Wednesday Volume 619 18 January 2017 No. 93 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 18 January 2017 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2017 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 919 18 JANUARY 2017 920 David Mundell: I do understand the concerns that House of Commons have been raised about jobcentre closures in Glasgow. I have spoken directly with my colleague the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. It is the Government’s Wednesday 18 January 2017 determination to ensure that there will be no change to the level of service offered to the people of Glasgow. As the hon. Lady and other Glasgow Members will The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock know, there is a public consultation for people who have to travel more than 3 miles or for more than 20 minutes, PRAYERS and it is open until 31 January. I encourage all those affected, and all hon. Members with constituencies affected, to take part in it. [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] 13. [908177] Helen Whately (Faversham and Mid Kent) (Con): What progress has been made on transferring further welfare powers to the Scottish Government. Oral Answers to Questions The transfer of significant powers over welfare decisions clearly raises complicated issues, as we have seen over the past few months. Will my right hon. Friend update the House on the recent work of the joint ministerial SCOTLAND working group on welfare and give his assessment of progress? The Secretary of State was asked— David Mundell: That group has played an important Welfare Powers part in establishing the links between the DWP and the Scottish Government. I have been in regular recent contact with Angela Constance, the relevant Minister in 1. Robert Courts (Witney) (Con): What progress has the Scottish Government, about their latest proposals been made on transferring further welfare powers to the on universal credit. Inevitably, the complexity of this Scottish Government. [908165] area means that as the transfer takes place new issues arise that need to be dealt with. The joint ministerial The Secretary of State for Scotland (David Mundell): working group is the ideal place to do that. As this is the Scottish questions immediately preceding Burns night on Wednesday 25 January, may I wish all Mr David Anderson (Blaydon) (Lab): I am sure the those organising Burns suppers or other events in Scotland, whole House will join me in sending our condolences to across the UK, including here in this House of Commons, the family of Canon Kenyon Wright, who, sadly, passed and around the world the very best? Robert Burns’ away last week. He was a principled man whose legacy legacy is as relevant today as ever. should serve as a reminder to all of us that when we The UK Government are committed to a safe and work together it is possible to deliver the impossible. secure transfer of the remaining welfare powers. The This Tory Government are currently moving disabled majority of welfare powers commenced in 2016, and people from the disability living allowance to personal the transfer of the remaining powers will be overseen by independence payments, and it is estimated that the the joint ministerial working group on welfare, which people of Scotland will lose out on £190 million a year will meet again next month. as a result. If that was not bad enough, the Government did this a year ago but they withdrew the timetable and Robert Courts: The Scotland Act 2016 gives the Scottish have not issued a new one. So can the Secretary of State Government powers over benefits in Scotland. Does the please inform the House, and indeed the people of Secretary of State agree that the Scottish Government Scotland, when they can expect to lose out on this must now set out the detail of how they plan to use £190 million a year? those powers to shape Scotland’s welfare system? David Mundell: My hon. Friend is right about that; David Mundell: First, may I welcome the hon. Gentleman the power for the Scottish Parliament to create new back? He was missed at our last Scottish questions, benefits in devolved areas came into force in the autumn, although the hon. Member for Ealing North (Stephen and it now has the power to shape that welfare system Pound) entertained the House—I think I can say that. I as it chooses. Some modest measures have already been knew Canon Kenyon Wright and he was indeed a very announced, but it is time that we hear more about the principled man, with strong personal conviction. He proposals for a new welfare system. A consultation has played a very important part in the constitutional been held and I look forward to hearing the Scottish convention that led to the establishment of the Scottish Government’s response to it. Parliament. As we have seen in the media, he is widely mourned. Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) The hon. Member for Blaydon (Mr Anderson) will (SNP): The fact that the UK Government plan to close know that disability benefits are to be fully devolved to half of Glasgow’s jobcentres without even knowing the the Scottish Parliament, and the funding of those benefits number of affected people is a dereliction of duty. Will was dealt with in the negotiations for the fiscal framework. the Secretary of State commit to having a word with his It is now for the Scottish Government to come forward Cabinet colleagues and getting those plans dropped? with their proposals for disability benefits in Scotland. 921 Oral Answers 18 JANUARY 2017 Oral Answers 922 11. [908175] Mike Freer (Finchley and Golders Green) Agriculture (Con): Does my right hon. Friend agree that we need to hear less from the Scottish Government about the 2. Calum Kerr (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk) powers they want and more about how they are going (SNP): What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues to use the powers we have given them? on support for the Scottish agriculture sector. [908166] David Mundell: My hon. Friend makes a very relevant The Secretary of State for Scotland (David Mundell): point. The hon. Member for Blaydon (Mr Anderson) I regularly meet Cabinet colleagues to discuss a wide referred to personal independence payments, to which, range of matters. I recently met the Secretary of State I know, the Scottish Government are opposed, but I for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to discuss a have no idea what they intend to replace them with, or number of issues relating to the Scottish agriculture on what timetable. sector, and will continue to do so. Angus Robertson (Moray) (SNP): May I begin by Calum Kerr: Last year, the farming Minister told us joining colleagues in paying tribute to Canon Kenyon that there would be an £18 billion Brexit dividend. He Wright? He not only played a significant role in helping said that farmers would continue to get to deliver devolution to Scotland but, of course, in 2014 “as much support—or perhaps even more” supported a yes vote for Scottish independence. after Brexit. Does the Secretary of State agree that it The UK Government are planning to close half the would be unacceptable if funding to Scottish agriculture jobcentres in Glasgow without even knowing the number was cut after 2020? of people who will be affected by such a radical change. Was the Secretary of State consulted in advance of the David Mundell: There is no suggestion that funding closures, and when did he show enough interest to find to Scottish agriculture will be cut, but there is the out which specific locations would face closure? opportunity to move forward from the constraints of the common agricultural policy,which farmers throughout David Mundell: I have taken a very close interest in Scotland have often complained about. We need to this issue and worked closely on it with my colleagues in seize this opportunity to reshape the support for farming the Department for Work and Pensions and the Scottish to make it more effective, but to continue to sustain Government. The Government and I have never suggested those areas of Scottish farming that need sustaining. that the procedures followed during the process have been perfect, but we have put forward a public consultation Sir Gerald Howarth (Aldershot) (Con): My right for people who are affected and will have to travel more hon. Friend is aware that my family are extensive farmers than 3 miles or for more than 20 minutes. I encourage in the Scottish borders. Does he not agree that Brexit everyone involved to take part in the consultation. presents the United Kingdom with a magnificent opportunity to fashion an agriculture policy that is Angus Robertson: The devolution of powers hangs required not by French farmers, but by British farmers, very much together with the hard Brexit plans of the and will he assure the House that hill farmers in Scotland current Government. The Secretary of State has said and elsewhere in the United Kingdom will be given that his role is proper consideration? “to ensure Scotland gets the best possible deal and that deal involves clearly being part of the single market.” David Mundell: I can absolutely give that undertaking. Does he still believe that, or has he changed his mind I hope that, in conjunction with the Scottish Government, after being told what he should say by his Tory bosses in we can move forward to shape a new basis of support London? for Scottish agriculture, especially for those who farm in less-favoured areas.