Oral Answers to Questions

Fiona Bruce Excerpts

Wednesday 14th September 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Far too many noisy private conversations are taking place in the Chamber. I want to hear Fiona Bruce.

[Fiona Bruce (Congleton) (Con)]

6. What assistance police forces in Scotland provided during the public disorder in England in August 2011; and if he will make a statement.

[Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con)]

7. What assistance police forces in Scotland provided during the public disorder in England in August 2011; and if he will make a statement.

[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

Fiona Bruce Excerpts

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

Fiona Bruce Excerpts

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.

[John Stevenson (Carlisle) (Con)]

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

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

Returning the UK to sustainable economic growth is the Government’s overriding priority. The Government are doing everything they can to create the conditions that enable all businesses to be successful and create more jobs.

[Fiona Bruce]

Business organisations have welcomed the Government’s plans to reduce the headline rate of corporation tax and simplify the tax system. Does the Secretary of State agree that cuts are vital for boosting enterprise?

[Michael Moore]

I welcome my hon. Friend’s comments and reinforce the points made by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary a moment ago. The priority for economic growth in this country is to cut the deficit of £155,000 million that we inherited from Labour. Cuts in corporation tax, reducing the national insurance burden and keeping interest rates low are important parts of the package.

Oral Answers to Questions

Fiona Bruce Excerpts

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.

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

I have had productive discussions with CBI Scotland and others on the Scottish economy, as has my right hon. Friend the Under-Secretary, and I plan to meet them again in the near future.

[Fiona Bruce]

Bearing in mind that trade and industry is a reserved matter while economic development is devolved—and that both are vital in addressing the key challenge of economic growth—how will the Secretary of State use his role to work effectively to stimulate private enterprise and job creation in Scotland?

[Michael Moore]

Given the legacy that we were left by the Labour Government, it is essential that we tackle the deficit so that we can tackle interest rates and do not pay the cost in jobs. As far as the private sector is concerned, the measures introduced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor in the Budget, which we passed in the Third Reading of the Finance Bill last night, will see corporation tax lowered over the course of this Parliament, and include others to boost the private sector.