Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Oliver Dowden and Luke Graham

Wednesday 23rd October 2019 Commons Chamber

[Giles Watling (Clacton) (Con)]

4. What steps the Government are taking to strengthen the Union.

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

5. What steps the Government are taking to strengthen the Union.

[The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General (Oliver Dowden)]

The Government are committed to strengthening the links between the four nations of the Union. The Prime Minister is taking personal charge, as Minister for the Union, supported by the Cabinet Office. We have boosted spending across the Union, including a further £300 million of new growth deal funding, which will open up opportunities for cities and regions across Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

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[Mr Speaker]

Anybody would think the hon. Member for Clacton (Giles Watling) had once been an actor.

[Luke Graham]

In a week in which we have seen a poll indicate that more voters support independence, threatening to split the Union, can my right hon. Friend tell me what work he is doing to build on the last Administration’s work to get UK Departments engaging with, and getting more of a presence in, the devolved nations?

[Oliver Dowden]

My hon. Friend makes an important point. We have introduced new measures to ensure that the Union and devolved matters are properly considered as part of the process for developing and agreeing Government policy. Lord Dunlop’s independent review of UK Government capability will report in the autumn and make recommendations on how UK Government structures can continue to strengthen the working of the Union.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Oliver Dowden and Luke Graham

Wednesday 27th June 2018 Commons Chamber

[Oliver Dowden]

As ever, the hon. Gentleman makes a rhetorical flourish. Sadly, the facts just do not bear it out. The Government’s code for public appointments is clear that political activity is neither a judgment of merit nor a bar to becoming a political appointee. If he looks at the statistics, he will see that of 1,000 candidates in the past year—2016-17—4.9% were Conservative and 4.8% were Labour.

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

8. What plans he has to mark National Democracy Week.