Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether his Department has made representations to the Clydesdale Bank after that Bank's announcement of 18 January 2017 to close 40 branches in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by David Mundell
While decisions on the opening and closing of individual bank branches are taken by the management of each bank on a commercial basis without intervention from Government, the impact on communities must be understood, considered and mitigated where possible.
The UK Government welcomed the industry-wide Access to Banking protocol announced in March 2015. The Protocol sets out a number of steps a bank must take if it is closing a branch, including establishing the impact of a branch closure before it takes place; finding suitable alternative provision; and putting satisfactory alternative measures in place before a branch is closed. Professor Russell Griggs’ recently published his ‘one year on’ review evaluating the operation of the Protocol to date. The Government is pleased to see that, following the publication of the review, the industry is committing to further improvements to protect those affected by closures.
On 24 January, the UK Government was also pleased to see a new agreement between the Post Office and UK banks which means that many more individuals and businesses can now use 11,600 local Post Office branches to access a wider range of banking services. The Government welcomes these on-going efforts to open up banking services so they are more convenient for everyone that uses them.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, with reference to comments in the Supreme Court's ruling in R (on the application of Miller and another) v Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union on the purpose of the legislative recognition of the Sewel Convention in the Scotland Act 2016 being to entrench it as a convention, if his Department will examine the purpose, validity and legal effectiveness of section 2 of the Scotland Act 2016.
Answered by David Mundell
Section 2 of the Scotland Act 2016 delivers the cross-party Smith Commission Agreement by placing the Sewel Convention on a statutory footing.
The UK Government’s position on the Sewel Convention has not changed since the passage of the Scotland Act 2016.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions his Department has had with the (a) Prime Minister and (b) Ministry of Defence on tests on the UK nuclear deterrent in June 2016; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by David Mundell
I have regular discussions with the Prime Minster and my Cabinet colleagues on a wide range of issues.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the Answer of 14 December 2016 to Question 56916, on what date he was informed of the proposed jobcentre closures in Glasgow planned for 2018.
Answered by David Mundell
I have regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in relation to a wide range of issues affecting Scotland. I met with representatives of DWP in July who provided an overview of DWP’s estates process in general, without detailing specific places.
DWP is currently reviewing its estate strategy on a nationwide basis, to ensure this best meets the current, medium and long-term needs for its business and work. By paying only for the space DWP needs it will help save several millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money.
However, DWP are carrying out local consultation to help inform decisions about additional provision such as outreach services, and prior to implementing any changes in relation to JobCentre Plus offices over three miles or 20 minutes away by public transport in the Glasgow area. This consultation is online and open until 31 January.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on planned jobcentre closures in Glasgow.
Answered by David Mundell
I meet regularly with DWP officials and minsters to discuss a range of issues.
DWP is currently reviewing its estate strategy on a nationwide basis, to ensure this best meets the current, medium and long-term needs for its business and work. By paying only for the space DWP needs it will help save several millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money. Where it makes sense to do so, DWP will continue to make use of opportunities to co-locate to share office space, cut costs and embrace closer working with local authorities and other organisations, meaning customers can access a range of services in one place. These decisions and proposals will help DWP to deliver an estate that meets the needs of customers and Government today, and in the future. DWP will be conducting a public consultation in areas where customers have to travel more than three miles or more than 20 minutes to help inform the final decision and planning on changes to jobcentres in Glasgow.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he was made aware of the proposed jobcentre closures in Glasgow that are planned for 2018 prior to the announcement of such closures on 7 December 2016.
Answered by David Mundell
I meet regularly with DWP officials and minsters to discuss a range of issues.
DWP is currently reviewing its estate strategy on a nationwide basis, to ensure this best meets the current, medium and long-term needs for its business and work. By paying only for the space DWP needs it will help save several millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money. Where it makes sense to do so, DWP will continue to make use of opportunities to co-locate to share office space, cut costs and embrace closer working with local authorities and other organisations, meaning customers can access a range of services in one place. These decisions and proposals will help DWP to deliver an estate that meets the needs of customers and Government today, and in the future. DWP will be conducting a public consultation in areas where customers have to travel more than three miles or more than 20 minutes to help inform the final decision and planning on changes to jobcentres in Glasgow.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether the Government plans to devolve full rail powers to the Scottish Government.
Answered by David Mundell
The Scottish Government is responsible for rail services and infrastructure investment in Scotland. The further devolution of rail powers was not a recommendation of the cross-party Smith Commission agreement.
The UK Government is committed to working closely with the Scottish Government to provide a better railway for passengers.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Department for Transport on devolving full rail powers to the Scottish Government.
Answered by David Mundell
The Scottish Government is responsible for rail services and infrastructure investment in Scotland. The further devolution of rail powers was not a recommendation of the cross-party Smith Commission agreement.
The UK Government is committed to working closely with the Scottish Government to provide a better railway for passengers.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, when Ministers of his Department last met Citizens Advice Scotland; what was discussed at that meeting; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by David Mundell
I last met with Citizens Advice Scotland on 3 August 2015 in Edinburgh, during the passage of the Scotland Bill. My officials in the Scotland Office engage regularly with Citizens Advice Scotland, most recently meeting them at High Riggs Jobcentre Plus in August this year to discuss a range of issues, including the implementation of the new welfare powers in the Scotland Act 2016.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will meet representatives of the Women Against State Pension Inequality campaign.
Answered by David Mundell
I understand that representatives of Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) met earlier this year with the then Minister for Pensions, with whom overall responsibility for this area lies. I also understand that there will be a further meeting between All Party Parliamentary Group representatives and my Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and the Minister for Pensions. As this issue is already being discussed through these appropriate channels, I do not plan to meet with WASPI directly, as Secretary of State, at this time.
Ministers at the Department for Work and Pensions have been clear that the Government will make no further changes to the pension age or pay financial redress in lieu of a pension. The UK Government has committed over £1 billion to ensure that the maximum change to women’s State Pension age was limited to 18 months compared to the previous timetable, and transitional arrangements are already in place for this to take effect.