Oral Answers to Questions

Rob Roberts Excerpts

Wednesday 18th May 2022 Commons Chamber

[Rachael Maskell (York Central) (Lab/Co-op)]

7. What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to improve transport connectivity between Scotland and England.

[Rob Roberts (Delyn) (Ind)]

8. What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on improving Union connectivity.

[Dehenna Davison (Bishop Auckland) (Con)]

11. What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on improving Union connectivity.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Jack]

The hon. Lady and I share exactly the same ambition: faster rail to York, which will mean faster rail to Scotland.

[Rob Roberts]

Having spent a wonderful weekend in Glasgow and visited the wonderful Rowallan castle in the constituency of the hon. Member for Kilmarnock and Loudoun (Alan Brown) for a wedding, I completely agree that the scenery and tourism in Scotland should be enjoyed by everybody in the United Kingdom. Can my right hon. Friend confirm what discussions he has had with Ministers in the Department for Transport about enacting all the recommendations in Sir Peter’s review? Can he confirm a timeline for when that might be likely to occur?

[Mr Jack]

The Prime Minister has welcomed—indeed, intends to accept—the proposals for the creation of UKNET, a strategic transport network spanning the entire United Kingdom. The funding that the UK Government have set aside will put us on the right path to developing the best infrastructure investment options to strengthen our main transport arteries for people and businesses across the United Kingdom.

Oral Answers to Questions

Rob Roberts Excerpts

Wednesday 27th January 2021 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Rob Roberts (Delyn) (Con)]

What assessment his Department has made of progress on the roll-out of the covid-19 vaccine in Scotland.

[Antony Higginbotham (Burnley) (Con)]

What assessment his Department has made of progress on the roll-out of the covid-19 vaccine in Scotland.

[The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr Alister Jack)]

The Government are procuring vaccines on behalf of all parts of the United Kingdom and supplying them to the devolved Administrations. It is for the Scottish Government to manage the roll-out of the vaccines in Scotland. However, our British armed forces are supporting the NHS in Scotland in this vital task.

[Rob Roberts [V]]

The vaccine roll-out has been excellent, with the United Kingdom again having among the strongest responses in the world. As there are varying degrees of success in the four different parts of the Union, will my right hon. Friend confirm what discussions he has had with the vaccines Minister—the Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, my hon. Friend the Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Nadhim Zahawi)—in order to guarantee that the four constituent parts of the UK will receive sufficient vaccinations to hit their targets of the first four groups by the middle of February?

[Mr Jack]

The devolved Administrations are receiving their shares of vaccine based on population, and the schedule of deliveries will fully support vaccinations of the first four priority cohorts by 15 February. All parts of the United Kingdom therefore have an equal chance of meeting that mid-February target.