific audiences, and if he is saying that they do not, I would be very surprised to hear that.