Wednesday Volume 632 6 December 2017 No. 64 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 6 December 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/. 1013 6 DECEMBER 2017 1014 fact that the Scottish Government, who previously had House of Commons responsibility for the roll-out, are three years behind on rolling out broadband in Scotland, and that is not good Wednesday 6 December 2017 enough for people living in any of Scotland’s local authority areas. The Minister and I believe that local authorities will give greater priority and expertise to The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock this task than the Scottish Government, which is why we are engaging with them. PRAYERS John Stevenson (Carlisle) (Con): Does the Secretary of State agree that the borderlands initiative is a real [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] opportunity to ensure that digital connectivity in that area is greatly improved, which will enhance the economy of the borderlands area? Oral Answers to Questions David Mundell: I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. Connectivity is at the heart of the proposal that the five cross-border local authorities have brought forward in the borderlands package. My hon. Friend will be aware SCOTLAND that the original intention for the roll-out of broadband in Scotland was to focus on the south of Scotland but, The Secretary of State was asked— in their centralising way, the SNP Scottish Government put a stop to that. Superfast Broadband 10. [902724] Ged Killen (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) 1. Tony Lloyd (Rochdale) (Lab): What recent discussions (Lab/Co-op): I echo the Secretary of State’s comments he has had with (a) the Scottish Government and about Jimmy Hood, who will be sadly missed by all on (b) Cabinet colleagues on the roll-out of superfast this side of the House. broadband in Scotland. [902715] Superfast broadband is very important for those who want to access banking. There are now more cash The Secretary of State for Scotland (David Mundell): machines in this House than there are on Cambuslang May I start by paying tribute to Jimmy Hood, who died Main Street in my constituency. What discussions has earlier this week? Jimmy was formerly my neighbouring the Secretary of State had with the Royal Bank of MP and a constituent, and although I have to say that Scotland about its programme of branch closures? we did not agree on very much, we always got on very well. I remain grateful to Jimmy for his help and support David Mundell: I very much accept the point that the when I was first elected to this House. Jimmy would hon. Gentleman makes. It is not good enough for RBS have been proud to see himself as a traditional Labour to say that people can rely on internet and mobile man through and through, a fighter for mining communities banking when so many people in Scotland do not have and mining interests and, obviously, a parliamentarian access to the internet or effective mobile services. When of 28 years’ standing who held many important roles in I meet the Royal Bank tomorrow, I will convey the this Parliament. Our thoughts are with Marion and his concerns—I think from across the House—about its family at this time. programme of closures. I have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues, the UK Minister for Digital and the Scottish Government 12. [902726] Chris Law (Dundee West) (SNP): In an area regarding the roll-out of superfast broadband. Just that is entirely reserved, the UK Government allocation last week, the Minister for Digital met the Scottish of £21 million to Scotland’s R100 programme—the Government’s Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy Reaching 100% programme—is less than the amount and Connectivity to discuss broadband roll-out and the that Devon and Somerset received. Is the Secretary of delays that we have seen from the Scottish Government. State not ashamed that, on his watch, he has allowed Scotland to be so chronically underfunded? Tony Lloyd: May I join the Scottish Secretary in paying tribute to Jimmy Hood? Jimmy was a friend of David Mundell: This is not even about funding; it is mine, and a friend of many of us here. He would have about spending the money and taking action to roll out appreciated my saying that he was a bear of a man, and broadband. Three years ago—I repeat, three years ago— our Parliament was better for him and his kind. there was an allocation of funding, and no action has On broadband roll-out, the Prime Minister recently been taken to procure the roll-out. told the House that the Government intend to work through Scottish local authorities. Will the Secretary of Pete Wishart (Perth and North Perthshire) (SNP): State tell us exactly how he will work with local authorities Does the Secretary of State not think the Scottish to ensure that, as we roll out broadband, it is delivered Conservatives should just stop embarrassing themselves to the homes, communities and businesses that are not on the issue of broadband? Thanks to the added value yet properly connected? of the Scottish Government’s investment, we have the fastest broadband roll-out in the whole of the UK. David Mundell: I thank the hon. Gentleman for that Without that investment, only 41% of premises in my question. The Minister for Digital made it very clear constituency would have access to fibre broadband; that his approach to local authorities was based on the instead, 82% have. In the Secretary of State’s constituency, 1015 Oral Answers 6 DECEMBER 2017 Oral Answers 1016 the figure is 80% instead of 39%. Perhaps the Scottish champion of Labour values and of his community. The Conservatives should avail themselves of Scottish whole House offers condolences to his family and all broadband and google how not to embarrass themselves those who knew him. in this House? The Government claim that Scotland has received an additional £2 billion in the Budget, yet the Fraser of David Mundell: If anyone has embarrassed himself, it Allander Institute says that the revenue budget will be is the Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and about £500 million less in real terms within the next two Connectivity, who sent out 35 tweets to tell people what years. Who are the people of Scotland to believe: this a good job he was doing. The First Minister of Scotland redundant Secretary of State, or a world-renowned sent my hon. Friend the Member for Angus (Kirstene economic think-tank? Will the Financial Secretary address Hair) a seven-tweet thread to tell her what a good job that question directly? she was doing. People up and down Scotland who do not receive adequate broadband services know who is Mel Stride: The figures speak for themselves. As the to blame: the Scottish Government. hon. Gentleman should know—I am sure that he does—by 2020 the block grant to Scotland will be £31.1 billion Revenue Budget before devolutionary adjustments, and that is a simple real-terms increase. 2. Alan Brown (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): Joint Ministerial Committee What discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the effect of the autumn Budget 2017 on 4. Kevin Foster (Torbay) (Con): What progress the the level of Scotland’s revenue budget. [902716] Joint Ministerial Committee (EU Negotiations) is making. [902718] The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mel Stride): The recent Budget shows that we are delivering for 7. David Duguid (Banff and Buchan) (Con): What Scotland, including £347 million in additional resource progress the Joint Ministerial Committee (EU Negotiations) budget as part of £2 billion extra as a result of Barnett is making. [902721] consequentials. The Secretary of State for Scotland (David Mundell): Alan Brown: Under the Secretary of State for Scotland’s The Joint Ministerial Committee (EU Negotiations) watch, Scotland’s revenue budget has been cut by provides a valuable forum for the UK Government and £2.6 billion, including a £200 million cut next year devolved Administrations to discuss EU exit. We took alone. Under this Secretary of State for Scotland, more an important step forward at the last meeting in October than £200 million of common agricultural policy by agreeing a set of principles to govern the consideration convergence funding has been stolen. He also voted of frameworks. Another meeting will be held next Tuesday, against the VAT exemption for police and fire services. and I hope to see significant progress then. Why has the Secretary of State done nothing to prevent those Tory measures? Kevin Foster: I welcome the constructive approach that is being taken to the Joint Ministerial Committee. Mel Stride: The hon. Gentleman suggests that we Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is vital that both have done nothing, but the day before the Budget, that sides keep this up and make real progress on the substance, £347 million of additional resource budget was not so that as we leave the EU we have a stronger Scottish there. That was announced in the Budget statement, Parliament as part of a stronger United Kingdom? along with another £1.7 billion of additional capital to support the businesses and people of Scotland. David Mundell: I agree with my hon. Friend. I look forward to the opportunity to continue the good progress Ross Thomson (Aberdeen South) (Con): I am sure that we are making in our framework discussions, which that Members on both sides of the House appreciate will lead to significantly more powers for Holyrood the role that oil and gas play not just in the north-east while maintaining the integrity of the UK’s internal economy, but in the UK economy.