Business of the House
Debate between Alan Campbell and Chris Law(3 weeks ago)
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Sir Alan Campbell
We have doubled the number of trainers for examiners, and provided 120,000 additional tests between June last year and January this year. We have also tightened up the rules on who can book and reschedule tests to avoid exploitation by online bots and re-selling, but I will draw my hon. Friend’s remarks to the attention of a Transport Minister. He can either seek a meeting with the Minister or we will get an update for the House.
Chris Law (Dundee Central) (SNP)
May I take this opportunity to congratulate both the SNP in Scotland on an historic fifth landslide election and Plaid Cymru on its historic win in the Welsh Senedd elections? That brings together the north of Ireland, Wales and Scotland as being represented by Governments who believe not only believe in the people, but in unlocking the nations’ potential by being independent nations in the future. The north of Ireland has a legal mandate to hold a referendum on its future. However, Scotland does not share that legal mandate. That is a glaring omission from the Scotland Act 1998, so can we have a debate on the constitutional crisis the UK now finds itself in, where Scotland has spoken with the highest ever majority for independence parties but is denied the democratic route—[Interruption] I’m sorry, but I think we are in a democratic Chamber here—to express the will of the people of Scotland?
Sir Alan Campbell
The Government have no plans to change the current position. If the hon. Gentleman is seeking a constitutional crisis, it will not be of our causing —it will be of the SNP’s.
Business of the House
Debate between Alan Campbell and Chris Law(2 months, 3 weeks ago)
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Sir Alan Campbell
I absolutely join my hon. Friend in her analysis of the situation. This Government are committed to making our streets safer by delivering 13,000 more neighbourhood policing roles and introducing new respect orders to deter and drive down antisocial behaviour. As for what happens north of the border, I would remind the House that we have delivered Scotland’s largest settlement since devolution. I hope that the SNP has heard my hon. Friend’s contribution and will take action. I encourage her to apply for a Westminster Hall debate on these matters, so that she can set out the failure of the SNP Government in this regard in even more detail.
Chris Law (Dundee Central) (SNP)
In January, the UK Government announced that the listed places of worship grant scheme, which has allowed congregations to reclaim VAT on repairs to listed places of worship, would close at the end of March. While a replacement scheme was announced for England, I understand that the Scottish Government were not informed in advance of this change, leaving both the Scottish Government and places of worship in the lurch following this sudden, unexpected decision. [Hon. Members: “They were given the money!”] Can we have a statement from the UK Government, explaining this total disregard, and confirming that funding will be made available through the Barnett formula for a similar scheme in Scotland?
Sir Alan Campbell
The hon. Gentleman may know of my appreciation of the importance of places of worship in communities, wherever they happen to be in our country. I do not know the details of the matter that he was talking about, but I was listening to what my hon. Friends were saying from the Benches behind me; I will look into this matter after these questions, but my understanding is that the SNP Government were given the money for this, as part of the biggest settlement ever for Scotland.
Business of the House
Debate between Alan Campbell and Chris Law(7 months, 1 week ago)
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Sir Alan Campbell
My hon. Friend is, as ever, a strong advocate for her constituency. I agree with her absolutely that banks have a responsibility in these matters, but there have been closures in many constituencies. I have to say, having been present at the opening of the banking hub in Whitley Bay in my constituency last Friday, that it is a great relief when banking hubs are brought forward—including with the co-operation of banks, by the way—to ensure that people have that face-to-face contact. The Government are committed to 350 banking hubs, and that is not an upper limit but the current target. As well as ensuring that Lloyds comes to its senses, perhaps my hon. Friend will push for a banking hub.
Chris Law (Dundee Central) (SNP)
Local newspapers and media outlets often break the most important stories for our constituents, but their ability to do so is increasingly at risk. In the last month alone, we have heard of a proposed restructure of Reach PLC that puts over 300 editorial jobs at risk, while STV has decided to close its Aberdeen office and axe its northern news offering, which includes coverage of my city of Dundee. May we have a debate on the future of local journalism and on job cuts in local media leaving communities without a trusted local voice?