Oral Answers to Questions

Marion Fellows Excerpts

Wednesday 6th January 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mike Weir (Angus) (SNP)]

1. What recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on Scotland’s fiscal framework.

[Marion Fellows (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP)]

2. What recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on Scotland’s fiscal framework.

[Dr Eilidh Whiteford (Banff and Buchan) (SNP)]

5. What recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on Scotland’s fiscal framework.

--- Later in debate ---

[David Mundell]

My understanding is that the Deputy First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney, with whom I had a productive meeting just before Christmas, is conducting the negotiations on behalf of the Scottish Government. At our meeting, Mr Swinney assured me that his objective was exactly the same as that of the United Kingdom Government—a settlement that is fair to Scotland and fair to the whole United Kingdom.

[Marion Fellows]

A fair model of block grant adjustment would ensure that Scotland is no worse off financially as a result of the transfer of new powers. Does the Secretary of State agree with the cross-party view, and that of Anton Muscatelli, Jim Cuthbert and the Scottish Trades Union Congress, that only the model of indexed deduction per capita would adequately deliver the principle of no detriment?

[David Mundell]

As I said, we are involved in an ongoing negotiation, which Mr Swinney is conducting. I have tremendous respect for his ability to reach a fair settlement for Scotland, and for the Chief Secretary’s ability to reach a fair settlement for the rest of the United Kingdom. On the basis of the discussions that took place between the First Minister and the Prime Minister, my own discussions with the Deputy First Minister and the meeting that is due to take place on Friday, I am confident that we will be able to achieve a fair settlement.