Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the impact of levels of taxation on people in Scotland.
Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland
The assessment that we have made is that the Honourable Gentleman's party crashed the economy and left the legacy of the highest tax burden on working people in 70 years and in Scotland that is even higher.
The SNP Government’s own figures show that a Band 5 Nurse will pay more tax in Scotland than a nurse earning the same amount in England, meanwhile billions of pounds of taxpayer money has been wasted under the SNP.
The previous Conservative government and current SNP government both share the belief that nurses, teachers and ordinary Scots should pay for their economic failures.
We will provide economic stability and put more money in people’s pockets.
Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions his officials have had with Scottish Borders Council on funding of the feasibility study for the extension of the Borders Railway.
Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland
My officials have had discussions with the Scottish Borders Council and with officials from both the Department for Transport and the Scottish Government on the funding of the feasibility study for the extension of the Borders Railway.
The Department for Transport will continue to work with the Scotland Office, the Scottish Government and the Scottish Borders Council on the next stage of development for this scheme as part of the Borderlands Growth Deal.
Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on funding of the feasibility study for the extension of the Borders Railway.
Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland
Officials from my department remain in discussion on this matter with counterparts in the Department for Transport. The Department for Transport will continue to work with the Scotland Office, the Scottish Government and the Scottish Borders Council on the next stage of development for this scheme as part of the Borderlands Growth Deal.
Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how often the Scottish Seafood Industry Action Group has met since 5 July 2024.
Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland
The Scottish Seafood Industry Action Group last met under the previous Government, in March 2024. This government recognises the vital role these industries play in ensuring coastal communities and the wider Scottish economy thrive. Since taking up office in July 2024, Scotland Office Ministers have met with Salmon Scotland, the Scottish Fisherman’s Federation, Loch Long Salmon, and many others across the seafood and fisheries sectors. The UK government will continue to work closely with industry representative bodies on issues that impact the sector.
Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, when the Scottish Seafood Industry Action Group will next meet.
Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland
The Scottish Seafood Industry Action Group last met under the previous Government, in March 2024. This government recognises the vital role these industries play in ensuring coastal communities and the wider Scottish economy thrive. Since taking up office in July 2024, Scotland Office Ministers have met with Salmon Scotland, the Scottish Fisherman’s Federation, Loch Long Salmon, and many others across the seafood and fisheries sectors. The UK government will continue to work closely with industry representative bodies on issues that impact the sector.
Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has with the Scottish Government on funding of the feasibility study for the Borders Railway extension.
Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland
I have regular meetings with the Deputy First Minister, where we discuss local economic growth as one of the key missions of this Government.
My officials have had discussions with the Scottish Borders Council and with officials from both the Department for Transport and the Scottish Government on the funding of the feasibility study for the extension of the Borders Railway as part of the Borderlands Growth Deal.
Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will provide a breakdown of underspend in (a) his Department and (b) departmental arm's length bodies in this (i) financial year and (ii) spending review.
Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland
A breakdown of the Department and its arm’s length bodies underspend in the current financial year and over the spending review are disclosed in the Department's Annual Report and Accounts:
Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he plans to (a) implement and (b) cancel efficiency savings budgeted for by the previous Government for (i) his Department and (ii) departmental arm's length bodies; and what plans he has for further such efficiency savings.
Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland
Decisions regarding budgets for this year were set in the last spending review and for future years will be a matter for the upcoming comprehensive spending review which my department is engaging in. The uncovering of £22bn of in-year hidden pressures has added to the strain on departmental budgets as set out by the Chancellor to parliament on 30 July.
Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what progress has been made in the building of new business units in Coldstream as part of the Borderlands Growth Deal.
Answered by Alister Jack
We are continuing to work at pace with the Borderlands partners to agree project business cases. Business Infrastructure falls within the Scottish Government investment in Borderlands. However, I can advise that progress is being made between SG and partners and it is anticipated that the Coldstream business infrastructure project could draw down Deal funding in 2022/23.
Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what comparative assessment he has made of the impact on the Scottish economy of Scotland having (a) one and (b) two freeports.
Answered by Alister Jack
Freeports will create hubs of global trade, support thousands of jobs, regenerate communities and turbocharge Britain’s post-Brexit growth, and is all part of the UK Government’s commitment to boost economic activity, levelling up towns, cities and regions across the UK.
The UK Government remains committed to establishing its freeport programme in Scotland as soon as possible and are confident our model embraces the highest employment and environmental standards.