Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Scotland Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Pete Wishart Excerpts
Wednesday 29th November 2023

(11 months, 1 week ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lindsay Hoyle Portrait Mr Speaker
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I call the Chair of the Scottish Affairs Committee.

Pete Wishart Portrait Pete Wishart (Perth and North Perthshire) (SNP)
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I am sure the Secretary of State will agree that his mission to constrain and bypass the Scottish Parliament has been an absolute disaster for devolution. Relationships across the UK have never been as such a low level. Will he acknowledge that his version of aggressive Unionism has utterly failed? As he is leaving his office, will he pledge to abandon it entirely?

Alister Jack Portrait Mr Jack
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I am not entirely sure what I have done that has been a failure, to be honest. This Government protect devolution and the settlement. If he is referring to the section 35 order that I used, that was in the Scotland Act 1998 and was voted for at the time by SNP MPs. It is there to protect devolution when a devolved Administration legislates on Great Britain or UK matters.