Oral Answers to Questions

Alexander Stafford Excerpts

Wednesday 7th October 2020 Commons Chamber

[Sally-Ann Hart (Hastings and Rye) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to strengthen the Union.

[Alexander Stafford (Rother Valley) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to strengthen the Union.

[Peter Gibson (Darlington) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to strengthen the Union.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Jack]

Yes, I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. Not only will the shared prosperity fund help, but thanks to the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill, the UK Government will be in the place of the EU—where the EU previously spent money in Scotland and other parts of the UK, the UK Government will do that. The Scottish National party has a serious objection to that. It is a strange ideology from the nationalists that they object to money coming from the Great British Government but are quite happy to take it from the EU.

[Alexander Stafford]

I welcome the launch of the new UK Government trade hub in Edinburgh, which will not only strengthen the Union but help to support Scottish businesses so that they can thrive internationally. Does my right hon. Friend agree that expanding the export of world-famous Scottish products, such as Scotch whisky, will help to give our economy a much-needed boost as we recover from the coronavirus across the whole UK?