Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Scotland Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Tom Greatrex Excerpts
Wednesday 20th June 2012

(11 years, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Mundell Portrait David Mundell
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Ministers both here in the UK Government and in the Scottish Government will have heard the comments of my hon. Friend, who is a respected contributor on such matters.

Tom Greatrex Portrait Tom Greatrex (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (Lab/Co-op)
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11. What plans he has to mark the bicentenary of Dr David Livingstone’s birth in March 2013.

David Mundell Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (David Mundell)
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I have met representatives of the Scotland-Malawi partnership to discuss the best way for the UK Government to mark this bicentenary. The Scotland Office will hold a commemorative event at Dover house. My officials will work with other interested parties to ensure that this anniversary is celebrated across the UK.

Tom Greatrex Portrait Tom Greatrex
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I thank the Minister for his reply. Will he join me in supporting my invitation to the President of Malawi, Joyce Banda, to visit the UK during the bicentenary and as part of that visit to come to Blantyre, Lanarkshire, in my constituency?

David Mundell Portrait David Mundell
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I commend the hon. Gentleman for the role he has played in promoting the David Livingstone bicentenary, which has great resonance in his constituency. Yes, the Scotland Office will work with him and others to encourage the President of Malawi to come to Scotland.