Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Amess and Michael Moore

Wednesday 9th January 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr David Amess (Southend West) (Con)]

1. What steps Ministers in his Department are taking to promote Scottish business overseas.

[The Secretary of State for Scotland (Michael Moore)]

The Government have taken a range of actions to promote Scottish businesses overseas, including the appointment of Brian Wilson as a UK business ambassador. I have also held recent discussions with the Canadian Trade Minister and with business leaders in Canada and the USA.

[Mr Amess]

How many Scottish business leaders has the Secretary of State met who believe that the Scottish trading position will be improved if Scotland leaves the United Kingdom?

[Michael Moore]

No Scottish business leader has ever put that point to me, possibly because they recognise the strength of Scotland’s being in the United Kingdom and the fact that there are 162 UK Trade & Investment offices backed up by 270 consulates across the world.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Amess and Michael Moore

Wednesday 21st November 2012 Commons Chamber

[Michael Moore]

Once again, we are going to take no lessons from the Labour party about the state of the United Kingdom economy. We have a plan that will make sure we deal with the mess it left us, and that gets us back on the right track and gets us sustainable growth—unlike Labour, which has no plan whatever.

[Mr David Amess (Southend West) (Con)]

4. What recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the referendum on Scottish independence.

[John Robertson (Glasgow North West) (Lab)]

5. When he last met the First Minister to discuss the planned referendum on Scottish independence.

[The Secretary of State for Scotland (Michael Moore)]

I have discussed the referendum with the Scottish Government on a number of occasions, most recently on 15 October, when Scotland’s two Governments reached agreement on the process to ensure that there is a legal, fair and decisive referendum.

[Mr Amess]

Does the Secretary of State agree that one of the arguments for separation is based on the false premise that it would be good for the Scottish economy? Does he agree that separation would be good for the English economy but not for the Scottish economy?

[Michael Moore]

I certainly agree with my hon. Friend that Scotland is stronger as part of the United Kingdom economy. We would be weaker if we were outside it, primarily because it gives us access to this huge single market which takes twice as many of our exports—if we can call them that—as anywhere else in the world; it has the resilience to absorb huge financial catastrophes, such as the bank collapse; and it gives us the clout internationally to be at the top table, where all the key economic decisions are made. That is far better for Scotland.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Amess and Michael Moore

Wednesday 14th September 2011 Commons Chamber

[The Secretary of State for Scotland (Michael Moore)]

I have regular discussions with my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister on a range of issues, and last week the Government announced the steps that we are taking to establish a commission on the West Lothian question.

[Mr Amess]

Will the Secretary of State give the House what is the time scale for the commission, and will he reassure every one of us that the present unfair voting system will be resolved by the end of this Parliament?

[Michael Moore]

The details of the commission’s remit and the time scale will be announced by the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Forest of Dean (Mr Harper)—the Minister responsible for constitutional reform—at the appropriate moment, as he indicated last week. As for all the issues to be considered by the commission, I am sure that its members have heard the hon. Gentleman’s opening bid.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Amess and Michael Moore

Wednesday 1st December 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr David Amess (Southend West) (Con)]

4. What recent discussions he has had with the First Minister on the relationship between the UK Government and Scottish Executive with regard to economic policy under the devolution settlement.

[The Secretary of State for Scotland (Michael Moore)]

I have had a number of exchanges with the First Minister in recent weeks. Yesterday, the Scotland Bill was introduced in this House. If enacted, the Bill will strengthen devolution by giving the Scottish Parliament a financial stake in the Scottish economy while maintaining the economic strength we all desire from being in the United Kingdom.

[Mr Amess]

Now that we know that the Scottish nationalist party—[Hon. Members: “National party.”] It put Holyrood’s tax-raising powers out of commission for two years without telling the Scottish Parliament. Does the Secretary of State agree that the Scottish Government should be made more accountable for their financial management to such an extent that there should be a closer relationship between economic growth and how much money is spent?

[Michael Moore]

My hon. Friend makes some interesting observations. I can confirm that the Scotland Bill, if enacted, will provide exactly what he asks for. It will empower the Scottish Parliament, increase its financial accountability and secure Scotland’s place in the United Kingdom.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Amess and Michael Moore

Wednesday 21st July 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr David Amess (Southend West) (Con)]

7. What recent discussions he has had with the First Minister on the relationship between the Government and the Scottish Executive under the devolution settlement.

[The Secretary of State for Scotland (Michael Moore)]

I am regularly in contact with Ministers from the Scottish Government, including the First Minister, on a range of matters.

[Mr Amess]

I am delighted that the Prime Minister visited the Scottish Parliament on the third day of the new Government, unlike his predecessor who never visited there, but will the right hon. Gentleman have a word with the Prime Minister to encourage him to visit the Scottish Parliament again to have further discussions with the First Minister about the relationship between the Government and the Scottish Executive to see whether the new miracle cure for prostate cancer can be made available throughout England?

[Michael Moore]

I absolutely agree that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister took an important step when he visited the Scottish Parliament to meet the First Minister at such short notice after the coalition was formed. I understand the anguish, not just in Lockerbie and Scotland generally but across the world, about what happened in the course of the release of the Lockerbie bomber, but I believe that the medical decision was taken in good faith.