Wednesday Volume 678 1 July 2020 No. 79 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 1 July 2020 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2020 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 307 1 JULY 2020 308 The Scottish Parliament lacks the powers to properly House of Commons borrow and invest that other tiers of government take for granted. Will the Secretary of State commit to look again at the fiscal framework and giving Scotland the Wednesday 1 July 2020 borrowing and investment powers it needs for the future? The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock Mr Jack: As the hon. Gentleman will know, the fiscal framework is due to be reviewed in 2021. In the interim, PRAYERS we have given huge support to Scotland from the British Exchequer, with £3.8 billion in business support for the [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] covid crisis, and the furlough scheme, which has supported Virtual participation in proceedings commenced almost 800,000 jobs. There is a capital budget for Scotland (Order, 4 June). this year of £5.4 billion, and there is no shortage of [NB: [V] denotes a Member participating virtually.] projects that need to be done, so I ask him to encourage the Scottish Government to get on with them. Oral Answers to Questions Drew Hendry [V]: Some people are facing much more than just a financial meltdown as we emerge from this crisis. A year ago tomorrow, the all-party parliamentary SCOTLAND group on terminal illness published a report on heartless Department for Work and Pensions rules that mean The Secretary of State was asked— terminally ill people can only access fast-track benefits Economic Recovery if they can prove that they have six months or less to live. Under pressure from the APPG, Marie Curie, the Richard Thomson (Gordon) (SNP): What recent Motor Neurone Disease Association and others, this discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Government launched their own review, yet we have Exchequer on the Government’splans to support economic had only silence since. In the meantime, thousands of recovery as the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased. people have died waiting for support. The Scottish [903964] Government have already committed to scrap the arbitrary Drew Hendry (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and six-month rule when they take over the personal Strathspey) (SNP): What recent discussions he has had independence payment, but universal credit and with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the Government’s employment and support allowance are reserved. Will plans to support economic recovery as the covid-19 the Secretary of State urge his colleagues to finally end lockdown restrictions are eased. [903966] this pernicious policy? Janet Daby (Lewisham East) (Lab): What steps he is Mr Jack: As the hon. Gentleman knows, universal taking to support the recovery of the Scottish economy credit support has been increased during the covid as the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased. [903969] crisis, but the point he makes about the last six months of life is one that I would like to raise with the Secretary Margaret Greenwood (Wirral West) (Lab): What of State for Work and Pensions. If he writes to me on assessment he has made of the prospects for the recovery the subject, I would be pleased to push the case for him. of the Scottish economy as the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased. [903971] Janet Daby [V]: Mr Speaker, I do not need to tell you The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr Alister Jack): that Scotland has some of the most beautiful landscapes I would like to take a few moments to pay tribute to across our country. My nephews are Scottish, and like Glasgow’s emergency services for the enormous courage many young people,they rely on the tourism and hospitality they showed in dealing with last week’s shocking knife industry for work. Those industries are likely to take a attack. Our thoughts are with all those who were caught lot longer to recover. What discussions has the Secretary up in that terrible incident. In particular, I know that of State had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the whole House will join me in wishing Constable ensure that businesses and young people employed in David Whyte a speedy recovery from the injuries he those sectors will continue to receive the Government sustained in trying to help others. support they need? I have regular discussions with my Cabinet colleagues, including the Chancellor, on all aspects of the impact of Mr Jack: As the hon. Lady will know, the Chancellor the coronavirus pandemic in Scotland. As we emerge is making a statement a week today.I have had discussions from tackling this global crisis, we are determined to get with him about the support. The furlough will continue Britain’s economy back firing on all cylinders, and as we for another four months, until the end of October, and do, protecting people’s health remains our top priority. there is a variable element to it now, so that people can However, just as we entered lockdown together, the best go back to work part time. The tourism and hospitality way to ensure the recovery of our economy is by working industry will effectively go through three winters unless together across the United Kingdom. we get it up and running this summer. It is deeply regrettable that the First Minister has encouraged reckless Richard Thomson: May I associate myself with the talk. This talk of quarantining people from other parts Secretary of State’s opening remarks? the United Kingdom is disappointing and divisive, and In his insipid word salad of a speech yesterday, the it is not the language we should be hearing from a First Prime Minister committed barely more money to rejuvenate Minister because it undermines the joint efforts we have the British economy post coronavirus than we have made in tackling covid-19, and it is bad for business— committed to refurbishing the Palace of Westminster. especially the tourism business. 309 Oral Answers 1 JULY 2020 Oral Answers 310 Margaret Greenwood [V]: Unemployment very often in the developed world post covid. The response by the causes misery and can lead to a downward spiral of SNP Finance Minister was to reignite the demand for opportunity. With the unemployment rate in Scotland full fiscal autonomy, which would have the effect of the highest in the UK, what steps will the Secretary of creating a multi-billion-pound black hole in Scotland’s State take to protect and create jobs in Scotland? public finances.First, has the Secretary of State undertaken any analysis of the impact that this policy would have Mr Jack: The unemployment rate is going up faster on post-covid recovery in Scotland? Secondly, rather than anywhere else in the United Kingdom, and we are than both Governments playing politics, will he work proving in Scotland to be slower at reopening our collaboratively with the Scottish Government to seek economy—something I regret. It is important that we solutions to the immediate post-covid budget challenges get our economy reopened as quickly as possible, because so that we can save as many jobs, businesses and public that is the best way to save jobs. As I say, we are services as possible? currently supporting almost 800,000 jobs through the self-employment support scheme and through the job Mr Jack: The Scottish Finance Minister, Kate Forbes, retention scheme. It is important that once we get back has questioned the Barnett formula and has raised full to near-normal, our economy bounces back as quickly fiscal autonomy as a preference. I would say to the as possible. The best way to achieve that is to keep people of Scotland that, for £100 of spending per head money in people’s pockets, and the 80% furlough has in England, the Barnett formula guarantees £125 per done just that. head of spending in Scotland. The Barnett formula has produced the extra £3.8 billion of covid support. Last Ian Murray (Edinburgh South) (Lab): I echo the year, the Barnett formula plugged a £12.6 billion deficit Secretary of State’s remarks about our heroes in the in Scotland’s spending. Along with the furlough scheme, public services in Glasgow who responded to the stabbings these things would not have been possible under full last Friday. I am sure that he, and the whole House, fiscal autonomy. In fact, had the Scottish Government would wish to join me in expressing our deepest sympathy imposed that on the Scottish people, I would call it full and all our thoughts to the family and friends of the furlough absence. three-year-old boy who was tragically killed yesterday when a car went out of control and mounted the Mr Speaker: We now go to the SNP spokesperson— pavement in Morningside Road in my constituency—a [Interruption.] Order. Who is clapping? We do not clap. very young life taken far too soon. We want to hear the SNP spokesperson, Mhairi Black. As lockdown measures are eased, some sectors of the Scottish economy, as we have heard, will take much Mhairi Black (Paisley and Renfrewshire South) (SNP) longer than others to return to some sort of normality, [V]: I would like to echo the remarks of the Secretary of particularly tourism, hospitality and the creative industries. State with regard to the events in Glasgow. Our thoughts It is vital that both Governments continue to protect are with all those affected.