Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Mundell and Luke Graham

Wednesday 24th July 2019 Commons Chamber

[David Mundell]

My position on no deal is quite clear compared to the hon. Gentleman’s. On the three occasions that I had the opportunity to vote for a deal, I did so; he and most of his Labour colleagues did not.

[Luke Graham (Ochil and South Perthshire) (Con)]

Deal or no deal, Scotland faces a £1 billion financial hole, £737 million of which will be bridged by funds from Westminster funded by other parts of the United Kingdom. What analysis has my right hon. Friend done of how deep that hole would be if Scotland was separated from the rest of the United Kingdom?

[David Mundell]

It is well known that there would be a multibillion-pound funding gap in the event of Scottish independence that could only be dealt with by significant tax rises or cuts in services. Those who propose independence have still not answered the question on where that money is to be found.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Mundell and Luke Graham

Wednesday 19th June 2019 Commons Chamber

[David Mundell]

I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. Many of the disagreements between the Scottish and UK Governments are over political differences, rooted in the fact that this Government want to respect the outcome of the 2014 independence referendum and the SNP Scottish Government want to have another referendum. They are political disagreements.

[Luke Graham (Ochil and South Perthshire) (Con)]

Will my right hon. Friend confirm that £1.3 billion has been allocated to Scotland through the city and growth deals? Lessons learned through the city and growth programmes are being played into the Union strategy and intergovernmental relations, so we take the positives out of the incredible investment that is coming to Scotland through the UK Government.

[David Mundell]

I have always believed that the city and growth deals are a clear example of the fact that the two Governments can work together constructively for the benefit of the people of Scotland. That is what people in Scotland want to see.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Mundell and Luke Graham

Wednesday 16th January 2019 Commons Chamber

[David Mundell]

Yes, we will continue to engage. The White Paper is part of an engagement process. My hon. Friend, who is a great champion of the fishing industry, has already raised issues in relation not just to fishing vessels, but to fish processing.

[Luke Graham (Ochil and South Perthshire) (Con)]

I welcome this Government’s move to guarantee EU citizens’ rights here in the UK. That is unlike the SNP in 2014, when it threatened EU citizens that 160,000 of them would be stripped of their right to remain in Scotland. No unilateral guarantee was given to EU citizens by the SNP in 2014, but this Government are doing so now. Will my right hon. Friend clarify the direct communications that this Government are having with EU citizens in my constituency and elsewhere in Scotland to ensure that they know that they are a welcome and valued part of our community?

[David Mundell]

The Government are not just engaging with EU citizens, but setting out how they can proceed in the settled status process.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Mundell and Luke Graham

Wednesday 11th July 2018 Commons Chamber

[David Mundell]

My definition of “working closely” is that, when my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and I met Fergus Ewing, the Minister responsible for fishing, at the highland show, it was very cordial.

[Luke Graham (Ochil and South Perthshire) (Con)]

As most people in the House know, the Smith commission will have the cross-party commitment to have more devolution from Edinburgh to local authorities, and not to centralise power. What discussions has my right hon. Friend had with the devolved Administration to ensure that that happens?

[David Mundell]

As my hon. Friend knows, these matters are devolved, but it is a matter of profound disappointment that, rather than devolving powers on within Scotland, the SNP Scottish Government have become one of the most centralised Governments anywhere in the world.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Mundell and Luke Graham

Wednesday 6th June 2018 Commons Chamber

[Luke Graham (Ochil and South Perthshire) (Con)]

8. What steps he has taken to respond to recent concerns on the closure of RBS bank branches in Scotland.

[The Secretary of State for Scotland (David Mundell)]

I have met RBS to discuss its decision and made it clear that its plans are disappointing for customers and communities across Scotland.

