Oral Answers to Questions

Kevin Foster Excerpts

Wednesday 16th November 2022 Commons Chamber

[Mr Jack]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. As I have just said to the hon. Member for Glasgow Central (Alison Thewliss), the extra funding from Barnett consequentials that is going to the Scottish Government this year from the household support fund is £82 million; it was £41 million last year. The council tax rebate in England has generated another £296 million that is going to the Scottish Government.

[Kevin Foster (Torbay) (Con)]

In my right hon. Friend’s assessment, did he reflect on what the impact on the Scottish block grant would be if hon. Members on the separatist Benches achieved their ambition of breaking up our United Kingdom?

[Mr Jack]

My hon. Friend makes a very good point. Scotland is the best-funded part of Great Britain, and there is a Union dividend there of £2,000 per man, woman and child.

--- Later in debate ---

[The Deputy Prime Minister]

We are very sympathetic to the challenges that all our schools face. More will be said about specific measures tomorrow, but the hon. Lady should stand assured that we are the top spenders as a percentage of GDP on primary and secondary education in the G7, and that standards, which matter to pupils and parents the most, have increased, with the proportion of schools rated good or outstanding up from 68% in 2010 to 87% today.

[Kevin Foster (Torbay) (Con)]

Q11. The Deputy Prime Minister will be aware of the opportunities but also the challenges that face Torbay’s tourism and hospitality sector, including increased energy costs and the impact of business rates. What consideration is he giving to the situation of Torbay’s iconic industry and further measures to support it?

[The Deputy Prime Minister]

My hon. Friend is a fantastic champion for Torbay. The Chancellor will make a statement tomorrow and I cannot speculate on the spending decisions, but my hon. Friend will have noticed already the tourism recovery plan, which will help recovery from the pandemic and is also part of the wider levelling-up agenda.