Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether his Department has had discussions with the Scottish Government on (a) joining or (b) contributing to the work of the Retail Industry Leadership Group.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)
The Scotland Office is not a member of the Retail Industry Leadership Group, which is co-chaired by Ministers of the Scottish Government. The Group was established by the Scottish Government in 2022. The Scotland Office maintains close contacts with industry across Scotland, including the retail sector, and champions them overseas through the Brand Scotland programme.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he has had discussions with the Scottish Government on their statements on Israel.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)
Foreign Affairs and Defence Policy is reserved to the UK Government. Since day one, this Government has been clear that we need to see an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages cruelly detained by Hamas, better protection of civilians, significantly more aid consistently entering Gaza, and a path to long-term peace and stability. All our international partners understand that this is the UK’s position.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on (a) promoting the safety of ethnic minority groups, (b) raising awareness of antisemitism and (c) protecting Jews in Scotland.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)
Public safety is devolved to the Scottish Government. The Scotland Office regularly engages with Police Scotland on the safety of all our communities. The Government is clear that there is no place or justification for antisemitism.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether (a) his Department and (b) the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are informed when Scottish government Ministers meet foreign diplomats; whether permission is sought for such meetings; and whether (i) his Department and (ii) the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are informed of the content of those meetings.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has regular engagement with the Scottish Government across a range of issues, including its engagement with diplomatic representatives.
The terms of the International Relations Concordat of 2013 – agreed between the UK Government and Ministers of the devolved Governments (DGs) – reaffirm that the DGs can engage with international stakeholders, including at national and sub-national government levels.
That engagement should be done in consultation with the FCDO, and our expectation remains that where DG Ministers meet Ministers from other States, FCDO officials would routinely be in attendance. However, foreign diplomats based within the UK are able to meet a wide range of stakeholders across the UK without the need for permission from the Government.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he has had discussions with the Scottish Government on their role in international affairs.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
International relations is, and will remain, a matter reserved solely to the UK Government.
The terms of the International Relations Concordat of 2013 – agreed between the UK Government and Ministers of the devolved Governments (DGs) – reaffirm that the DGs can engage with international stakeholders, including at national and sub-national government levels.
That engagement should be done in consultation with the FCDO, and our expectation remains that where DG Ministers meet Ministers from other States, FCDO officials would routinely be in attendance.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on their meetings with foreign ambassadors.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Foreign diplomats based within the UK are able to meet a wide range of stakeholders across the UK, without the need for permission from the Government.
This principle is consistent with how we expect our own diplomats working overseas to be able to operate.
It is therefore not a requirement for the Devolved Governments to share meeting details in advance, or following an engagement with foreign diplomats. However, we will collaborate on areas of mutual interest.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what information his Department holds on the number of local authorities in Scotland which fly the Union Flag on public buildings.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The UK Government issues flag flying guidance for UK Government buildings across the UK. Local Government is a devolved matter in Scotland. The Scottish Government issues its own guidance for Scottish Government buildings in which it states that local authority buildings and schools in Scotland are not affected by these guidelines. The matter of flag flying remains one for individual local authorities in Scotland to determine.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what support his Department provides to local authorities in Scotland to encourage the flying of the Union Flag.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The UK Government issues flag flying guidance for UK Government buildings across the UK. Local Government is a devolved matter in Scotland. The Scottish Government issues its own guidance for Scottish Government buildings in which it states that local authority buildings and schools in Scotland are not affected by these guidelines. The matter of flag flying remains one for individual local authorities in Scotland to determine.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of public bodies not adopting Government guidance on the Union Flag on national cohesion.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The UK Government issues flag flying guidance for UK Government buildings across the UK. Local Government is a devolved matter in Scotland. The Scottish Government issues its own guidance for Scottish Government buildings in which it states that local authority buildings and schools in Scotland are not affected by these guidelines. The matter of flag flying remains one for individual local authorities in Scotland to determine.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether his Department has had recent discussions with local authorities in Scotland on the Union Flag.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The UK Government issues flag flying guidance for UK Government buildings across the UK. Local Government is a devolved matter in Scotland. The Scottish Government issues its own guidance for Scottish Government buildings in which it states that local authority buildings and schools in Scotland are not affected by these guidelines. The matter of flag flying remains one for individual local authorities in Scotland to determine.