Adjournment debate on Tuesday, 1 May 2007, in the House of Commons, led by Jim Sheridan. The answering member was David Cairns.

Scotland and the Union

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on the forthcoming elections in Scotland and the future of the United Kingdom.

Secondary information

Type: Parliamentary proceeding
Reference: 459 c400-24WH
Session: 2006-07
Department: Scotland Office; Northern Ireland Office
Chamber / Committee: Westminster Hall
Proceeding contributions: Pete Wishart | 459 c405WH (Link to this contribution) I congratulate the hon. Member for Paisley and Renfrewshire, North (Jim Sheridan) on securing such a...; Baroness Clark of Kilwinning | 459 c405WH (Link to this contribution) Will the hon. Gentleman give way?; Michael Connarty | 459 c404WH (Link to this contribution) On revenue from North sea oil, it is interesting to note that the SNP liked what the Financial Times...; Jim Sheridan | 459 c404-5WH (Link to this contribution) My hon. Friend is absolutely right. To base a whole country’s economy on such a volatile product is ...; Pete Wishart | 459 c405WH (Link to this contribution) I will give way, but I would like to tell Labour Members that I will not be up and down like a jack-...; Baroness Clark of Kilwinning | 459 c405WH (Link to this contribution) The hon. Gentleman is well aware of the fact that I often make very positive contributions. He has a...; Jim Sheridan | 459 c403WH (Link to this contribution) If the SNP wishes to discuss the economics of its policy, it is free to do so, but it should come to...; Baroness Clark of Kilwinning | 459 c403-4WH (Link to this contribution) On the SNP’s policy of introducing a local income tax, does not my hon. Friend think that it is yet ...; Jim Sheridan | 459 c404WH (Link to this contribution) My hon. Friend is correct. It is strange that nationalist policies on transport have changed since t...; Jim Sheridan | 459 c402-3WH (Link to this contribution) The hon. Gentleman makes a valid point, but I think that Mr. Carlyle, like a number of my colleagues...; Pete Wishart | 459 c403WH (Link to this contribution) I do not know whether the hon. Gentleman saw the opinion poll this morning that showed that only 19 ...; Jim Sheridan | 459 c403WH (Link to this contribution) Just because the SNP activists do not believe the figure does not mean that the rest of Scotland doe...; Pete Wishart | 459 c403WH (Link to this contribution) This was 2,000 people.; Pete Wishart | 459 c416WH (Link to this contribution) Will the hon. Lady give way?; Anne Moffat | 459 c416WH (Link to this contribution) Absolutely not. [Interruption.] I do not care; I have no intention of giving way. The SNP has made ...; Peter Atkinson | 459 c416WH (Link to this contribution) (in the Chair): Order. May I remind the hon. Lady that we have to leave adequate time for the windin...; David Mundell | 459 c417WH (Link to this contribution) To take up the thread of the hon. Gentleman’s remarks, and referring to the comments of the hon. Mem...; Alistair Carmichael | 459 c418-9WH (Link to this contribution) We will all sleep much better in our beds knowing that that is not my decision. I say to the hon. Ge...; Anne Moffat | 459 c417WH (Link to this contribution) Quite simply, the reality of life in Scotland today is not some continuing obsession with a border b...; Alistair Carmichael | 459 c417WH (Link to this contribution) I welcome you to the Chair, Mr. Atkinson. I congratulate the hon. Member for Paisley and Renfrewshir...; David Mundell | 459 c419WH (Link to this contribution) We would not have had this problem had the Labour and Liberal Democrat Administration in Edinburgh n...; Jim Sheridan | 459 c419WH (Link to this contribution) The hon. Gentleman seems to be criticising the Labour and Liberal Democrat partnership at Holyrood. ...; David Mundell | 459 c419WH (Link to this contribution) Thank you for calling me, Mr. Atkinson. As a Member whose constituency borders Scotland, you will be...; Jim Hood | 459 c419WH (Link to this contribution) Is it the hon. Gentleman’s case that we would not have had this problem had MPs signed an early-day ...; David Mundell | 459 c419-20WH (Link to this contribution) I have never described colleagues in that way, but there is no doubt that the public perception in S...; Pete Wishart | 459 c420WH (Link to this contribution) If there is dissatisfaction, why are people not clamouring to support the Conservative party in Scot...; David Mundell | 459 c420WH (Link to this contribution) As the Prime Minister once said, the Conservative party in Scotland offers people a third way in the...; John Robertson | 459 c420WH (Link to this contribution) Will