Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, when he last met with Scottish Power to discuss the future of the former generating station at Longannet.
Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland
I am in contact with Scottish Power on a range of issues relating to the UK’s transition to Net Zero. I last met with them in March, at a stakeholder forum hosted by my department, where the topic of clean energy jobs was discussed. The representative from Scottish Power did not raise the future of the former generating station at Longannet but my door is always open to the energy sector in Scotland.
Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many (a) press, (b) media and (c) other communications posts there are in his Department; and what the salary band is for each post.
Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland
The Scotland Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps he is taking to help strengthen links between Scotland and Malawi.
Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland
I recently hosted a Scotland-Malawi Partnership delegation as part of the wider events marking six decades of Malawian independence. The roundtable looked at ways of strengthening the already deep relationship between Scotland and Malawi.
As you will know, the UK Government remains committed to creating a world free from poverty on a liveable planet, working in partnership with international partners such as Malawi to support their development. As the UK transitions to an Official Development Assistance budget of 0.3 per cent of gross national income globally, we will continue to prioritise aid effectiveness and targeting assistance where it can have the greatest impact.
One of my priorities is promoting Scotland on the global stage. This includes supporting more Scottish businesses to export and attract inward investment.
The Scotland Office is looking at a potential trade mission to Southern Africa within the next two years where we can highlight the positive role Scottish industry can play in driving both economic growth at home and development overseas.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, with reference to paragraph 2.28 of the Office of Budget Responsibility's publication entitled Economic and fiscal outlook, published in October 2024, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the change in overall trade intensity on Scotland.
Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland
In its latest economic outlook, the OBR expects the level of overall exports to recover in 2025 and return to growth over the period 2026 to 2029. The European Union is an important trade partner for the UK, with total trade in goods and services of £813 billion in 2024.
A closer, more co-operative relationship with the EU is in the UK’s national interests and the Prime Minister and President of the European Commission have agreed to strengthen the relationship between the UK and EU.
The UK-EU Summit on 19 May will provide an opportunity to make further progress on areas which will deliver tangible benefits working with the EU to identify areas where we can strengthen cooperation for mutual benefit, such as trade and the economy.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many (a) phones, (b) laptops and (c) other electronic devices have been lost by their Department since 5 July 2024.
Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland
No phones, laptops, or other electronic devices have been reported lost in the Scotland Office since 5 July 2024.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on next steps in relation to the (a) Rosebank and (b) Jackdaw oil fields.
Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland
This Government recognises that oil and gas will continue to play an important role in the UK’s energy security for decades to come. The Government has consulted on revised environmental guidance to take into account emissions from burning extracted oil and gas, and is working towards publication of finalised guidance as soon as possible.
Scotland Office Ministers remain in regular contact with DESNZ Ministers regarding the issue. We also continue to engage with the industry and listen to companies’ specific concerns.
Asked by: Richard Foord (Liberal Democrat - Honiton and Sidmouth)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on support for the farming industry.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)
We have been working hard to positively reset relations. Earlier this month, I joined the Scottish Government’s Employment and Investment Minister, at the opening of a dairy innovation centre. This was the first project to be delivered through the joint Borderlands Growth Deal, providing new collaboration opportunities to progress the dairy sector towards a more sustainable and profitable future.
The Secretary of State meets with the Deputy First Minister on a regular basis, and the Inter-Ministerial Group on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs convenes regularly to discuss important issues, including agriculture.
I look forward to meeting with Scottish farming stakeholders alongside Scottish Government and Defra Ministers at the Scotland Office’s upcoming Food and Farming roundtable.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he is having with the Scottish Government on support for the hospitality and tourism industry in Scotland.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)
Hospitality and tourism play a huge role in the cultural and economic well-being of Scotland. Indeed, the Secretary of State was a publican himself. The Scotland Office has regular engagement with key stakeholders in the sector, such as the Scottish Tourism Alliance and Scottish Hospitality Group.
I continue to engage with counterparts in the Scottish Government on a range of issues, including support for these vital industries, and we remain committed to working collaboratively to ensure the sector can thrive now and in the future.
Asked by: Martin Rhodes (Labour - Glasgow North)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the implementation of the National Wealth Fund's strategic partnership with the Glasgow City Region.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)
We meet regularly with the Scottish Government to discuss economic growth, which is this Government’s top priority. To achieve our growth mission, mobilising private investment alongside public sector financing is vital. In January, the Chancellor announced the National Wealth Fund’s Strategic Partnership with Glasgow City Region, which will provide enhanced support to help the region secure long-term investment opportunities.From 2014 to 2022, the Greater Manchester economy grew by almost 50%.
If the Glasgow City Region had achieved that same level of growth, it would be £7.7 billion larger today. The Glasgow city deal has been a success story, with over £1 billion invested by the UK, Scottish, and local government. But getting devolution right in Manchester has taken it further, and there is much that Scotland’s cities and regions can learn from that modelAsked by: Blair McDougall (Labour - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to ensure that Scotland benefits from nuclear energy developments in the UK.
Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland
Nuclear energy creates well-paid jobs and develops vital transferable skills. Investment in new nuclear power stations brings billions of pounds into local communities. It is good for the environment and good for national energy security.
So, what do the SNP say to all that? No thank you! But of course, they are happy to accept Scotland’s energy baseload coming from English nuclear power.
Their outdated, ideological opposition is holding Scotland back.