Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Scotland Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Michael Moore Excerpts
Wednesday 25th February 2015

(9 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Alistair Carmichael Portrait Mr Carmichael
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I know that it hurts the hon. Gentleman and causes him genuine pain, but the truth of the matter—he will have to accept this sooner or later, so he might as well get on and accept it now—is that the Smith commission has delivered on the vow. That was why his party signed up to it, even if, having done so, the Scottish National party could not run away from its commitments fast enough.

Michael Moore Portrait Michael Moore (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk) (LD)
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The single market of the United Kingdom is vital to the fish processors and agricultural producers of Berwickshire, the coat hanger manufacturers of Jedburgh and the world-class knitwear manufacturers of Hawick, among others, so does my right hon. Friend agree that one of the major achievements of the Smith commission was to bring more powers to Scotland, but preserve that single market?

Alistair Carmichael Portrait Mr Carmichael
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Yes, absolutely. I particularly enjoyed joining my right hon. Friend recently in his constituency and learning from him about not only the challenges but the opportunities facing the knitwear industry. I know that that industry is of great importance to the economy in his area, and he has been a remarkable champion of it over the years.