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Wednesday Volume 644 11 July 2018 No. 170 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 11 July 2018 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2018 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 949 11 JULY 2018 950 Stephen Kerr (Stirling) (Con): In November,the Secretary House of Commons of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy announced a review of how the UK and Scottish Wednesday 11 July 2018 Governments could work more closely to support business in Scotland as part of the modern industrial strategy. Will my hon. Friend update the House on the progress The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock of that review? PRAYERS Stuart Andrew: My hon. Friend is absolutely right that an important part of delivering this industrial strategy is the UK and Scottish Governments working [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] collaboratively.My right hon. Friend the Business Secretary gave evidence to the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee in April, and he has also hosted a roundtable Oral Answers to Questions with the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, so a lot is going on. SCOTLAND Lesley Laird (Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath) (Lab): As a football fan, I wish England good luck tonight in their semi-final. Although 1966 may have been a very good The Secretary of State was asked— year, 1967 was even better. Industrial Strategy In 1999 it was a Labour Secretary of State for Scotland who stood up for Scottish shipyards and ensured that 1. John Howell (Henley) (Con): What steps the the contract for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary was given to Government are taking to ensure that Scotland benefits the shipyards in Govan. Roll forward to 2018 and the fully from the industrial strategy. [906297] contract for the fleet solid support ships is out for The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales tender. Analysis by the GMB shows a direct tax and (Stuart Andrew): The industrial strategy is a strategy for national insurance benefit and return to the Treasury of the whole UK and will bring significant opportunities £285 million, but so far,the current Conservative Secretary for Scotland. We are working with businesses, universities of State has refused to stand up for Scottish shipyards. I and business groups across Scotland to seize those therefore ask him a very straightforward question: why opportunities. In line with devolution, the Scottish not? Government, of course, hold many of the levers to Stuart Andrew: As someone who was born in Wales, boost and support the growth that we hope the strategy who now lives in England and whose father and family will bring. come from Scotland, I join the hon. Lady in wishing the John Howell: Earlier this year, the Secretary of State English team every success today. for International Trade launched a drive to attract more I do not accept the hon. Lady’s premise that my right than £2 billion of investment into Scottish companies hon. Friend the Secretary of State is not fighting for as part of the modern industrial strategy. Does my hon. shipbuilding in this country. Our warships, which are Friend welcome the Government’s efforts to boost exports being built in the UK, are securing 4,000 jobs and and to ensure that the benefits of free trade are spread 20 years of work on the Clyde, and the British industry right across the UK? is preparing to bid for a new Type 31 class. We want all British yards to take part in the latest applications for Stuart Andrew: I agree with my hon. Friend. Driving the new contracts, and we hope that they are successful. investment is one of the key ways we will deliver the industrial strategy, which will bring the benefits we Lesley Laird: I am disappointed that the Secretary of want to see for Scotland. This pro-investment approach State did not reply for himself, which answers my question will see a truly global Britain hopefully becoming a about why he is not standing up for Scotland. leading place for people to invest. Without the fleet solid support ships contract, Rosyth Mr Speaker: I call Angus Brendan MacNeil. will be struggling for work and thousands will be worse off as a result. Labour’s Opposition day debate today Angus Brendan MacNeil (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) will call on the Government to build these ships in the indicated dissent. UK—build them here. The Government have a majority of 13, and there are 13 Scottish Tory MPs. Will this Mr Speaker: The hon. Gentleman is gesticulating finally be the issue on which Scottish Tories stand up from a sedentary position in respect to some other for Scotland? Will they and the Secretary of State back question that we have not reached, but might, and on the motion, and will the Secretary of State encourage which he may or may not be called. his other Westminster colleagues to do the same? Build Alan Brown (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): What them in Britain. is the Secretary of State doing to argue that Scotland should be able to bid for onshore wind in contract for Stuart Andrew: Our Scottish Conservative MPs work difference auctions? day in, day out, not just for their constituencies, but for Scotland as a whole, and I am very proud of the work Stuart Andrew: As the hon. Gentleman will know, they do—they really are a formidable team. Last year, there will be an announcement shortly. Of course, my we unveiled an ambitious new national shipbuilding right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has many meetings strategy, which met the challenge set by the independent with his Cabinet colleagues to discuss such issues. Sir John Parker, who said: 951 Oral Answers 11 JULY 2018 Oral Answers 952 “I am very impressed by the courage that the Secretary of State Hannah Bardell: I hear that the Secretary of State has has shown—and the Government—in adopting my recommendations, been going about boasting that he is the longest serving which were very extensive”. member of Cabinet in role, but it seems odd that being That shows that we are behind the shipbuilding industry. invisible and ineffective has been rewarded. He has failed to represent and respect the democratic will of European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018: the Scottish Parliament. He has failed to speak up for Legislative Consent Scotland in the Cabinet and failed to meet his promise to debate devolution in the Commons. When will he accept those failures and resign? 2. Angela Crawley (Lanark and Hamilton East) (SNP): What recent discussions he has had with the (a) Scottish David Mundell: Goodness—the hon. Lady did not Government and (b) Prime Minister on the Scottish get a chance in the debate last week, so she just reheats Parliament’s decision not to grant a legislative consent the same old stuff. At the heart of this is the fact that motion for the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. the SNP does not accept and does not like the [906298] representations I make on behalf of Scotland, which are about keeping Scotland in the United Kingdom. 9. Joanna Cherry (Edinburgh South West) (SNP): What recent discussions he has had with the (a) Scottish Mr Steve Baker (Wycombe) (Con): Over the past Government and (b) Prime Minister on the Scottish year, it has been a huge privilege to work closely with Parliament’s decision not to grant a legislative consent my right hon. Friend on this issue. Does he agree that motion for the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. the ludicrous theatrics of the nationalist party are a [906305] disservice to the people of not only Scotland, but the whole United Kingdom, because of the detrimental 10. Hannah Bardell (Livingston) (SNP): What recent effect they had on the passage of the EU withdrawal discussions he has had with the (a) Scottish Government Act? and (b) Prime Minister on the Scottish Parliament’s decision not to grant a legislative consent motion for David Mundell: I commend my hon. Friend for his the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. [906308] efforts as a Minister. He was one of the hardest working Ministers I have ever encountered, and I absolutely The Secretary of State for Scotland (David Mundell): agree with what he said. Although there are people in The Joint Ministerial Committee (European Negotiations) this Chamber who have their differences on Brexit, the met last Thursday and the Prime Minister was fully SNP is not interested in Brexit—Brexit has been weaponised briefed on the outcome. purely to take forward the cause of independence and have another independence referendum. Angela Crawley: After repeated exclusion from Brexit discussions, the Secretary of State was finally allowed a Mr Alister Jack (Dumfries and Galloway) (Con): place at the table at Chequers last week. How did he use Will my right hon. Friend reassure my constituents that that time to speak up for Scotland? What representations the 2018 Act will not remove any of the Scottish did he make on behalf of the Scottish Parliament, given Parliament’s current powers? the majority vote to withhold legislative consent? David Mundell: I can absolutely do that. We have heard repeatedly from the SNP about a power grab, but David Mundell: The hon. Lady is conflating a number when Nicola Sturgeon reshuffled her Cabinet, she needed of issues, but what I can confirm to her is, as I discussed more Ministers because of the powers and responsibilities with Mr Russell last Thursday, that the Scottish that the Scottish Government were taking on.