the hon. Gentleman give way?; David Mundell | 459 c420WH (Link to this contribution) I have only a short time in which to speak, given how long others have spoken. The Conservatives of...; Alistair Carmichael | 459 c420WH (Link to this contribution) The hon. Gentleman again demonstrates very well the problem that he succinctly highlighted in his me...; David Mundell | 459 c420-1WH (Link to this contribution) Previously, the hon. Gentleman did not wish to predict the outcome of the election. However, it is v...; David Cairns | 459 c421-2WH (Link to this contribution) It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr. Atkinson, in this debate on the Government’s ...; Pete Wishart | 459 c422WH (Link to this contribution) Will the Minister give way?; David Cairns | 459 c422WH (Link to this contribution) No, but I will happily give way to the hon. Gentleman so that he can explain this: why should an ind...; David Cairns | 459 c412WH (Link to this contribution) My hon. Friend has far more knowledge of the EU than virtually any other Member, with the possible e...; Jim Hood | 459 c412WH (Link to this contribution) Not only the French electorate; half of the member states would need referendums. For example, let u...; Pete Wishart | 459 c410-1WH (Link to this contribution) No, I shall not give way as I have done so enough times already. The Union dividend for pensions is...; Jim Hood | 459 c411-2WH (Link to this contribution) I shall try to keep a straight face after listening to that. I pay tribute to my hon. Friend the Me...; Pete Wishart | 459 c410WH (Link to this contribution) No, I will not give way because, as I said, I am trying to make some progress. Let us consider defe...; Sandra Osborne | 459 c410WH (Link to this contribution) Will the hon. Gentleman give way?; Pete Wishart | 459 c410WH (Link to this contribution) I will not give way again as I want to try to make some progress. When Labour Members move away fro...; Alistair Carmichael | 459 c410WH (Link to this contribution) Will the hon. Gentleman give way?; Jim Hood | 459 c413WH (Link to this contribution) That is the whole point of my contribution. It would be impossible. One of my biggest criticisms of...; John Robertson | 459 c413WH (Link to this contribution) I was not planning to intervene because I was hoping to make a speech if I could catch your eye, Mr....; Robert Goodwill | 459 c413WH (Link to this contribution) Speaking as a former deputy leader of the Conservatives in the European Parliament, I can say that a...; David Cairns | 459 c415WH (Link to this contribution) My hon. Friend makes a powerful case. The nationalists have told us that they will bring forward rev...; Anne Moffat | 459 c415-6WH (Link to this contribution) I thank my hon. Friend the Minister for his intervention. One word would characterise the nationalis...; Ann McKechin | 459 c416WH (Link to this contribution) As my hon. Friend will be aware, one of Scotland’s distinct features is our strong system of local g...; Anne Moffat | 459 c416WH (Link to this contribution) Absolutely. I could not have put that better myself. Not content with the unfunded commitments, the ...; Jim Hood | 459 c413WH (Link to this contribution) The prerequisite would be a unanimous vote in the European Council, which would be impossible. A di...; Ann McKechin | 459 c413WH (Link to this contribution) My hon. Friend makes a very serious point about the financial services market. Even worse, if Scotla...; Jim Hood | 459 c413-4WH (Link to this contribution) The point is that an independent Scotland would be leaving its monetary policy to be set by a foreig...; Anne Moffat | 459 c414-5WH (Link to this contribution) I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Paisley and Renfrewshire, North (Jim Sheridan) on secur...; David Cairns | 459 c422WH (Link to this contribution) No answer. Not only is this hour-and-a-half debate a microcosm of the election campaign, but so is t...; Pete Wishart | 459 c422WH (Link to this contribution) Yesterday the Chancellor was in Scotland and he said in a radio interview that he would not be prepa...; David Cairns | 459 c423-4WH (Link to this contribution) And, indeed, Scotstoun; perhaps my hon. Friend will forgive me if I focus on Govan for a second. Loc...; John Robertson | 459 c422WH (Link to this contribution) And Scotstoun.; Jim Sheridan | 459 c401WH (Link to this contribution) The hon. Gentleman makes a valid point. If that were to happen, we would have no more than some sort...; Ian Liddell-Grainger | 459 c401WH (Link to this contribution) The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. Is it not the envy of the world is that the British military...; Jim