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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jul. 24 | Oral Questions | Oral Answers to Questions |
| Jun. 19 | Urgent Questions | Glasgow School of Art |
| Oct. 15 | Written Statements | Legislative Programme |
| Nov. 13 | Westminster Hall | Referendum on Scottish Independence |
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Oct 2019, 10:24 a.m. | Occupational Pensions: Scotland | Alan Brown |
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Question To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Department for Work and Pensions on the effect of section 75 of the Pensions Act 1995 on (a) plumbing pensions and (b) multi-employer pension schemes; and if he will make a statement. Answer (Mr Alister Jack) My Department works closely with the Department for Work and Pensions on a range of issues that are relevant to Scotland.
The Government believes that the existing arrangements provide sufficient flexibility for employers to manage their section 75 debts and that maintaining the current calculation method is the most viable way of ensuring that members receive their pension benefits over the longer term.
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