Thursday Volume 686 17 December 2020 No. 154 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Thursday 17 December 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/. 365 17 DECEMBER 2020 366 are seeing a rise in support for independence across all House of Commons age groups. The Cabinet Office can hoist as many Union flags as it wants, but what part of “We are Thursday 17 December 2020 leaving” does the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster not understand? The House met at half-past Nine o’clock Michael Gove: Of course, surveys of opinion are always fascinating, but the figures that I am interested PRAYERS in are those which show that the UK Government are spending more per capita in Scotland than they are in other parts of the United Kingdom and that thousands [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] of Scots are now being vaccinated thanks to the efforts Virtual participation in proceedings commenced (Order, of the UK Government. If we look at a map of the 4 June). world to see which countries are having their citizens vaccinated, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and England [NB: [V] denotes a Member participating virtually.] are ahead of the pack: stronger together. Mr Speaker: Can we have the SNP spokesperson, Oral Answers to Questions Pete Wishart? Pete Wishart (Perth and North Perthshire) (SNP): You most certainly can, Mr Speaker, and thank you. CABINET OFFICE I listened carefully to the right hon. Gentleman’s answer, and yes, we are grateful for the vaccine, but I did The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and not hear a response as to why he thinks that Scottish Minister for the Cabinet Office was asked— independence has now become the settled will of the Strengthening the Union Scottish people. This is not like him. He is usually quick to give his views about certain things, so why does he Ben Everitt (Milton Keynes North) (Con): What think that Scottish independence has sustained majority steps the Government are taking to strengthen the support, reaching a height of 58%, and is now the Union. [910429] settled will of the Scottish people? Why is that the case? Douglas Chapman (Dunfermline and West Fife) (SNP): Michael Gove: It is great to have the hon. Gentleman What assessment he has made of the effect of trends in here, live and unplugged, rather than having to rely on a the level of support for Scottish independence on his distant video screen, because his performance is always policies on strengthening the Union. [910453] one that we savour. Sadly, however, I fear that his The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister reliance on opinion polls is no substitute for his aversion for the Cabinet Office (Michael Gove): Mr Speaker, may to hard arguments. Why will he not engage with the I wish you and the whole House a safe and happy facts? The facts show that, in Scotland, per capita Christmas, on this, the last scheduled day of the Session? spending including on our shared NHS is greater as a The Government are committed to protecting and result of the broad shoulders of the UK Treasury. As I promoting the combined strengths of our Union, building pointed out earlier, but as he declined to acknowledge, on 300 years of partnership. It is vital that we continue folk in Scotland are being vaccinated now, thanks to the to work across the UK on the challenges that we all face efforts of the UK Government in a world-leading together, such as our recovery from covid-19, and to programme. I hope that, in the spirit of Christmas, he focus on issues such as protecting jobs and supporting will acknowledge that this is a time for giving, and that the NHS. he will, just once, give the benefit of the doubt to the UK Government. Ben Everitt: I thank my right hon. Friend for that answer. Perhaps he will agree that there can be no better Pete Wishart: I am likely to be the ghost of Christmas example of the strength of our Union and of all four future, because it is not going the right hon. Gentleman’s nations—the awesome foursome—working together than way. Let me try to give him a few reasons. Let us see if the successful funding, deployment, roll-out and creation he agrees with any of these: the disastrous Brexit that of covid-19 vaccines, keeping communities safe across Scotland did not vote for; the attacks on our democracy; all four nations. the undermining of our Parliament; and the Prime Michael Gove: My hon. Friend makes a vital point. Minister—him. Maybe they are some of the reasons Across all four nations of the United Kingdom people that we are now in the lead, but the main one is the are being vaccinated thanks to the energetic efforts of arrogantly Trumpian wayin which the right hon. Gentleman the vaccine taskforce, my right hon. Friend the Secretary says no to a majority in a democracy. Does he think that State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and, constantly saying no to a majority in Scotland will drive of course, our superb NHS. It is a source of particular support for independence down, or will it only further pleasure to me that Scotland is enjoying that vaccine drive support for independence up? thanks to the efforts of the UK Government: proof that our NHS means that we are stronger together. Michael Gove: The Scottish Parliament is enjoying more powers now as a result of our departure from the Douglas Chapman [V]: Today, a poll revealed that European Union. Those powers allow the devolved 58% of Scots would vote for independence. This is the legislature to have its own agriculture and environment 17th consecutive poll to show a positive result and we policy, to supplement the leadership that it has been 367 Oral Answers 17 DECEMBER 2020 Oral Answers 368 showing in other areas. As we move towards the elections Michael Gove: My hon. Friend is right; the Opposition that are coming next year, many people will focus on the party has taken a number of different position on record of the Scottish Government. Of course there are Brexit over the past few months, weeks and perhaps admirable Ministers in the Scottish Government, but even days, but one thing that has never been clear is people will be asking why the UK Government are where exactly its red lines are. Ours are clear: we will responsible for vaccinating people in Scotland and yet always stand up for the United Kingdom. May I also the Scottish Government are responsible for a decline in pay tribute to my hon. Friend for the magnificent way educational achievement in Scotland’s schools and a in which she stood up for our coastal communities and growing divide between the well-off and less well-off. fishing sector? Outside the common fisheries policy Social justice matters, and that is why, in the forthcoming they will prosper, thanks to her. Scottish parliamentary elections, the Scottish Conservatives will be making gains at the hon. Gentleman’s expense. Sally-Ann Hart: Fishing is reportedly a sticking point in the negotiations. My local fishermen in Hastings and UK-EU Negotiations Rye need to have faith that this Conservative Government will not sacrifice them, as previous Governments have, for free trade with the EU. Can I be confident in Dehenna Davison (Bishop Auckland) (Con): What reassuring them that this Government will provide the recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of basis for trust to be restored and built upon? negotiations on the UK’s future relationship with the EU. [910431] Michael Gove: Yes; my hon. Friend does an excellent job in standing up for her constituents in Hastings and Mrs Sheryll Murray (South East Cornwall) (Con): Rye. The fishermen she represents so effectively know What recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness that we, as an independent coastal state, will be in of negotiations on the UK’s future relationship with control of our waters at the end of the transition the EU. [910433] period. Of course we want to make sure that we manage shared stocks in an appropriate way with all of our Sally-Ann Hart (Hastings and Rye) (Con): What neighbours, including those outside the EU, but as an recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of independent coastal state we are in control. negotiations on the UK’s future relationship with the EU. [910443] Hilary Benn (Leeds Central) (Lab): We all wish the negotiators well in this final stage, as they demonstrate The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister that sharing sovereignty—gaining benefits by accepting for the Cabinet Office (Michael Gove): With your obligations—is what will be required in order to reach permission, Mr Speaker, I will take questions 5, 6 and 7 the agreement that the Government say they want and together, because they are such good questions. They which we all want. Can the right hon. Gentleman tell really are superb questions, and it is only right that they the House whether the legislation that will be required be taken together, in a one-er, in a group, as a collective. to give effect to any agreement will need to pass all of its Intensive talks are ongoing, with both negotiating teams stages in Parliament by 31 December this year in order working day and night to reach a deal.