Sheridan | 459 c400-1WH (Link to this contribution) I am delighted to have secured this debate, particularly at a time when the future of the United Kin...; Jim Sheridan | 459 c401-2WH (Link to this contribution) My hon. Friend is absolutely right. It would be folly for us to even contemplate leaving NATO. We al...; Ann McKechin | 459 c401WH (Link to this contribution) Does my hon. Friend agree that the fact that we are members of NATO gives us great defence security?...; Jim Sheridan | 459 c401WH (Link to this contribution) I doubt whether there would be any aircraft orders in an independent Scotland. Any aircraft that wer...; David Cairns | 459 c401WH (Link to this contribution) My hon. Friend, like me, has many constituents who work in shipbuilding on the Clyde. Would he care ...; Pete Wishart | 459 c406WH (Link to this contribution) I do not doubt the hon. Gentleman’s Scottish credentials, but the question was put to English people...; David Mundell | 459 c406WH (Link to this contribution) Will the hon. Gentleman give way on that point?; Pete Wishart | 459 c405WH (Link to this contribution) I knew that it would be a task too far for the hon. Lady to say something positive, but I commend he...; Ian Liddell-Grainger | 459 c405-6WH (Link to this contribution) I am a Scotsman who represents an English seat in Somerset. I can assure the hon. Gentleman that tha...; Sandra Osborne | 459 c402WH (Link to this contribution) My hon. Friend makes powerful points about the benefits for Scotland of being in the Union in terms ...; Jim Sheridan | 459 c402WH (Link to this contribution) My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Some in the SNP claim to speak for Scotland, but today’s perform...; Robert Goodwill | 459 c402WH (Link to this contribution) I do not know whether the hon. Gentleman heard the actor Robert Carlyle on this morning’s ““Today”” ...; David Cairns | 459 c409WH (Link to this contribution) Will the hon. Gentleman give way?; Pete Wishart | 459 c409WH (Link to this contribution) It is strange that the debate about the future of local government finance has become the predominan...; Pete Wishart | 459 c409-10WH (Link to this contribution) We can have a debate about that if the hon. Gentleman wishes to, but the most important point is the...; Pete Wishart | 459 c409WH (Link to this contribution) I will, of course, give way to my hon. Friend—well I hope that he is.; Alistair Carmichael | 459 c409WH (Link to this contribution) If the hon. Gentleman wishes to put in an application to join my party, it will be considered in due...; Pete Wishart | 459 c409WH (Link to this contribution) In addition to the Scottish people not believing one word that Labour Members say, the second reason...; Pete Wishart | 459 c409WH (Link to this contribution) I will not give way. [Interruption.]; Speaker | 459 c409WH (Link to this contribution) Order.; Pete Wishart | 459 c406WH (Link to this contribution) I might give way later, but I will not give way just now. I want to try to make a bit of progress. [...; David Cairns | 459 c408-9WH (Link to this contribution) The hon. Gentleman is generous in giving way. He spoke about council tax and what he claimed was a m...; David Cairns | 459 c407WH (Link to this contribution) The hon. Gentleman prayed in aid the support of George Mathewson, as his party has done incessantly ...; Pete Wishart | 459 c407-8WH (Link to this contribution) Of course those people are entitled to their opinions, and I hope that they make them clear. We want...; Jim Sheridan | 459 c408WH (Link to this contribution) The hon. Gentleman’s comments are synonymous with exactly how the election campaign is going. Not on...; Pete Wishart | 459 c408WH (Link to this contribution) I do not know whether I am grateful for the hon. Gentleman’s intervention. I assure him that I will ...; David Mundell | 459 c406WH (Link to this contribution) Perhaps the hon. Gentleman could tell us what will happen to the hand of the Liberal Democrats, who ...; Pete Wishart | 459 c406-7WH (Link to this contribution) I have nothing but respect for my Liberal colleagues. I have long been an admirer of their long-stan...; Michael Connarty | 459 c407WH (Link to this contribution) I wish to correct the hon. Gentleman. That was the story reported by the press, but the full stateme...; Pete Wishart | 459 c407WH (Link to this contribution) I am glad that the hon. Gentleman cleared that up. The Prime Minister is in Scotland again today.
Subjects: Devolution Elections Scotland Scottish National Party
Link: View this Parliamentary proceeding on www.publications.parliament.uk

Scotland and the Union

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