Wednesday Volume 669 8 January 2020 No. 6 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 8 January 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/. 367 8 JANUARY 2020 368 Tony Lloyd (Rochdale) (Lab): May I also welcome House of Commons you to the Chair, Mr Speaker, and the Secretary of State and the Minister to their positions? Wednesday 8 January 2020 The 2016 framework was established before we knew what the impact of Brexit would be. The world has changed. Consideration will now have to be given to The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock what powers pass from Brussels not just to Whitehall and Westminster but to Holyrood. This gives the Secretary PRAYERS of State an opportunity to reach out, cross-party, and to establish a proper future framework on what powers [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] should rightly be with the Scottish Parliament and Government. He also has to take responsibility for Speaker’s Statement ensuring that a financial package goes with those new powers. Mr Speaker: I remind Members that voting in the election for the Deputy Speakers is taking place today Mr Jack: In the spending round, there is an extra in Committee Room 8 until 1.30 pm. May I also remind £1.2 billion for Scotland. That is quite clear. Discussions Members that the private Members’ Bill ballot book is on frameworks are ongoing and are proving to be open in the No Lobby until the rise of the House? The successful. Not a single power is being taken away from book will be available for Members to sign in the No the Scottish Parliament as we come out of the European Lobby until 6 pm, at which point it will be taken to the Union. If anyone can think of one, they should write Public Bill Office and remain open for signatures until and tell me because,on the contrary,the Scottish Parliament the rise of the House. The ballot draw will be held at will have more powers after we leave the European Union. 9 am tomorrow in the Wilson Room. Fishing Oral Answers to Questions 2. Gillian Keegan (Chichester) (Con): What steps he is taking to support the Scottish fishing industry. [900086] SCOTLAND The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Douglas Ross): This is my first opportunity to say what The Secretary of State was asked— a privilege it is to have been re-elected as the Member of Parliament for Moray, representing my home area, and Fiscal Framework Agreement to now work in the Scotland Office. May I also wish you a very happy new year, Mr Speaker? As we say in 1. Greg Hands (Chelsea and Fulham) (Con): What Scotland, lang may yer lum reek. recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Leaving the European Union will afford the fishing the 2016 fiscal framework agreement between the industry in Scotland, and across the United Kingdom, Government and the Scottish Government. [900085] many opportunities. We will no longer be shackled to The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr Alister Jack): the common fisheries policy, and we will control who I welcome you to your new role, Mr Speaker, and give catches what, where and when in our waters. This you my very best wishes for 2020. Government will work tirelessly to that aim with our fishermen and coastal communities across Scotland. The UK Government continue to work closely with the Scottish Government to implement the fiscal framework Gillian Keegan: I thank my hon. Friend for that agreed in February 2016. I pay tribute to my right hon. answer. It is fantastic to see him in his place and I Friend the Member for Chelsea and Fulham (Greg Hands), congratulate him on his new role. Scotland has a proud who played his part in that agreement. A review of the history of fishing the finest seafood, and the same is arrangements is due in 2021. true of local fishermen in Selsey in my constituency. Greg Hands: I also welcome you to your position, There is great concern, however, that the next generation Mr Speaker, and the new Secretary of State to his. One are not entering the industry, and the situation is made of the interesting features of the negotiations was that more urgent given the growth we expect in UK fishing the venue alternated between London and Edinburgh, once we leave the EU. What discussions has my hon. which might be an idea for other negotiations that are Friend had with colleagues to develop an industry about to start. The fiscal framework, combined with the pipeline for future fishermen and women? Scotland Act 2016, helped create possibly the most powerful devolved Parliament anywhere in the world. Douglas Ross: I accept that for many years, the fishing Could the Secretary of State tell us, however, what the industry has not offered attractive job opportunities for consequences of fiscal devolution have been for Scottish young people in Scotland or across the UK. I strongly taxpayers? believe that when we leave the European Union, there is a bright future for this industry. I hope that that will Mr Jack: My right hon. Friend is absolutely right: encourage more people to look to fishing as an area the Scottish Parliament is the most powerful devolved where they can have a successful career. My hon. Friend Parliament in the world, and with those tax powers it is has been a great champion for the fishing industry in much more accountable than was previously the case. Selsey, and I know that she will continue to promote her However, I regret its decision to make Scotland the constituency and its strong links with the fishing industry most highly taxed part of the United Kingdom. during this Parliament. 369 Oral Answers 8 JANUARY 2020 Oral Answers 370 Angus Brendan MacNeil (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP): was signed by Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon, the When the Minister was a Back Bencher, he understood then deputy leader. The Edinburgh agreement stated full well the need for non-European economic area that both parties would respect the outcome of the crews to come into Scottish waters, particularly on the referendum, and that has not happened. west coast. What will he and his Front-Bench colleagues do to make sure that can happen? Or will they demonstrate Drew Hendry: A good new year to you, Mr Speaker. their powerlessness, ensuring that nothing happens, as The Scottish Secretary has anticipated that the Scottish has been the case for years? Parliament will refuse legislative consent for the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill. He said, Douglas Ross: To prove what will happen, I encourage “that’s something we understand and respect because their position the hon. Gentleman to wait for question 8 from the is that they don’t support Brexit.” hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon), which is When consent is refused today, how will the UK about exactly that. I will answer that point then, and I Government demonstrate that respect? hope that the hon. Member for Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Angus Brendan MacNeil) will be encouraged by the Mr Jack: What we are respecting is the democratic response. outcome of referendums, which the SNP does not respect. The referendum in 2016 was a United Kingdom “Scotland’s Right to Choose” referendum, and we voted to leave the European Union. We are respecting that. Under the Sewel convention, we 3. Chris Law (Dundee West) (SNP): What assessment have provision for what is known as “not normal”. This he has made of the implications for his policies of the is a constitutional matter. Constitutional matters are Scottish Government’s publication entitled “Scotland’s reserved, and they are not normally under the remit of Right to Choose”. [900087] the Scottish Parliament. We are delivering what the 2016 referendum requested us to deliver. 6. Drew Hendry (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey) (SNP): What assessment he has made of Amy Callaghan: This Tory Government are claiming the implications for his policies of the Scottish Government’s that their 43% of the vote in the last general election publication entitled “Scotland’s Right to Choose”. provides them with an overwhelming mandate to implement [900091] Brexit. Can the Secretary of State therefore explain the absolutely blinding contradiction of his own position 7. Amy Callaghan (East Dunbartonshire) (SNP): What when he says that the 45% vote for the SNP, providing assessment he has made of the implications for his 80% of Scottish seats in this very House, does not policies of the Scottish Government’s publication entitled equate to a mandate for the people of Scotland to “Scotland’s Right to Choose”. [900092] choose our own future? 9. Neil Gray (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP): What assessment Mr Jack: It was a referendum three years ago. We are he has made of the implications for his policies of the speaking for the majority of Scots. The majority of Scottish Government’s publication entitled “Scotland’s voters voted in 2016 to leave the European Union. We Right to Choose”. [900095] are respecting that decision, whereas the SNP is not respecting it and wants to tear up the United Kingdom. 13. Kirsty Blackman (Aberdeen North) (SNP): What assessment he has made of the implications for his Neil Gray: The Secretary of State’s performance thus policies of the Scottish Government’s publication entitled far highlights just how untenable the Government’s “Scotland’s Right to Choose”.