Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support the whisky industry.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
I am in regular contact with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues of importance to Scotland’s whisky industry.
Scotland’s whisky industry continues to go from strength to strength at home and abroad, and Scotch whisky is the UK’s premier food and drink export. I want Scottish producers to take full advantage of the new trade deals the UK Government is striking around the world.
In this vein, earlier this month I visited Vietnam, a key growth market for Scotch whisky, where along with representatives from the Scotch Whisky Association, I hosted a whisky reception for key business leaders in Hanoi.
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Scotland Office:
What recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the implementation of the Government's new Hydrogen Strategy.
Answered by Iain Stewart
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy works closely with the Scottish Government and other devolved administrations on the implementation of the Hydrogen Strategy, and will continue to do so.
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Scotland Office:
What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to ensure the adequacy of telecommunications infrastructure in rural areas of Scotland.
Answered by Iain Stewart
The Scottish economy continues to gain hugely from the UK Government’s ambitious investments in data connectivity.
I want to see every area of Scotland, including the constituency of Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, be able to take full advantage of the digital technology available.
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of effect of the UK Internal Market Bill on teaching standards in Scotland in the event that the provisions of that Bill demand that the General Teaching Council for Scotland give full registration to teachers irrespective of their qualification status.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
Teaching standards across the UK are very important to the Government and under the provisions of the UK Internal Market Bill, relevant authorities in each of the devolved administrations will still be able to set standards and control who can teach in them as they do now. The Bill provides that if a relevant authority decides that recognising teaching qualifications from other parts of the UK automatically is not appropriate, it can put in place an alternative recognition process in accordance with clause 24 to check qualifications and experience.
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Scotland Office:
What discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on harmonising Scottish and English drink-driving laws.
Answered by David Mundell
This is a devolved matter and both Governments share a determination to fight drink driving. In this case, the UK government has no plans to change the drink driving limits.
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much his Department is spending on a public information campaign to prepare people for the potential effects of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
Answered by David Mundell
The Office is working closely with communications teams across Government on public information campaigns relating to EU Exit.
The Office has used its social media channels to amplify messages around relevant content including the publication of Technical Notices and advice on preparedness for individuals and businesses via the UK Government’s www.euexit.campaign.gov.uk website.
The Office has not incurred direct costs for the promotion of a public information campaign on this issue to date as this is funded by other departments.
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on the future of those jobs provided under the Carillion Scotland and Northern Ireland region contract.
Answered by David Mundell
My Department is in regular contact with other departments across Government, making representations on a wide range of matters with impact in Scotland. I have regular discussions with all my Cabinet colleagues about matters of importance to Scotland.
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on the effect of the liquidation of Carillion plc on jobs in Scotland.
Answered by David Mundell
My Department is in regular contact with other departments across Government, making representations on a wide range of matters with impact in Scotland. I have regular discussions with all my Cabinet colleagues about matters of importance to Scotland.
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the cost of replacing Carillion facilities management of his Department's sites in Scotland.
Answered by David Mundell
My Department is in regular contact with other departments across Government, making representations on a wide range of matters with impact in Scotland. I have regular discussions with all my Cabinet colleagues about matters of importance to Scotland.
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on finding a replacement organisation for facilities management of those military sites in Scotland which were due to be under Carillion facilities management.
Answered by David Mundell
My Department is in regular contact with other departments across Government, making representations on a wide range of matters with impact in Scotland. I have regular discussions with all my Cabinet colleagues about matters of importance to Scotland.