Scotland Bill

rose—

Let me progress a little.

Let us not allow bluff and bluster to obscure the fact that there...

Has the Secretary of State seen today’s edition of the Daily Record, in which there is an excelle...

I am afraid that that is the right hon. Gentleman’s interpretation. There is an excellent piece, ...

rose—

Let me continue. We are going to debate the Bill in full. We are going to scrutinise, over four d...

Order. We cannot have argument by gesticulation. The right hon. Member for Gordon (Alex Salmond) ...

I fear there is a lot of cheek still to come.

Over 18 years, the devolution of power and de...

To what extent does the Bill represent a full and final settlement for the future of the United K...

I anticipate that the Bill will be a very stable settlement for Scotland as it was signed up to b...

With reference to the Minister’s comments on responsibility, can he confirm to the House that thi...

In my opening comments, I mentioned that there had been a referendum in Scotland last year in whi...

Can my right hon. Friend confirm that the measures that he is putting forward will make the Scott...

Indeed. I hope these measures will allow the debate to move from process to action and policy, an...

The hon. Member for Dundee East (Stewart Hosie) said that the deficiency of the Bill is that it d...

I think the hon. Gentleman, like me, looks forward to amendments to the Bill being tabled, settin...

With respect—[Interruption.] Actually, I am going to make a point that might be quite positive. W...

I do not believe that there is a Conservative case, or indeed any case, to be made for an outcome...

The SNP accepted the result of the Scottish people but, during the referendum campaign, when Gord...

I have heard the hon. Gentleman make his points before. The facts of the matter are that the SNP ...

Can the Secretary of State outline whether any of the fiscal arrangements that will be changed as...

It will clearly be the case that the Scottish Parliament will have significantly greater powers o...

I will put it the way a Ballymena man would: how much will it affect Northern Ireland?

It will depend on the policies that are pursued in the Scottish Parliament. For example, were my ...

Does my right hon. Friend agree that, at a time when we are devolving more powers to Scotland and...

As my hon. Friend is aware, that proposal was in the Conservative party manifesto and it will be ...

I congratulate the right hon. Gentleman on his new position and on beating off the opposition tha...

Order. Interventions must be brief.

I was intending to cover a number of the points that the hon. Gentleman raises. I have met the Sc...

What, then, is your observation on the fact that an all-party group of the Scottish Parliament, i...

Order. All these things take some acclimatisation, but debate must always go through the Chair. T...

The hon. Gentleman will see that there have been significant changes to the draft Bill—[Interrupt...

I do not think that I have ever seen such a shambling Front-Bench performance. Why does the Secre...

I had thought that being part of a larger number might change the hon. Gentleman’s habits, but he...

Does the Secretary of State fundamentally believe that the decisions of a democratically elected ...

I am sorry that the hon. Gentleman did not hear what I said in response to the hon. Member for Pe...

rose—

I need to make a little progress.

Let me turn to the all-party Smith commission agreement, ...

Does the Minister not agree that the Prime Minister gambled with the Union to sweeten the SNP, an...

I do not quite get the hon. Lady’s multiple metaphors. I am sure that there are some SNP Members ...

I am sure it will not have escaped the Secretary of State’s notice that the five parties that sig...

I have made it clear, and the hon. Lady is aware, that significant changes have been made to the ...

rose—

I have a quote from the current First Minister, so perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will wait unt...

I know that the Secretary of State would never knowingly mislead the House, but earlier he said t...

I do not think the right hon. Gentleman listened to my response, because I made it very clear tha...

The Secretary of State has partially answered my question by saying that he will listen to all an...

This Government are committed to deliver the Smith commission recommendations, and that is what w...

The Secretary of State has now been on his feet for more than half an hour. Will he actually spea...

As you are well aware, Mr Speaker, the hon. Gentleman would have been equally critical of me had ...

I thank my right hon. Friend for taking my intervention. So much of what I am hearing is a lack o...

I very much welcome that contribution, and I hope that that is the spirit in which we can proceed...

