Scotland Act 1998: Section 35 Power

Debate between Alister Jack and Mark Jenkinson

Tuesday 17th January 2023 Commons Chamber

[Mr Jack]

No, we are not. The Minister for Women and Equalities has provided a written ministerial statement on that. There are changes, which include 16 to 18-year-olds self-identifying without any medical diagnosis. But most importantly, in the legal advice that I have—this will be in the statement of reasons, but it is very detailed, so I do not want to bore everyone to death with it now—there is an adverse effect on two pieces of UK-wide legislation, and that is the reason why section 35 is deemed appropriate.

[Mark Jenkinson (Workington) (Con)]

I thank my right hon. Friend for standing firm on the facts against the noise. Does he agree that, rather than manufacturing constitutional battles, the SNP would do better focusing its energies on fixing the failures across Scotland, not least in health and education?

[Mr Jack]

Again, I do not want to bore everyone with a long list, but we could add ferries and many other things to that list.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alister Jack and Mark Jenkinson

Wednesday 18th May 2022 Commons Chamber

[Mark Jenkinson (Workington) (Con)]

15. What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on improving Union connectivity.

[The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr Alister Jack)]

The UK Government are carefully considering the recommendations set out in Sir Peter Hendy’s Union connectivity review. My hon. Friend Baroness Vere, the Minister responsible for Union connectivity, has discussed the UCR recommendations with Graeme Dey MSP, the former Scottish Government Transport Minister. Sadly, Mr Dey has since stepped down for health reasons. In February, we first requested a meeting with his replacement, Jenny Gilruth. We hope to meet Ms Gilruth as soon as her busy diary allows.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Jack]

I notice that my hon. Friend was being rudely interrupted, but what I think I picked up was that the A68 from Darlington to Midlothian is of great importance to cross-border transport connectivity between England and Scotland. I extend my congratulations to Durham County Council for its success in the levelling-up fund. The rerouting of the A68 at Toft Hill will create a new 1.6 km bypass away from the village centre, which I know my hon. Friend has been campaigning tirelessly for.

[Mark Jenkinson]

Will my right hon. Friend set out his assessment of the impact of devolution on Union connectivity?

[Mr Jack]

Sir Peter Hendy noted in his final report that

“devolution has been good for transport”.

However, he identified that it has none the less led to

“a gap in UK-wide strategic transport planning that has resulted in cross-border schemes…seeming to be a lower priority than other schemes which may provide greater local benefit.”

Through the implementation of UKNET, we are committed to forging and strengthening transport bonds and creating a better-connected United Kingdom.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alister Jack and Mark Jenkinson

Wednesday 9th September 2020 Commons Chamber

[Mark Jenkinson (Workington) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to support British armed forces personnel based in Scotland.

[The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr Alister Jack)]

British armed forces personnel in Scotland play a crucial role in defending the whole UK, and my Department meets regularly with the Ministry of Defence to help raise concerns that are specific to Scotland. I feel particularly indebted to the armed forces in Scotland, who keep us safe at home and abroad and who assisted with such dedication at the height of this covid pandemic.

[Mr Jack]

I absolutely agree. Our armed forces perform a hugely important task in their service of the United Kingdom, and it is unacceptable that any member of them should be subject to discriminatory taxation. That is why the United Kingdom Government took the decision to make an annual payment to protect them from the Scottish Government’s decision to make Scotland the highest taxed part of the United Kingdom.

[Mark Jenkinson]

British armed forces have contributed enormously to the national response to the covid-19 outbreak, supporting the distribution of personal protective equipment, assisting with testing facilities and transporting patients, for which Cumbria and my constituency of Workington are grateful. Will my right hon. Friend join me in thanking the armed forces for all their work during the pandemic, and can he confirm that every part of our United Kingdom will continue to benefit from their hard work?