Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Scotland Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Charles Kennedy Excerpts
Wednesday 26th January 2011

(13 years, 4 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Order. There is a constant hubbub in the Chamber. People outside must think that it is extremely discourteous.

Charles Kennedy Portrait Mr Charles Kennedy (Ross, Skye and Lochaber) (LD)
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The Minister should be aware that what is not devolved are decisions on research funding—decisions that are arrived at here in Westminster and which will have an impact, not least for those Russell group universities in Scotland. Will he give us an undertaking that he will ensure that the Secretary of State for Scotland stays closely in touch with Mike Russell’s all-party working group at Holyrood, so that whatever the political composition after May, we get an outcome for Scottish universities that does not replicate the errors of policy judgment that have sadly been arrived at here?

David Mundell Portrait David Mundell
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I am happy to give my right hon. Friend an undertaking about the Scotland Office liaising with the relevant Scottish Parliament committee, and also to assure him that the Scotland Office works closely with Universities Scotland on all issues affecting universities in Scotland.