Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Mundell and Fiona Bruce

Wednesday 13th February 2013 Commons Chamber

[David Mundell]

What I accept is that the Labour party put this country into the financial circumstances we found after the 2010 election. It says it wanted to reform welfare. It is quite happy to criticise individual measures, but it comes up with no proposals at all on how to fund them and puts forward no alternative proposals.

[Fiona Bruce (Congleton) (Con)]

3. What steps he is taking to improve transport links between Scotland and England.

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

I welcome the recent announcement by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport on the planned extension of HS2 to Manchester and Leeds. Journey times between Scotland and London will be significantly reduced as a result.

[Fiona Bruce]

Does the Minister agree that there is a strange irony in the fact that HS2 will bring our two nations closer together yet the Scottish Government are intent on driving a wedge between them and pushing them further apart?

[David Mundell]

My hon. Friend is quite right to point out the irony. Most policies pursued by the Scottish National party are about breaking up Britain, but on this issue it appears to want to bring Britain closer together.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Mundell and Fiona Bruce

Wednesday 22nd February 2012 Commons Chamber

[David Mundell]

If I am available, I will certainly be delighted to attend.

[Fiona Bruce (Congleton) (Con)]

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the field of human trafficking, where co-ordination between involved agencies is critical if we are to find real solutions, is yet another practical example of a policy area that is best tackled at UK level?

[David Mundell]

I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend that the UK can bring great weight to this issue on behalf of Scotland. It is also an issue where we have been able to work with the Scottish Government, demonstrating that the two Governments can work together on matters of great importance on a day-to-day basis.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Mundell and Fiona Bruce

Wednesday 14th September 2011 Commons Chamber

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

Scottish forces gave assistance to forces in England through the provision of police support units. During the debate in the House on 11 August, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said:

“I am aware of the excellent role that Scottish police officers played, particularly helping the West Midlands force. I saw for myself their impact when they arrived in Birmingham, and it is very good that our forces can co-operate in that way.”—[Official Report, 11 August 2011; Vol. 531, c. 1081.]

[Fiona Bruce]

Does the Minister agree that the excellent cross-border support provided by Scottish police has exemplified to everyone in Britain the advantages of a flexible, devolved United Kingdom?

[David Mundell]

I entirely agree. There are many examples of Scottish forces’ playing an important role in incidents elsewhere in the United Kingdom, not least in dealing with the shootings that took place in Cumbria in 2010.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Mundell and Fiona Bruce

Wednesday 9th March 2011 Commons Chamber

[David Mundell]

What I am aware of is that Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs R and D tax and credits unit held a workshop in Glasgow on 9 February, and it was well attended by businesses from the Glasgow area.

[Fiona Bruce (Congleton) (Con)]

Do the Government intend to abolish the intellectual property restrictions on R and D tax credits, which would make it much easier for companies in Scotland in the biotechnology and micro-electronics industries to benefit?

[David Mundell]

The Government do indeed intend to abolish that restriction, and I believe that it will have the benefits that my hon. Friend outlines.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Mundell and Fiona Bruce

Wednesday 26th January 2011 Commons Chamber

[David Mundell]

How can the hon. Gentleman continue to fail to take responsibility for his Government’s record, which took our country to the brink of bankruptcy and required the VAT rise to fill the black hole? If anyone is responsible for the issues that Scottish business currently faces, it is his Government.

[Fiona Bruce (Congleton) (Con)]

4. What assessment he has made of recent trends in business confidence in Scotland.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Mundell and Fiona Bruce

Wednesday 21st July 2010 Commons Chamber

[David Mundell]

The right hon. Lady makes a good point about the tourism industry and she will know that many jobs in that industry are low paid. The decision to raise the income tax personal allowance for under-65s by £1,000 in 2011-12 will benefit 2 million basic rate income tax payers in Scotland, including many working in the tourism industry.

[Fiona Bruce (Congleton) (Con)]

11. What recent discussions he has had with CBI Scotland on the state of the Scottish economy.