Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will hold discussions with the Scottish Government on taking steps to help support the manufacture of (a) offshore patrol vessels and (b) wind turbines in the Highland region of Scotland.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
The UK Government is committed to working constructively with the devolved administrations and I would be open to engaging with the Scottish Government on Maritime Patrol Vessels in the Highland region of Scotland. However, this is a devolved matter and I have not received any representations from Scottish Government Ministers.
With regard to the manufacture of Wind Turbines, the Government has announced the £960 million Green Industries Growth Accelerator to support manufacturing capacity, including for offshore wind. This will attract private investment, see the creation of high-skilled, well-paying jobs and ensure the UK stands ready to take the opportunity presented by the Net Zero Transition.
The Government works directly with the Scottish Government and industry through the Offshore Wind Industry Council. The Council is engaged in assessing the needs of the offshore wind supply chain, finding opportunities for its development, and the establishment of a long-term Industrial Growth Plan.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he has had recent discussions with (a) the Scottish Government or (b) representatives instructed to act on behalf of the Scottish Government on the role of the Lord Advocate and potential changes to the Scotland Act.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
I have had no discussions with either the Scottish Government or representatives acting on behalf of the Scottish Government in regards to the role of Lord Advocate and potential changes to the Scotland Act.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he has received representations from the Scottish Government requesting that the UK Government contribute to its consultation on the proposed separation of the functions of Scotland’s law officers.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
I have received no representations from the Scottish Government in relation to a consultation on the proposed separation of the functions of the Lord Advocate.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on (a) changes to the Scotland Act 1998 and (b) the role of the Lord Advocate in the period since May 2022.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
I have not had any discussions with the Scottish Government regarding the role of Lord Advocate and changes to the Scotland Act 1998 in the period since May 2022.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether his Department has received a request from the Scottish Government to amend the Scotland Act 1998 in respect of the role of the Lord Advocate.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
Neither I nor my Department have received any representations from the Scottish Government on the role of the Lord Advocate or amending the Scotland Act 1998 in respect of the role of the Lord Advocate.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what representations his Department has received from the Scottish Government on the role of the Lord Advocate.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
Neither I nor my Department have received any representations from the Scottish Government on the role of the Lord Advocate or amending the Scotland Act 1998 in respect of the role of the Lord Advocate.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much his Department has spent on external consultants in each of the last five years; and if he will publish a breakdown of the (a) amount paid to each consultancy contracted, (b) name of each consultancy contracted and (c) specific matters on which they were consulted.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
The Scotland Office incurred no spend on external consultants in any of the last five years.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the progress on proposals for the Eastern high voltage subsea cable from Scotland to England.
Answered by Iain Stewart
I fully support the development of the Eastern High Voltage Direct Current Link.
The UK Government maintains engagement with SSEN Transmission, Scottish Power Transmission and National Grid Electricity Transmission - as well as Ofgem - on this important project.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he has received representations on the potential merits of varying the role of the Lord Advocate and the consequent necessary changes to the Scotland Act since the Scottish Parliamentary elections in 2021.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
I have not received any representations from the Scottish Government, Parliamentary or legal bodies, or other bodies on this matter since the Scottish Parliamentary elections in 2021. I note that the hon Gentleman has asked a number of Parliamentary questions on this matter.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what communications he has received from the Scottish Parliament regarding changes to the Scotland Act 1988 relating to the constitutional role of the Lord Advocate.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
I have not received any communications from the Scottish Parliament regarding changes to the role of the Lord Advocate.