Oral Answers to Questions

Paul Bristow Excerpts

Wednesday 1st July 2020 Commons Chamber

[Miss Sarah Dines (Derbyshire Dales) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to strengthen the Union.

[Paul Bristow (Peterborough) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to strengthen the Union.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Iain Stewart)]

The Government have always stressed the importance of the Union, and the current crisis demonstrates the value in responding collectively. We have world-leading expertise and the economic strength to support jobs and business with generous financial packages. It is the strength of our Union that will enable us to rebuild our economy quickly and fairly.

--- Later in debate ---

[Iain Stewart]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right to highlight these figures. We do not need the barriers and division that separation would bring, nor do we need the reckless talk of effectively closing the border when tourism in Scotland needs all the help it can get.

[Paul Bristow]

I welcome the Scottish Government’s decision to put off their preparations for a second Scottish referendum on independence while dealing with the coronavirus. Does the Minister agree that, once this pandemic is over, those plans will still be unnecessary and still be unwanted by the people of Scotland?

[Iain Stewart]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right: the last thing Scotland needs is the uncertainty and division that another referendum would bring.