Why are the Secretary of State and his party denying the people of England the right to have a co...

We have had a general election in which the issues were debated extensively across the United Kin...

But that does mean that it can in fact be withheld, because a Minister here in Westminster will h...

I do not agree with the hon. Gentleman’s analysis at all. The provision is not even about agreeme...

It is helpful that the Secretary of State has said on the record in this Chamber what the intenti...

There are existing dispute reconciliation mechanisms in the Joint Ministerial Committee. There ha...

Will the Secretary of State give way?

No, I have already taken an intervention from the hon. Gentleman.

Instead of the devolution...

Will my right hon. Friend give way?

No; let me make a little progress.

The devolution of income tax on earnings and the assignm...

May I take the Secretary of State back to the comments made by my hon. Friend the Member for Blay...

I have made my views on a constitutional convention known. Other hon. Members have raised the iss...

The new powers are clear. Is it not time we heard what the SNP will do with the new powers?

I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. As ever, I have been working very closely with the Scotti...

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. There is a rumour sweeping the Benches that Conservative Members...

rose—

Order. I will deal with the right hon. Gentleman first.

I always enjoy the theatrical perfo...

Further to that point of order, Mr Speaker.

I am not sure that a further point of order is required, but let us hear whether the knight has s...

For some reason, my Whips Office has not given me a prompt sheet. [Laughter.]

I think the hon. Gentleman knows the answer to that: they gave up on him some time ago.

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. You are incredibly indulgent.

There have been reports that...

I gather it has been denied. I must say, I would not have lasted long in the House had I been req...

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

The Smith agreement does not stop at powers over tax and welfare. Th...

rose—

I have already taken a small speech from the hon. Gentleman.

The Bill provides the Scottish...

Under the Bill, this Parliament will retain an incredibly broad power to legislate on devolved ma...

The hon. Gentleman will be aware that since the coming into existence of the Scottish Parliament,...

On income tax, what will happen if someone is resident in Scotland but works over the border for ...

That point was debated in full during the passage of the Scotland Act 2012, which introduced the ...

My constituents in England will no doubt be listening to what powers are being devolved, but they...

The hon. Gentleman’s timing is impeccable, because I was just coming on to the so-called fiscal f...

Will the Secretary of State clarify whether the final say on social security levels will rest wit...

The Scottish Parliament will have the capacity to top up welfare benefits. It could be said that ...

Does not the notion of “topping up” benefits suggest that in and of themselves they are deficient...

What I think it suggests is the requirement for responsibility. If the Scottish Government believ...

A few minutes ago, my right hon. Friend described the fiscal framework of the Barnett formula as ...

My hon. Friend is a long-standing critic of the Barnett formula, and I acknowledge the point he m...

The Secretary of State has acknowledged the point, but can he justify why English constituents wi...

I did not know that that was the policy of the Labour party. I had understood that it supported t...

Is not the lesson of the euro that fiscal autonomy needs to go with monetary autonomy, and that i...

That is a very good point and I think my hon. Friend and the right hon. Member for Gordon (Alex S...

The Secretary of State is being remarkably generous in giving way—very much like the SNP is with ...

In relation to matters for which the Scottish Parliament is responsible, it will be the Scottish ...

May I start by offering my congratulations to you, Mr Speaker? This is the first time I have been...

Does the shadow Secretary of State agree that one secret of devolution, and of this kingdom, has ...

I am grateful for the intervention, because the hon. Gentleman is describing devolution—that is h...

I do not want to fall out with my hon. Friend, but it feels like the people of England will not g...

I am grateful for that intervention. The Scottish referendum debate demonstrated that when there ...

On that point, does my hon. Friend think it bizarre that this Government are giving Scotland the ...

I am grateful for my hon. Friend’s intervention, because one key question for the Treasury Minist...

I have been listening carefully to the hon. Gentleman, and he is not saying anything that was not...

If the right hon. Gentleman wishes me to make some progress, I will come on to those very issues....

