Oral Answers to Questions

Angus Brendan MacNeil Excerpts

Tuesday 13th May 2014 Commons Chamber

[The Deputy Prime Minister]

My understanding is that the proposal to extend the fund is being actively considered now, but no final decision has yet been taken.

[Mr Angus Brendan MacNeil (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP)]

The Government have hushed up an opinion poll from the taxpayers who paid for it at a cost of £50,000. The poll reportedly shows a surge in support for Scottish independence. Tory and Labour scare stories are not working. There should be no Government secrecy, so will the Deputy Prime Minister be straight with the public on independence and publish that poll? There is no reason that it should be kept secret.

[The Deputy Prime Minister]

I have learned to try to be a bit wary about opinion polls. The only poll that counts is the poll that will take place on 18 September. I very much hope, and people such as me who do not have a vote—those of us south of the border—fervently hope that the Scottish people will decide to remain part of the family of nations that makes up the United Kingdom, because there is so much that we can do together that we simply cannot do apart. That is very much the argument that I hope will prevail on 18 September.