Amber Rudd
Main Page: Amber Rudd (Independent - Hastings and Rye)Department Debates - View all Amber Rudd's debates with the Scotland Office
(12 years, 9 months ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Mr Iain McKenzie (Inverclyde) (Lab)
8. What discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on a referendum on independence for Scotland.
Amber Rudd (Hastings and Rye) (Con)
10. What recent discussions he has had with the First Minister of Scotland 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.
Michael Moore
The fundamental issue is about independence, and that is what we must resolve. We must have a legal, fair and decisive independence referendum.
Amber Rudd
Will my right hon. Friend clarify whether he has had conversations about Antarctica and whether it is true that the previous Government simply forgot to deal with Antarctica and the British territory there? What is his position on making sure that we retain control of it?
Michael Moore
The hon. Lady highlights an important part of the world in which it is important that the UK Government have a role to play. May I point out that through the Scotland Bill, which is passing through their lordships House, we are delivering the biggest transfer of powers to Edinburgh since the Act of Union and tidying up some of the inconsistencies of the devolution settlement?