Oral Answers to Questions

Alun Cairns Excerpts

Wednesday 22nd February 2012 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Alun Cairns (Vale of Glamorgan) (Con)]

1. What recent discussions he has had with the First Minister of Scotland on a referendum on independence for Scotland.

[Mr Iain McKenzie (Inverclyde) (Lab)]

8. What discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on a referendum on independence for Scotland.

[The Secretary of State for Scotland (Michael Moore)]

The First Minister and I met on Monday 13 February to discuss a referendum on independence. The Prime Minister, the First Minister and I had a further meeting on Thursday 16 February, when we discussed the need for any referendum to be legal, fair and decisive. It is in everyone’s interests that both of Scotland’s Governments work together and I look forward to meeting the First Minister again in due course.

[Alun Cairns]

The Scottish Government are the most resolute defenders of the Barnett formula, arguably against the interests of the other nations of the United Kingdom. Does the Secretary of State therefore think that if the people of Scotland vote yes in a referendum on independence, the Barnett formula should apply to the nation’s debt?

[Michael Moore]

I do not envisage that Scotland will become independent from the United Kingdom. I think we are stronger together and weaker apart. The hon. Gentleman touches on the fundamental issue of sorting out what the basis of that independence might look like, and the Scottish National party has so far singularly failed to answer questions on that.