Asked by: Baroness Clark of Kilwinning (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what estimate he has made of the change in the level of real wages in Scotland since May 2010.
Answered by David Mundell
Our economy is recovering from the deepest recession since ONS records began in 1948.
Thanks to this government’s long-term economic plan we have seen average regular pay rising faster over the last year than inflation. Furthermore, business surveys expect the steady rise in real wages to continue.
Asked by: Baroness Clark of Kilwinning (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with (a) the Scottish Government and (b) his ministerial colleagues on the sustainability of employment and exploration levels in the North Sea oil and gas industry; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by David Mundell
My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has regular discussions with colleagues and industry leaders on support for the Oil and Gas sector in Scotland.
The UK Government has demonstrated its long term commitment to supporting this vital industry with a package of fiscal measures designed to ease the tax burden on the industry and expected to drive around £7 billion of additional investment. We are also delivering the full implementation of the Wood Review recommendations.
Asked by: Baroness Clark of Kilwinning (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the changes to legislation that would be necessary to implement the recommendations of the Smith Commission on rail.
Answered by David Mundell
The UK Government is committed to implementing the Smith Agreement and will set out what the necessary legislation will look like and how it will work with the publication of draft clauses by Burns’ Night (25 January 2015).
Asked by: Baroness Clark of Kilwinning (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what consultation he plans on the draft legislation arising from the recommendations of the Smith Commission.
Answered by David Mundell
The Smith Commission process was thorough and extensive, consisting of cross-party talks with all five main political parties in Scotland and wide ranging engagement with Scottish civic institutions and members of the public.
The UK Government’s role now is to turn the agreement reached between the parties into draft clauses by 25 January 2015.
To support the draft legislation the Secretary of State for Scotland has invited Scottish stakeholders representing a wide range of different sectors to form a Stakeholder Group. This group will help inform the Government’s public and stakeholder engagement following the publication of the draft clauses.
Asked by: Baroness Clark of Kilwinning (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, when he expects to publish draft legislation arising from the recommendations of the Smith Commission.
Answered by David Mundell
The Government has committed to producing draft clauses by Burns’ Night, 25 January 2015.