Scotland within the UK Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate
Department: Scotland Office

Scotland within the UK

William Cash Excerpts
Monday 13th October 2014

(10 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Alistair Carmichael Portrait Mr Carmichael
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

I am happy to give the hon. Gentleman that assurance, which I have already given on two or three occasions this afternoon. There are few things that would be worse for the constitutional integrity of the United Kingdom than our not delivering on the promises that we made or not meeting the timetable. It is because I care so much about keeping the United Kingdom together that I am determined that we will meet the timetable that we have laid out.

William Cash Portrait Sir William Cash (Stone) (Con)
- Hansard - -

Today’s Command Paper does not contain a section dedicated to the supervening question of the position of European law in relation to Scotland. That is a reserved matter under the Scotland Act 1998. Will the Secretary of State give an absolute and categorical assurance that, having saved the Union of the United Kingdom, under no circumstances will we surrender the Scottish functions to the European Union?

Alistair Carmichael Portrait Mr Carmichael
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

I would be more than happy for the hon. Gentleman to engage directly with Lord Smith. Indeed, I will make every effort to explain to Lord Smith what he might expect.