My hon. Friend is making a very good speech. Will the ability to top up social security payments ...

That goes to the heart of some of the discussions that we will have in this Chamber during the fi...

I am delighted to see that at least my hon. Friend is in his place. Sadly, all too many of our co...

My hon. Friend raises the fundamental principle of nationalist politics. I remember the former Fi...

I would go further than my right hon. Friend the Member for Gordon (Alex Salmond). The result for...

Well, if my mathematics is correct, I have been on my feet for 15 minutes, and it is quite obviou...

The point made by my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent South (Robert Flello) was that if ...

When my hon. Friend made his point about the SNP claiming credit when things go well and blaming ...

Is my hon. Friend not concerned and confused by the fact that the incoherent amendment tabled by ...

Nothing in the amendment addresses the question of full fiscal autonomy, but perhaps during our c...

The SNP remains committed to a situation in which the Scottish Government will have full financia...

Order. I do not have a party and I did not say any of the things that have just been attributed t...

I certainly hope that the hon. Member for Edinburgh East (Tommy Sheppard) becomes a seasoned prac...

Does the hon. Gentleman not agree that this is the place where we hold the UK Government to accou...

We are debating the Scotland Bill on Second Reading, and I am making the Labour party’s position ...

My hon. Friend is making the case for a UK-wide constitutional convention, which is important for...

My hon. Friend is right. Over the past eight years or so we have seen the Scottish Parliament bec...

rose—

Order. The House will be aware that there are a great many colleagues who seek to catch my eye an...

I congratulate my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State not only on his appointment as Secreta...

rose—

I will give way in a moment.

We already have a devolution settlement that is pretty opaque,...

rose—

I will give way to the right hon. Gentleman if he will declare his unwavering and unflinching sup...

I have done that many times. On the subject of the Daily Record, the Prime Minister seemed very h...

I beat the SNP candidate into fourth place—[Hon. Members: “Hear, hear.”]—and Tommy Sheridan into ...

rose—

I have given way to the right hon. Gentleman once already. On the question of taxation—[Interrupt...

The acoustics of the House must require attention. I did, I do and I will continue to call for fu...

I hope that the House noted that the right hon. Gentleman has retreated from full fiscal autonomy...

rose—

The hon. Gentleman will forgive me, but I have given way several times and used up half my time a...

I am pleased to follow the hon. Member for Harwich and North Essex (Mr Jenkin) and his unique job...

If the hon. Gentleman is committed to full fiscal responsibility, why is there no mention of it i...

The hon. Gentleman is usually assiduous in his research on these matters, but he has obviously no...

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

I would like to make a bit of progress, and then I will be delighted to give way to the hon. Gent...

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that the UK Government have met every single deadline imposed durin...

First, to correct the record, the SNP recognises the result of the referendum. We were in favour ...

On the issue of full fiscal responsibility, a lot of the SNP’s economic prospectus was based on a...

How we got on with it is that we won 56 out of 59 seats.

indicated dissent.

The hon. Gentleman shakes his head, but it is a statement of fact. The Scottish National party wo...

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

I would like to make some progress, and then I will give way to the hon. Lady.

I will retur...

As I understand it, the Scottish National party’s position is for full fiscal autonomy. There is ...

That is interesting. A moment ago, Labour Members intervened to say that there was no mention of ...

rose—

I want to make some progress, but I will give way to the hon. Member for Edinburgh South.

To be clear, can the hon. Gentleman confirm that he is saying that the SNP will introduce an amen...

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for letting me intervene in his second speech in this debate....

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

I have taken many interventions, and I will now make progress. There is no doubt that the Bill do...

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

For the second time, I will not. I want to make progress.

Order. The hon. Gentleman is not giving way. We must not waste time arguing about it; there is mu...

Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. The people have spoken, and it is clear that they want more powe...

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

No, I am making progress. The editorial that follows states:

“there are serious concerns th...

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

I want to make some more progress.

