Oral Answers to Questions

Owen Thompson Excerpts

Wednesday 4th November 2015 Commons Chamber

[David Mundell]

As the hon. Gentleman well knows, a statement has been published after each meeting of the Joint Exchequer Committee. I take John Swinney and the Scottish Government at face value—that they want to reach a fair agreement for Scotland. The United Kingdom Government want to reach a fair agreement for Scotland. That is in all our interests and I am confident that that will be achieved.

[Owen Thompson (Midlothian) (SNP)]

4. What recent discussions he has had with Ministers of the Scottish Government on changes to the Scotland Bill.

[Neil Gray (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP)]

11. What recent discussions he has had with Ministers of the Scottish Government on changes to the Scotland Bill.

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

I have regular discussions with the Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, and our officials are in close contact on provisions in the Scotland Bill. I have now tabled changes to strengthen the Bill in delivering the Smith commission agreement in full.

[Owen Thompson]

Having twice failed to acknowledge the question from my right hon. Friend the Member for Moray (Angus Robertson), will the Secretary of State disassociate himself from the financially illiterate comments of his hon. Friend the Member for Harrow East (Bob Blackman) who suggested that Scotland is subsidised? The fiscal framework will allow the Scottish Government the flexibility to pursue separate fiscal policies to those damaging policies progressed by the UK Government, thereby ensuring the highest levels of transparency. Will the Secretary of State provide the House with a timetable for the publication of a draft fiscal framework?

[David Mundell]

Monday’s written statement set out that the fiscal framework agreement is likely to come after the comprehensive spending review and once the draft Scottish Budget has been completed.