Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent assessment his Department has had made of the adequacy of the economic support available for Scottish businesses during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
The Treasury is providing unprecedented support for jobs and businesses across the UK in the face of coronavirus, including an unprecedented £8.6bn upfront guarantee to the Scottish Government. Scotland’s Budget will increase by over £2.4bn during the next financial year.
This is on top of the UK-wide schemes, such as the support for workers, self-employed people and the British Business Bank-administered business loan schemes.
Where policy responsibilities are devolved, the Scottish Government can use this very substantial additional funding to grow the economy, improve public services and support people and businesses across Scotland. I urge the Scottish Government to take swift action to make sure that the funding is made available as soon as possible.
The unprecedented package of measures we have put in place to support all parts of the country shows the clear benefits for Scotland of being part of a strong United Kingdom.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the business opportunities for Scotland arising from COP26.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
I have frequent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the opportunities which COP26 offers for businesses in Scotland and the whole of the UK. The Government is committed to delivering an ‘all of UK’ COP26 in Glasgow. All parts of the UK will have important roles to play in ensuring the summit’s success. We are working with the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive to ensure an inclusive and ambitious summit for the whole of the UK.
The UK Government is committed to leading the way in tackling climate change working with all countries and with civil society, companies and people on the frontline of climate change, in the UK and globally, to inspire action ahead of COP26. The COP26 Business Leaders group brings together key internationally focused businesses across a broad range of sectors who are taking positive climate action. We are inviting businesses from every corner of the UK to join us in the Race to Zero. Race To Zero is a global initiative, backed by science-based targets, to commit businesses, cities, regions, investors and universities to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 at the very latest.
I am encouraged by the engagement that we have seen so far and look forward to continuing to work with businesses to maximise the opportunities which the summit brings.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps his Department is taking to promote Scottish exports.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
My Department works closely with the Department for International Trade (DIT) to ensure Scottish businesses and Scottish products are promoted across the Globe. DIT has recently launched a UK Trade Hub based in Edinburgh’s Queen Elizabeth House to support Scottish businesses. This new Trade Hub will be dedicated to helping businesses in Scotland thrive and grow internationally, providing much-needed support for thousands of companies in these economically challenging times and helping businesses in Scotland recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
DIT has an extensive global reach and expertise that will add value to the services already provided by Scottish Development International (SDI). Businesses will be able to utilise the UK Government’s global networks, expertise and influence, as well as world-leading credit agency UK Export Finance (UKEF), to grow their overseas trade and build back from the impact of coronavirus.
Trade is crucial to the UK’s recovery from coronavirus and will be the foundation of our relationships across the globe after the transition period ends. I want to ensure that businesses in Scotland benefit from our new trade deals with the world’s biggest markets, as we remove barriers they previously faced.
We have ambitious goals for British trade, and aim to have 80 per cent of UK trade covered by free trade agreements within the next three years. We have already agreed the UK-Japan Free Trade Agreement which has paved the way for more UK goods to be protected – increasing geographical indications (GIs) from just seven under the terms of the EU-Japan deal to around 70 under our new agreement.
This will not only mean that products like Scotch Whisky will enjoy continued protection under the agreement, but also additional products, such as Arbroath Smokies and Stornoway Black Pudding could be protected in Japan from next year. This would allow producers in Scotland to have their products’ unique heritage protected and could lead to improved recognition of key Scottish brands in the Japanese market.
The UK Government is also making strong progress in our negotiations with the USA, Australia and New Zealand. We are committed to working closely with the Devolved Administrations to deliver an independent trade policy that works for the whole of the United Kingdom.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with Scottish business representatives on the recovery of the Scottish economy from the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
My ministerial team and I have regular discussions with Scottish businesses and trade bodies.
Scottish businesses of all sizes are benefitting from the UK-wide Covid-19 support measures, with over £2.9 billion in loans taken out by nearly 80,000 Scottish businesses, over 290,000 claims worth around £770 million made through the UK-wide Self Employment Income Support Scheme, and our furlough scheme continuing to benefit workers and businesses in Scotland.
In addition to these UK-wide measures, the Scottish Government has received an additional £7.2 billion to support Scotland’s response to Covid-19.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the progress of the planned space port in Sutherland.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
The UK Government regularly engages with the Scottish Government and Space Hub Sutherland on their plans to build the vertical launch site at Melness. The launch site is expected to create up to 250 jobs, 61 of which will be in the Caithness and Sutherland area.
I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate them on receiving planning permission earlier this year and I look forward to seeing how the proposal develops in future.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the progress of the planned space port in Sutherland.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
The UK Government regularly engages with the Scottish Government and Space Hub Sutherland on their plans to build the vertical launch site at Melness. The launch site is expected to create up to 250 jobs, 61 of which will be in the Caithness and Sutherland area.
I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate them on receiving planning permission earlier this year and I look forward to seeing how the proposal develops in future.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Scotland Office:
What discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the economic support available for Scottish businesses during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Iain Stewart
My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland is in regular contact with the Chancellor of the Exchequer and all members of the Cabinet to discuss how best the UK Government can support Scottish businesses during the Covid-19 crisis.
As well as an additional £3.8 billion in funding for the Scottish Government through the Barnett Formula, the furlough and self-employed support schemes have saved more than three quarters of a million jobs in Scotland.