"My Lords, I think the Minister said that there had not been a ministerial visit to Grangemouth in the last 13 years; I certainly went to Grangemouth as Secretary of State for Scotland. Let me give him an easy question: to add to the factors creating uncertainty for the Scottish …..." Lord Jack of Courance - View Speech
"My Lords, it is a very great honour for me to be standing here today. I thank my noble friend Lord Caithness not only for proposing this debate but for his excellent speech. I agree with every word he said. I also thank my two noble friends who supported me …..." Lord Jack of Courance - View Speech
"I agree with the hon. Gentleman that the tax burden in Scotland is too high and rising, and people are paying more and getting less. Fortunately, the UK Government have taken the decision to partially offset that, not through income tax cuts but through national insurance cuts, with 4p coming …..." Lord Jack of Courance - View Speech
"That is a ridiculous remark. The levelling-up agenda in Scotland has been fantastically successful, and there has been absolutely no austerity. The Scottish Government have received a record block grant of £41 billion, the highest since devolution began. I am surprised that the SNP wants to talk about the Budget, …..." Lord Jack of Courance - View Speech
"In the fiscal framework settlement, we made it very clear and agreed with the Scottish Government that resource funding could be reallocated, if they so wished, from the record block grant into capital funding. That is what has happened. Additionally, they have the ability to borrow £450 million, if required...." Lord Jack of Courance - View Speech
"My right hon. Friend makes a good point. I am well aware, as are businesses in Dumfries and Galloway, that having six tax bands in Scotland but three in the rest of the UK is not the way to incentivise people to go to work in Scotland or even to …..." Lord Jack of Courance - View Speech
"We absolutely do not fear an election, whether for Holyrood or a general election. As I watch the nationalists implode again, I say, “Bring it on.” I hear them say the same from a sedentary position. [Interruption.] Bring it on! Chaps and chapesses over there, start polishing up your CVs...." Lord Jack of Courance - View Speech