This is a cross-party committee and, as its convenor Bru...

rose—

Does the hon. Gentleman agree with his colleagues in the Scottish Parliament that the Smith propo...

I am not giving way at this point.

There was I being hectored and accused of being frit and not taking interventions, but when Membe...

I am very grateful to the hon. Gentleman for giving way on the extremely important issue of a vet...

The key point is that it does not have to be given. The hon. Gentleman will no doubt make contrib...

The hon. Member for North East Somerset (Mr Rees-Mogg) talks about reasonableness, but how on ear...

My hon. Friend makes a very good point. I was struck that the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshir...

Does it follow from what the hon. Gentleman has just said that, if the amendments that SNP Member...

I am not entirely sure whether the hon. Gentleman is suggesting that he and his colleagues should...

I am asking a very simple question about this House. The SNP has won a victory in Scotland and it...

I asked the hon. Gentleman for clarification, but unfortunately he did not give it. There is a ce...

rose—

No. I have given way very generously, both to Labour and to Tory Members, and I will now make som...

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

I am still making progress.

These are matters of substance: shortcomings identified and agr...

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

I am just concluding.

As a recent study by the Economic and Social Research Council has rev...

It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Moray (Angus Robertson), although it would certain...

Will the hon. Gentleman therefore explain why he has taken £254 per household from my constituenc...

I have not taken any money from anyone, or given any money to anyone. The hon. Lady’s constituent...

The hon. Gentleman is knowledgeable about this matter, and he was right to say that no subsidy is...

I recognise that a needs-based assessment —that is, an assessment that will result in public mone...

The hon. Gentleman is making an interesting speech, but at its heart is something of a contradict...

Yes, I am completely aware of that. My point is that the whole settlement will be at risk if it i...

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

No, I will not. I need to make some progress.

It is not right for my constituents to have £...

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

No. I have given way twice, and I need to make some progress.

A needs-based review must be ...

And that would be a step towards full fiscal autonomy.

Indeed. I understand that full fiscal autonomy would take the problem away, which is, of course, ...

As one who has always believed in devolution, I welcome an historic Bill that devolves further po...

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

No, I will not.

The hon. Member for Moray set the tone. We keep hearing from the SNP that i...

Does the hon. Gentleman not accept that the working people of Scotland were consulted on this mat...

I do, and I expect the hon. Gentleman to respect their position in relation to how they voted in ...

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

No, I will carry on.

The important point is that we need a system that is not only fair to ...

My hon. Friend’s point about Newcastle airport could be made equally about Manchester airport and...

We do. I am not holding out a great deal of hope, however, because the Government seem to think t...

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

No, because I only have two or three minutes left.

If the Scottish Government choose to inc...

Thank you for calling me to give my maiden speech to the House, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is a par...

I thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to make my maiden speech and to ...

rose—

Order. The passion of today’s debate has been such that speeches have taken a little longer than ...

It is an honour to follow the maiden speech from the hon. Member for Rutherglen and Hamilton West...

It is a pleasure to follow three exceptionally fine maiden speeches. As convention demands, I sho...

It is an honour to follow the right hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr Carmichael) who, apar...

I totally agree with my hon. Friend. If Scotland has full fiscal responsibility, it can decide wh...

I am grateful to my hon. Friend.

As Conservatives, we believe in responsibility and I belie...

It is an honour to make my maiden speech in this important debate. I spent some time in Scotland ...

It is a pleasure to follow that inspiring speech by my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, Deptf...

Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to speak for the first time in the...

I am very grateful to be able to speak in this important debate. As a Welsh MP from the party of ...

I pay tribute to the hon. Member for Swansea East (Carolyn Harris) for her welcome and expert mai...

It is a huge pleasure to see you in that seat, Madam Deputy Speaker, and I hope that you are ther...

I am grateful for the opportunity to make my maiden speech after the excellent maiden speech by t...

rose—

Order. Before I bring the next speaker in, I am going to raise the time limit to nine minutes.