Oral Answers to Questions

Matthew Offord Excerpts

Wednesday 1st March 2017 Commons Chamber

[David Mundell]

What I want to do and what I have attempted to do is engage in a constructive discussion and dialogue with the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament about how we repatriate powers from Brussels. I do not try to make a serious and wrong political point that this is an attempt to destabilise the Scottish Parliament, because I know that when the process is complete, the Scottish Parliament will have more powers than it does today.

[Dr Matthew Offord (Hendon) (Con)]

6. What assessment he has made of the importance of the UK single market to Scotland’s economy.

[Maria Caulfield (Lewes) (Con)]

7. What assessment he has made of the importance of the UK single market to Scotland’s economy.

[The Secretary of State for Scotland (David Mundell)]

Sales from Scotland to the rest of the UK are worth nearly £50 billion, a figure that has increased by over 70% since 2002 and that is four times greater than the value of exports from Scotland to the EU. There is no doubt that the United Kingdom is the vital Union for Scotland’s economy.

[Dr Offord]

Does the Secretary of State agree that we must not create barriers or do anything to impede the functioning of the UK domestic market as we leave the EU, given its vital importance to the economy of Scotland?

[David Mundell]

I could not agree more with my hon. Friend. I find it strange that those who make such a fuss about the EU single market seem to have a complete disregard for a market that is four times as large to Scotland’s economy.