Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with Ministers in the Scottish Government on the economic development of Scotland and steps to attract inward investment to Scotland.
Answered by David Mundell
I have regular discussions with Scottish Government ministers on a wide range of economic issues. At the end of February I was involved in the launch of the Exporting is GREAT road show together with Scotland’s Deputy First Minister John Swinney. Business investment from abroad in the whole of the UK, and what makes the UK the first choice for this investment, is a crucial part of the GREAT campaign. At this event we exchanged several ideas about Scotland’s economic situation during these challenging economic times, and I am committed to continuing that dialogue. On 17 March, I will be joining the First Minister at the SCDI’s Annual Forum which will focus on the future of Scotland’s economy.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many Instant Rewards of what value were given to his Department's officials in each of the last five financial years.
Answered by David Mundell
The following provides information on the number and total value of Instant Rewards given to officials in each of the last five years.
Year | Instant Rewards | Total Value |
2014-15 | 0 | 0 |
2013-14 | 0 | 0 |
2012-13 | 0 | 0 |
2011-12 | 4 | £115 |
2010-11 | 14 | £670 |
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what estimate he has made of the cost of (a) fraud and (b) financial error in his Department in each of the last five years.
Answered by David Mundell
The Scotland Office keeps the risk of fraud and financial error under constant review and is subject to audit by the National Audit Office. There have been no confirmed cases of fraud or known financial errors in the Scotland Office in each of the last five years.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, which external organisations officials in his Department have met to discuss the potential consequences of the UK leaving the EU in each of the last three years; and how many meetings such officials have had with each such organisation.
Answered by David Mundell
Scotland Office officials have not held any such meetings. At the February European Council, the Government negotiated a new settlement, giving the United Kingdom a special status in a reformed European Union. The Government's position, as set out by the Prime Minister to the House on 22 February, is that the UK will be stronger, safer and better off remaining in a reformed EU.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much his Department spent on advertising, marketing and external communications in each year since 2010.
Answered by David Mundell
The Scotland Office spend on advertising, marketing and external communications since 2010-11 is shown below:
| 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | |
| Spend | £7,357 | - | - | - | £41,155 |
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of States for Work and Pensions on the adequacy of advice given to women in Scotland affected by the changes to their state pension age.
Answered by David Mundell
I and my officials have regular engagement with colleagues in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on a range of important matters, including the State Pension.
The Department for Work and Pensions has written to those affected by State Pension age change and who are due to reach State Pension age by 2026, using the address details recorded by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs at the time. The DWP also makes information on State Pension age changes and who they affect available on the Government website at www.gov.uk, including the option to calculate State Pension age.
State Pension age changes are part of a wider package of reforms being implemented by this Government. All women affected by faster equalisation under the Pensions Act 2011 will reach State Pension age after the introduction of the new State Pension. The new State Pension will benefit many women who have been historically worse off under the current system, with 650,000 women receiving £8 more per week (on average) in the first 10 years, due to the new State Pension valuation of their National Insurance record.
Encouraging and enabling those who can work to work for longer is a Government priority. In work, out of work and disability benefits are available for those individuals who are unable to work. Those who have caring responsibilities may be eligible for National Insurance credits towards their State Pension.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, which (a) Ministers and (b) officials of his Department attended the Scottish Steel Task Force meeting on (i) 29 January 2015, (ii) 13 November 2015, (iii) 26 November 2015, (iv) 11 December 2015 and (v) 14 January 2016.
Answered by David Mundell
As the hon Member knows from our discussions on this issue, Scotland Office Ministers have taken a close interest in this matter, including meeting with BIS Ministers to discuss the impact of Tata Steel closures in Scotland. While Scotland Office Ministers have not attended the Taskforce, the Scotland Office has been represented by officials at all of the Scottish Steel Taskforce meetings to date.
In addition, we have worked with BIS colleagues to ensure that Scottish Government officials have been able to fully participate in the three UK working groups, and Scottish Government have been invited to be part of the newly formed Steel Council.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, on what date he last visited a food bank in Scotland.
Answered by David Mundell
I have not visited a food bank in my capacity as Secretary of State for Scotland.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much his Department has spent on (a) taxis, (b) first class train tickets and (c) business class air travel in each year since 2010-11.
Answered by David Mundell
The Scotland Office spend on air, rail and taxi travel since 2010-11 is shown below:
| 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
Air | £73,376 | £141,601 | £171,483 | £131,538 | £158,897 |
Rail | £32,314 | £30,492 | £47,694 | £57,487 | £55,718 |
Taxi | £14,946 | £19,967 | £20,967 | £23,845 | £27,165 |
The Scotland Office does not separately record information and expenditure on first or business class travel. It is Scotland Office policy not to use first or business class travel for officials. All ministerial travel is undertaken by the most efficient and cost effective way, in accordance with the Ministerial Code, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much his Department spent on renovations and repairs to Dover House in each year since 2010-11.
Answered by David Mundell
The Scotland Office spend on Dover House since 2010-11 on renovations and repairs, including planned and preventative maintenance, is shown below:
| 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
Cost (£) | 146,572 | 192,968 | 230,688 | 169,143 | 382,029 |