Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Iain Stewart and Cherilyn Mackrory

Wednesday 2nd February 2022 Commons Chamber

[Cherilyn Mackrory (Truro and Falmouth) (Con)]

8. What steps the Government are taking to support coastal communities in Scotland.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Iain Stewart)]

Communities across Scotland have benefited and will continue to benefit from our focus on levelling up. Particularly for coastal communities we are investing a further £100 million over the next three years for transformative seafood projects that will help to rejuvenate our coastal communities.

[Iain Stewart]

Yes, I can. The Government are committed to delivering a North sea transition deal, which will be a global exemplar of how a Government can work with the offshore oil and gas industry in partnership to achieve a managed energy transition. This deal between the UK Government and the oil and gas industry will support workers, businesses and the supply chain through this transition by harnessing the industry’s existing capabilities, infrastructure and private investment potential.

[Cherilyn Mackrory]

This Government’s multimillion-pound investment in the fishing industry will benefit coastal communities right across the UK, from Cornwall to Scotland. Does my hon. Friend agree that only by boosting coastal communities and spreading opportunity to every corner of our country can we succeed in our mission to improve the lives of everybody in our great nation?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Iain Stewart and Cherilyn Mackrory

Wednesday 23rd June 2021 Commons Chamber

[Iain Stewart]

The hon. Gentleman rightly refers to the OECD report, which came out this week and which I have read. It does contain some very worrying findings. It is yet another reason why the Scottish Government should be focusing on the day job of improving services for people in Scotland, rather than obsessing about constitutional matters. On the wider point he makes about child poverty, throughout this Government’s period in office we have done a huge amount of reform to increase the take-home pay of people at the lower end of the income scale. For example, we have massively increased the personal tax allowance, which allows people to keep more money in their pocket. However, that is just one example; there is much more work to do, and I work regularly with ministerial colleagues across Government looking at the cost of living and what steps we might take to improve matters.

[Cherilyn Mackrory (Truro and Falmouth) (Con)]

What progress the Government has made in establishing the UK shared prosperity fund.