Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Linden and Felicity Buchan

Monday 9th January 2023 Commons Chamber

[Alan Brown (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP)]

5. What assessment he has made of the strength of the Union.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (Felicity Buchan)]

When we work together as one United Kingdom, we are safer, stronger and more prosperous. We are better able to tackle the big problems—from supporting families with the cost of living, to leading the international response to Russia’s war in Ukraine and to being a world leader in offering the vaccine to all our citizens. We are taking specific action in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, including putting local voices at the heart of decision making.

[David Linden]

Oh—is it still Monday? Six of the last seven polls in Scotland have shown majority support for Scottish independence. What does the Minister think is driving up that support? Is it the ignoring of the majority of pro-independence MSPs? Is it the assault on workers through the anti-trade union legislation coming forward? Or it just 12 long, brutal years of Tory rule, for which Scotland has not voted since the 1950s?

[Felicity Buchan]

We respect the priorities of the Scottish people, who are focused on improving the NHS, on education, on tackling inflation and on getting a ferry that actually works and takes them to the islands. We will work in co-operation with the Scottish Government. We respect devolution and we want to work with them to implement the people’s priorities.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Linden and Felicity Buchan

Tuesday 11th October 2022 Commons Chamber

[Felicity Buchan]

Decisions on the second phase of the levelling-up round will be made by the end of the year, and I wish my hon. Friend well.

[David Linden (Glasgow East) (SNP)]

13. What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the potential effect of inflation on that Department’s budget.