Oral Answers to Questions

Ian Blackford Excerpts

Wednesday 6th July 2016 Commons Chamber

[Martyn Day (Linlithgow and East Falkirk) (SNP)]

3. What discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the effect of the outcome of the EU referendum on Scotland.

[Ian Blackford (Ross, Skye and Lochaber) (SNP)]

4. What discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the effect of the outcome of the EU referendum on Scotland.

[Chris Green (Bolton West) (Con)]

5. What discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the outcome of the EU referendum.

--- Later in debate ---

[David Mundell]

I confirm that the Scottish Government will be at the heart of the negotiation process. I can also confirm today that I and my Cabinet colleague, my right hon. Friend the Member for West Dorset (Mr Letwin), who is responsible for the European unit within the Government, will meet the First Minister next week to discuss how that might be achieved.

[Ian Blackford]

The Secretary of State says he is a democrat. Will he support the long-established position in Scotland that sovereignty rests with the people? Now that the Parliament has said that we wish to negotiate Scotland’s remaining in the single market, will he stand up for those rights? Is he Scotland’s man in the Cabinet, or is he, as we suspect, the Cabinet’s man in Scotland?

[David Mundell]

I expect slightly more original lines from the hon. Gentleman. My position is clear: I very much welcome any initiative pursued by the First Minister or by the Scottish Government that can be to the benefit of Scotland without being to the detriment of the rest of the United Kingdom. I look forward to hearing from the First Minister when I meet her next week how the various initiatives she is pursuing are going. We want to work together. Businesses in Scotland yesterday made it very clear that they want a Team UK approach: the Scottish Government and the UK Government working in tandem in the best interests of Scotland.