[Luke Graham]

Yesterday, I, along with other Members of this House, met representatives from RBS to voice the frustration of our constituents about how they have been treated by RBS. Will my right hon. Friend meet me to see what more can be done to pressure RBS to think again about its branch closure scheme in constituencies such as mine?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Mundell and Luke Graham

Wednesday 25th April 2018 Commons Chamber

[Luke Graham (Ochil and South Perthshire) (Con)]

1. What steps he is taking to strengthen ties between Scotland and the rest of the UK.

[The Secretary of State for Scotland (David Mundell)]

The United Kingdom is the vital Union for Scotland, and this Government will always work to strengthen the integrity of the UK. That includes working closely and constructively with the Scottish Government. But I was disappointed that, unlike the Welsh Government, Nicola Sturgeon has been unwilling to agree our proposed amendments to clause 11 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill. The Welsh Government have said that this is a deal that respects devolution. They have said:

“This is a deal we can work with which has required compromise on both sides.”

I absolutely agree, and I continue to hope that the Scottish Government will join us.

[Luke Graham]

I share my right hon. Friend’s disappointment and surprise that the SNP Administration in Edinburgh have been unable to reach agreement with the Government. I ask him to work with those people in the devolved Government in Edinburgh who are willing to reach agreement to ensure that we put the politics of division behind us and work together so that we can move the conversation on for our constituents.

[David Mundell]

I absolutely agree. I was certainly very disappointed that the Scottish Government, despite sharing the same concerns as the Welsh Government, decided not to agree with this approach. We will of course continue to have a constructive dialogue with the Scottish Government, and I want to put it on the record that Mike Russell, the Scottish Minister, has put a lot of personal effort and commitment into getting this over the line, and I still hope that his Government will join him in reaching that agreement in the coming weeks.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Mundell and Luke Graham

Wednesday 7th March 2018 Commons Chamber

[Paul Masterton (East Renfrewshire) (Con)]

4. What progress the Government have made on their deal for every city in Scotland.

[Luke Graham (Ochil and South Perthshire) (Con)]

7. What progress the Government have made on their plans to deliver a city deal for every city in Scotland.

[The Secretary of State for Scotland (David Mundell)]

The UK Government are either negotiating or implementing a city region deal for all of Scotland’s seven great cities and the regions around them. So far we have committed over £1 billion to this landmark programme, and there is more to come. We are currently negotiating with local partners for both the Stirling and Clackmannanshire and Tay cities deals, and we hope to conclude the heads of agreements in the coming months.

[David Mundell]

I do agree with my hon. Friend about raising those issues with the Glasgow city deal. It is not enough just to sign these deals and to promote them; what we need is delivery, and I will look at the specific issues he has raised.

[Luke Graham]

Will my right hon. Friend help to break the deadlock with the devolved Administration and commit to the amount of money that Westminster is willing to put forward in the Stirling and Clackmannanshire deal, so that Clackmannanshire can realise its true ambition?

[David Mundell]

My hon. Friend has certainly been a strong advocate for Clackmannanshire in this process. I hope to meet the Scottish Government shortly to discuss both this deal and the Tay cities deal, in the hope that the Scottish Government and the UK Government can go forward with local partners in a collaborative way.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Mundell and Luke Graham

Wednesday 25th October 2017 Commons Chamber

[David Mundell]

I very much welcome the contribution to the debate of my hon. Friend’s Committee. Of course, it is very important that there is engagement across Parliaments, and I will be appearing before both the Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Relations Committee and the Finance and Constitution Committee of the Scottish Parliament in the next couple of weeks.

[Luke Graham (Ochil and South Perthshire) (Con)]

My right hon. Friend will be aware that Scotland’s trade with the UK is worth four times as much as its trade with the EU. Does he find it confusing, as my constituents and I do, that the SNP is quite happy for us to stay in one single market, but advocate Scotland leaving the greatest single market right here on its doorstep—the United Kingdom?

[David Mundell]

My hon. Friend makes a good point. It is important that some of the powers and responsibilities that come back from Brussels are subject to UK-wide frameworks so that we can continue to benefit from our internal market in the United Kingdom.