The Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland supports the Secretary of State in promoting the best interests of Scotland within a stronger United Kingdom. It ensures Scottish interests are fully and effectively represented at the heart of the UK Government, and the UK Government’s responsibilities are fully and effectively represented in Scotland.
Rt Hon Alister Jack MP
Secretary of State for Scotland
Oral Answers to Questions is a regularly scheduled appearance where the Secretary of State and junior minister will answer at the Dispatch Box questions from backbench MPs
Other Commons Chamber appearances can be:Westminster Hall debates are performed in response to backbench MPs or e-petitions asking for a Minister to address a detailed issue
Written Statements are made when a current event is not sufficiently significant to require an Oral Statement, but the House is required to be informed.
| Date | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|
| May. 20 | Oral Questions | Oral Answers to Questions |
| Jun. 04 | Urgent Questions | Abortion Regulations: Northern Ireland |
| Oct. 29 | Westminster Hall | Northern Ireland Economy and Innovation: Government Support |
| Mar. 17 | Adjournment Debate | St Patrick’s Day |
Scotland Office has not tabled any Bills during the current Session.
| Dates | Department | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
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Laid 16 Sep 2020 In Force 9 Nov 2020 |
Scotland Office | Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 (Young Carer Grants, Short-Term Assistance and Winter Heating Assistance) (Consequential Provision and Modifications) Order 2020 Parliamentary Status - Text of Legislation | Made negative procedure |
| This Order amends social security legislation in Great Britain as a consequence of sections 24 (duty to give assistance), 28 (carer’s assistance), 30 (winter heating assistance), and 36 (short-term assistance) of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 (asp 9) (“the 2018 Act”), and regulations made under section 28 of the 2018 Act. The regulations in relation to which consequential provision is made in this Order are the Carer’s Assistance (Young Carer Grants) (Scotland) Regulations 2019 (S.S.I. 2019/324), made under section 28 of the 2018 Act. | |||
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Laid 6 May 2020 In Force Not stated |
Scotland Office | Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 (Information-sharing and Scottish Child Payment) (Consequential Provision and Modifications) Order 2020 Parliamentary Status - Text of Legislation | Made negative procedure |
| In consequence of the range of information necessary for the proper administration of social security functions, this Order provides a mechanism for the sharing of information relevant to devolved Scottish social security functions between Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (“HMRC”) and the Scottish Ministers. It also amends social security legislation in Great Britain as a consequence of the making of regulations under section 79 of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 (asp 9) to provide for a top-up payment (“the Scottish Child Payment”) to be made in respect of various reserved benefits. | |||
Scotland Office Select Committee Home Page
Select Committees are a formally established cross-party group of backbench MPs tasked with holding a Government department to account.
At any time there will be number of ongoing investigations into the work of the Department, or issues which fall within the oversight of the Department. Witnesses can be summoned from within the Government and outside to assist in these inquiries, and the Select Committee will occasionally publish formal reports of their findings.
| Date | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Sep. 16 | New Non-Executive Board Members appointed to two departments | News and Communications |
| Sep. 16 | Alister Jack responds to Scottish GDP figures for Q2 2020 | News and Communications |
| Sep. 15 | Alister Jack responds to September 2020 Labour Market figures | News and Communications |
Written Questions are submitted by Members of Parliament and the House of Lords to receive information or updates from a Department.
Departments are required to respond in a timely fashion and provide a response or requested information. Written Questions can compel detailed and specific information to be produced, and are frequently used as the source of news stories about the work of a Department.
| Date | Title | Questioner |
|---|---|---|
| 15 Sep 2020, 4:13 p.m. | Mothers and Pregnancy: Scotland | Dr Lisa Cameron |
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Question To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions his Department has had with the Scottish Government on collaboration to provide improved support for (a) pregnant women and (b) mothers with young children. Answer (Mr Alister Jack) Maternal and Child health is a policy matter devolved to the Scottish Government. The UK Government and the Devolved Administrations cooperate and share lessons and best practice in this important policy area through a number of forums, to improve policy across the UK.
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