Wednesday Volume 659 8 May 2019 No. 297 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 8 May 2019 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2019 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 535 8 MAY 2019 536 Pete Wishart: The Secretary of State reinvented history House of Commons at the weekend when he said: “I reject the…myth that people were told they would stay in Wednesday 8 May 2019 the EU if they voted to stay in the UK”. The truth is that Scotland voted to stay within the UK but is being dragged screaming and shouting out of The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock the EU against its national collective will. Better Together in fact said: PRAYERS “What is process for removing our EU citizenship? Voting yes. #scotdecides”. What part of that tweet did he not quite understand? [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] David Mundell: I was inclined to vote for the hon. Gentleman to succeed your good self, Mr Speaker, before that intemperate question, although I note from Oral Answers to Questions his manifesto that he would no longer support independence if he was in your Chair. I would point the hon. Gentleman to the debate SCOTLAND around the EU at the time of the independence referendum, when the former First Minister of Scotland asserted that Scotland would automatically be in the EU as an The Secretary of State was asked— independent country. That statement proved to be false. Leaving the EU: Devolution Settlement Alan Brown: It is because of nonsense like this and Brexit being imposed on Scotland that many Scots now 1. Pete Wishart (Perth and North Perthshire) (SNP): want a say in their future as regards independence. The What recent discussions his Department has had with Secretary of State’s Government accepted the Scottish the Scottish Government on the potential effect on the National party motion on the Claim of Right, which devolution settlement of the UK leaving the EU. states that it is the sovereign right of the Scottish people [910698] to decide their form of government and their constitutional future. Does he still agree with that principle? 2. Alan Brown (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): What recent discussions his Department has had with David Mundell: Of course I agree with that principle, the Scottish Government on the potential effect on the but I would point the hon. Gentleman to the recent opinion devolution settlement of the UK leaving the EU. poll showing that only one in five people in Scotland [910699] want another independence referendum before 2021. 3. Ronnie Cowan (Inverclyde) (SNP): What recent Ronnie Cowan: In the four parliamentary elections in discussions his Department has had with the Scottish Scotland since the 2014 referendum, the people of Scotland Government on the potential effect on the devolution have voted overwhelmingly for pro-independence parties. settlement of the UK leaving the EU. [910700] Will the Secretary of State recognise that mandate and support moves for indyref2? 6. Alison Thewliss (Glasgow Central) (SNP): What recent discussions his Department has had with the Scottish David Mundell: My recollection of the 2017 general Government on the potential effect on the devolution election is that the SNP lost 500,000 votes and 21 seats settlement of the UK leaving the EU. [910704] and came within 600 votes of losing another six. 7. Patrick Grady (Glasgow North) (SNP): What recent Alison Thewliss: During the Scottish Tory conference, discussions his Department has had with the Scottish Ruth Davidson told STV that she was getting ready to Government on the potential effect on the devolution fight an independence referendum. Is there something settlement of the UK leaving the EU. [910706] the Secretary of State would like to tell us? Has the Tory party finally realised that it cannot deny the people of The Secretary of State for Scotland (David Mundell): Scotland their right to have a choice over their own Mr Speaker, may I take this opportunity to mark the future? 20th anniversary of the first elections to the Scottish Parliament? Three current Members of this House were David Mundell: As I myself told that conference, elected to that Parliament back in 1999, including me, there is only one guaranteed way to get an independence but, far more importantly, it is a good time to reflect on referendum off the table and discussion of independence devolution and the potential of the Holyrood Parliament away from the Scottish Parliament, and that is to elect Ruth to improve the lives of the people of Scotland. Davidson as the First Minister of Scotland. [Laughter.] The UK Government, including my Department, continue to engage in frequent and extensive discussions Patrick Grady: It’s comedy hour in the House of with the Scottish Government in a number of forums to Commons. discuss all aspects related to EU exit. Leaving the EU will I am not sure whether the Secretary of State fully of course result in substantially increased powers for recognises the implications of accepting the Claim of the Scottish Parliament. Right, as he did last year. Can he really believe that 537 Oral Answers 8 MAY 2019 Oral Answers 538 20 years after devolution, once the Brexit process is David Mundell: I commend my hon. Friend—as I complete constitutional perfection will have been reached have done previously—for his work on the borderlands on these islands? Is he really channelling Charles Parnell initiative, which demonstrates that in the south of Scotland in reverse and saying to Scotland, “Thus far shalt thou and the north of England, so much more binds us go but no further”? together than drives us apart. The one thing that would be absolutely disastrous for the borderlands area is the David Mundell: I am channelling the Edinburgh introduction of a separate Scottish currency, and my agreement, which said we would have an independence constituents have made it very clear that they do not referendum in 2014 and that both sides would respect want Nicola Sturgeon’s chocolate money. the result. Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) Ross Thomson (Aberdeen South) (Con): As part of (LD): I have the honour to be one of those three people our devolution settlement, air passenger duty was devolved who were first elected to the Scottish Parliament in to the Scottish Parliament by the Scotland Act 2016, 1999, and I am very proud of that. As the Secretary of but yesterday Nicola Sturgeon broke her promise to cut State will recall, during the years that I spent at Holyrood APD. Does my right hon. Friend agree with me and I spent a lot of time arguing for the interests of my business bodies that this tax disproportionately hits constituency, which we often felt was being neglected by Aberdeen and the north-east and that, despite Derek all Governments, including one of my own colour. Mackay trying to blame Westminster, the SNP would Today my constituents still feel that they are being left be better served arguing against this APD U-turn than behind by the Scottish Government, who seem to be arguing for independence? interested only in the central belt. Does the Secretary of State agree that it is crucial for the interests of all parts David Mundell: I certainly agree with my hon. Friend of Scotland to be brought to the fore and acted on that the SNP Government would do better to focus on under devolution? the domestic issues that are important to the people of Scotland rather than on independence. As we reach this David Mundell: I commend the hon. Gentleman and 20th anniversary of devolution, there remains some my right hon. Friend the Member for Wyre and Preston scepticism about the Scottish Parliament, but I remain North (Mr Wallace), the two other Members who were very positive about the Parliament; it is the Government in that first Scottish Parliament back in 1999. I am very in that Parliament who are not delivering for Scotland. aware of the hon. Gentleman’s efforts to promote the highlands in those days. It is a great disappointment to John Lamont (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk) me, given the range of powers that have been devolved (Con): Given the Scottish Government’s failure to take to the Scottish Parliament, that this Scottish Government on the welfare powers that have been devolved under are one of the most centralist Governments in history, the Scotland Act, what confidence has the Secretary of seeking to draw power to the centre rather than to State that they will be able to take on the vast range of devolve it within Scotland. powers that will come to them as we leave the European Union? Stephen Kerr (Stirling) (Con): Now the SNP says that in its independent Scotland we would have a brand-new David Mundell: It is obviously a matter of concern currency. Does the Secretary of State agree that the that welfare powers are being delayed, some of them people of Scotland do not want a bureau de change at until 2024. However, my hon. Friend may not know Berwick, and that the people of Stirling still want to use that this morning Derek Mackay, the Finance Secretary sterling? in the Scottish Government, asked for VAT assignment to be delayed until 2021. It does not seem to me that the David Mundell: I absolutely agree. It is completely Scottish Government are focused on taking on these ridiculous to suggest that my constituents in Annan powers; instead, they are focusing on their independence should use one currency to get the bus to Carlisle and obsession.