Scotland Act 1998: Section 35 Power

Debate between Allan Dorans and Alister Jack
Tuesday 17th January 2023

(1 year, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Alister Jack Portrait Mr Jack
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That is a question for the Leader of the House.

Allan Dorans Portrait Allan Dorans (Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock) (SNP)
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In the Secretary of State’s statement, he said:

“It is open to the Scottish Government to bring back an amended Bill for reconsideration in the Scottish Parliament.”

What provisions would need to be added or taken away from the original Bill to make it acceptable to this Government?

Alister Jack Portrait Mr Jack
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Regarding any amendment to the Bill, if the Scottish Government want to bring it back, they have to address the central issue—I know there are difficulties for them with this—which is that we do not believe, in the cross-cut against GB legislation, that there are sufficient protections and safeguards for women and children, as reflected in existing Westminster legislation.

Scottish Referendum Legislation: Supreme Court Decision

Debate between Allan Dorans and Alister Jack
Wednesday 23rd November 2022

(2 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Alister Jack Portrait Mr Jack
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As I keep pointing out to SNP Members, less than a third of Scots voted for the SNP at the ballot box.

Allan Dorans Portrait Allan Dorans (Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock) (SNP)
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In 2018, this House voted to acknowledge the claim of right that Scotland’s people have the right to choose their own destiny. Does the Secretary of State now deny that decision of Parliament?

Alister Jack Portrait Mr Jack
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The claim of right? We had a Union of the Crowns in 1603 and a Union of the Parliaments in 1707, but they were all a terribly long time ago. We firmly believe that we have a strong partnership that has endured for more than 300 years and has delivered for all parts of the United Kingdom, and that we are better together.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Allan Dorans and Alister Jack
Wednesday 12th October 2022

(2 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Alister Jack Portrait Mr Jack
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The hon. Member is conflating two issues. The reality is that the levelling-up funds, of which there are £200 million in the current round, are being well received across Scotland. That is real devolution in practice. All local authorities are engaging with the UK Government—and guess what? They are enthusiastic when it comes to applying for money to help local projects.

Allan Dorans Portrait Allan Dorans (Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock) (SNP)
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5. Whether he has had recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on amending the devolution settlement with Scotland.

Deidre Brock Portrait Deidre Brock (Edinburgh North and Leith) (SNP)
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7. Whether he has had recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on amending the devolution settlement with Scotland.

Alister Jack Portrait The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr Alister Jack)
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The Scottish Parliament is one of the most powerful devolved Parliaments in the world and we believe that the devolution settlement strikes the right balance. We continue to work collaboratively with the Scottish Government to implement the Scotland Act 2016. This includes passing secondary legislation to deliver the extensive welfare and tax powers granted by the Act.

Allan Dorans Portrait Allan Dorans
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The vast majority of people in Scotland support the continued existence of the Scottish Government. Despite the settled will of the Scottish people for greater autonomy and self-rule, some senior Conservatives—there are Secretaries of State among them—are becoming even louder in their calls for the UK Government to claw back powers from the devolved Assemblies. Will the Secretary of State today commit before the House that the UK Government will not under any circumstances attempt to revoke powers devolved to the Scottish Government?

Alister Jack Portrait Mr Jack
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Absolutely. In fact, since we left the European Union, we have given more powers to the Scottish Parliament. Actually, whenever asked, not a single Member of the Scottish National party has come up with one power that has been taken away. It is quite the contrary. We have given more powers and will continue to do that, because, let us be clear, we are the party that is strengthening devolution and the SNP wants to destroy devolution.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Allan Dorans and Alister Jack
Wednesday 11th November 2020

(4 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Alister Jack Portrait Mr Jack
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The hon. Lady will recognise that this is a dynamic and unprecedented situation, and we have to take decisions as we see what is in front of us. The employers of those who lost their jobs after 23 September, but were in employment and furlough up until 23 September, are allowed to bring those employees back and put them on furlough.

Allan Dorans Portrait Allan Dorans (Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock) (SNP)
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What recent steps he has taken to ensure effective co-operation between the Government and the devolved Administrations.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Allan Dorans and Alister Jack
Wednesday 20th May 2020

(4 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Chris Law Portrait Chris Law (Dundee West) (SNP)
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What recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the covid-19 outbreak.

Alister Jack Portrait The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr Alister Jack)
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I regularly attend cross-Government meetings, which include the devolved Administrations, to discuss how to minimise the impact of covid-19. There is a high level of co-operation between all Administrations and there will continue to be. We are committed to a UK-wide approach, as we have been from the start.

Allan Dorans Portrait Allan Dorans [V]
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What justification does the Secretary of State have for ignoring the Scottish Government guidelines to stay home, protect the NHS and save lives, by undertaking an almost 700-mile round trip to Westminster when he could safely have worked from home today virtually? What kind of message does that send to the Scottish people? Will the Secretary of State be self-isolating on his return to his constituency?

Alister Jack Portrait Mr Jack
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To be absolutely clear, first, as the hon. Gentleman’s colleague, the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire (Pete Wishart), has made clear, Members of Parliament are key workers. More importantly, as a Cabinet Minister and a Secretary of State, it is right that I should be here in the Chamber so that I can be properly scrutinised and answer these questions. I came down at the weekend and travelled on a train very safely. I will return safely and I will be isolating myself when I do, but that is solely because I go back to family. I do not see why we cannot have proper scrutiny of Parliament when we have the virtual proceedings, which work for some, but for me it is absolutely about being here, being scrutinised and being at the Dispatch Box.