Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Scotland Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Robert Smith Excerpts
Wednesday 5th February 2014

(10 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Alistair Carmichael Portrait Mr Carmichael
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In that regard, the most pertinent intervention came from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland—not a political party or a body that has an axe to grind, but people who know what they are talking about. They told us what we already know: there are substantial questions on pensions and other areas, and the Scottish Government have still failed to answer them.

Robert Smith Portrait Sir Robert Smith (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD)
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Surely one of the great weaknesses of the White Paper is on the future of the pound in Scotland. Surely the simplest way in which the people of Scotland can guarantee to keep the pound is to vote no in the referendum.

Alistair Carmichael Portrait Mr Carmichael
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That is indeed the case and I am confident that they will do so, because the people of Scotland value having the pound sterling as their currency. They value having the Bank of England as a lender of last resort and they value the fact that, as a result, risks and opportunities are spread across the whole United Kingdom.