Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Owen Thompson and Drew Hendry

Wednesday 19th July 2023 Commons Chamber

[Owen Thompson (Midlothian) (SNP)]

1. Whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to regulate the use of artificial intelligence.

[Drew Hendry (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey) (SNP)]

4. Whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to regulate the use of artificial intelligence.

Points of Order

Debate between Owen Thompson and Drew Hendry

Tuesday 17th January 2023 Commons Chamber

[Drew Hendry (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey) (SNP)]

Further to that point of order, Mr Speaker. Can you advise the House on whether there is any precedent for a situation where a Secretary of State turns up at the Dispatch Box without the accompanying information necessary to advise and guide the discussion and debate in a question session? In my experience here since I was elected, that seems to be the way that things are supposed to be done. Is this shambolic behaviour from the Secretary of State for Scotland precedented or unprecedented?

[Owen Thompson (Midlothian) (SNP)]

Further to that point of order, Mr Speaker. I apologise to Mr Deputy Speaker for trying to intervene during the question session. However, this is important, because the statement of reasons is clearly a critical factor in the discussion. We were not able to question the Secretary of State on it after the statement, which he brought to the House. We are going to have a debate, which is encouraging and welcome, but most of us will not have had the chance to see the statement of reasons before it starts. Can you advise us, Mr Speaker, on what further opportunities Members will have beyond this Standing Order No. 24 debate to question the Secretary of State in detail on the statement of reasons, when the Government eventually get around to publishing it?

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme

Debate between Owen Thompson and Drew Hendry

Thursday 5th November 2020 Commons Chamber

[Owen Thompson]

As I say, every business took the decision about why they needed to take a covid loan or a bounce back loan. This is about ensuring that we protect the jobs and security for those businesses going forward, and making sure that our communities are protected.

[Drew Hendry (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey) (SNP)]

My hon. Friend has been making a powerful speech. Does he agree that when businesses across the nations of the UK have not needed public funds, they have returned the money, in their many millions? Would that not be exactly the same circumstances that he would be calling for here?

[Owen Thompson]

Absolutely; I completely agree with my hon. Friend. This is about ensuring the security and the future of thousands of businesses across these islands. It is a bold move—I accept that—but we are in a crisis and bold action is exactly what is needed.