Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Mundell and Alun Cairns

Wednesday 11th January 2012 Commons Chamber

[David Mundell]

The hon. Gentleman raises important issues, such as the fact that many of the levers relating to child poverty rest with the Scottish Government. As a result of the autumn statement, the Scottish Government received more than £500 million in additional revenue. I should have thought it would be better if they focused on how to deploy that revenue to deal with such problems as child poverty than to obsess about the constitution.

[Alun Cairns (Vale of Glamorgan) (Con)]

3. What steps he is taking to promote Scotland as a destination for international inward investment.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (David Mundell)]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I firmly believe that Scotland is the ideal destination for international inward investment, and we have taken a range of actions to promote such investment. My right hon. Friend recently led the largest ever Scottish trade delegation to Brazil to promote closer business links with a key emerging market for the Scottish economy.

[Alun Cairns]

Does my hon. Friend accept that, in an ever more competitive world, uncertainty about independence has not helped the cause of Scotland or any other part of the United Kingdom that is seeking to attract much-needed inward investment?

[David Mundell]

I entirely agree with my hon. Friend, which is why I believe it is better that a referendum on Scottish independence be held sooner rather than later.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Mundell and Alun Cairns

Wednesday 22nd June 2011 Commons Chamber

[David Mundell]

I do not acknowledge the hon. Gentleman’s point because the devolution settlement means that different MPs in this House already have different responsibilities, depending on whether they are from Scotland, England, Northern Ireland or Wales. The Government are committed to look at the West Lothian question, which is a substantive issue that the previous Government ignored, and will set up a commission later this year.

[Alun Cairns (Vale of Glamorgan) (Con)]

4. What steps the Government plan to take to ensure a stable economic environment for businesses in Scotland.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Mundell and Alun Cairns

Wednesday 27th October 2010 Commons Chamber

[David Mundell]

I agree with Ron Gould’s submission to the Scottish Affairs Committee, in which he said that although he would prefer the referendum on AV and the Scottish elections to be held on different days, he saw no reason why they should not be held on the same day and did not anticipate that causing the same confusion that arose in 2007.

[Alun Cairns (Vale of Glamorgan) (Con)]

11. What recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on the relationship between the UK Government and the Scottish Executive under the devolution settlement.