Category: Scotland

  • Alister Jack – 2021 Comments on New HMS Belfast

    Alister Jack – 2021 Comments on New HMS Belfast

    The comments made by Alister Jack, the Secretary of State for Scotland, on 29 June 2021.

    Scotland is a world leader in shipbuilding and it’s great to see construction of the British military’s latest warship beginning by the River Clyde in Govan.

    When complete HMS Belfast – and the rest of the seven strong Scottish built Type 26 fleet – will help protect the UK and our NATO allies 24/7. In the meantime the anti-submarine frigate building programme is boosting our country’s prosperity through the investment and skills footprint defence projects bring.

  • Alister Jack – 2021 Comments on Scottish GDP Figures

    Alister Jack – 2021 Comments on Scottish GDP Figures

    The comments made by Alister Jack, the Secretary of State for Scotland, on 23 June 2021.

    The UK Government has taken swift and robust action to deal with the pandemic. We have supported more than 900,000 Scottish jobs, given thousands of businesses vital loans, and VAT cuts have kept firms in the hardest hit sectors afloat.

    On top of this direct support, the Scottish Government has received more than £14.5 billion in additional funding. And the successful UK-Government-funded vaccine programme is giving us optimism for the future.

    We are beginning to emerge from these uncertain times, and three consecutive months of growth is encouraging. But we know we still have a huge amount to do to recover our economy, and that families and businesses across Scotland still need our help.

    A strong and stable recovery is the UK Government’s sole priority. Growth deals across Scotland have seen investment of £1.5 billion and our new UK-wide funding programmes will benefit communities right across the UK.

  • Nicola Sturgeon – 2021 Comments on Rumours Scots Throughout UK Could Vote on Independence

    Nicola Sturgeon – 2021 Comments on Rumours Scots Throughout UK Could Vote on Independence

    The comments made by Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish First Minister, on 21 June 2021.

    I see the anti independence campaign is trying to rig the rules of #indyref2 again (tho in doing so they also concede that it’s going to happen). Maybe they should just argue their case on its merits and allow everyone who lives in Scotland to decide #democracy

  • Drew Hendry – 2021 Speech on the Trade Deal Between the UK and Australia

    Drew Hendry – 2021 Speech on the Trade Deal Between the UK and Australia

    The speech made by Drew Hendry, the SNP MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, in the House of Commons on 17 June 2021.

    I thank the Secretary of State for advance sight of her statement.

    For all the bluster, the Secretary of State knows that any deal with Australia cannot even make a dent in the shortfall created by the trading disaster of leaving the EU. The simple fact is that we are doing much less trade now than we were before 1 January. This deal will take 15 years to deliver one 200th of the benefits lost from EU membership—and that loss has already cost Scotland’s economy around £4 billion and is projected to cost every person £1,600 in red tape and barriers to trade.

    The Secretary of State talks of whisky exports to Australia, while ignoring the fact that the Brexit costs of goods for distilleries have shot up by around 20%, and that is in addition to lost trade. This deal cannot come close to mitigating those costs or loss of sales. Fourteen of Scotland’s food and drink organisations have written to the Secretary of State to say that they have been ignored by this Government. They are Scotland’s farmers, crofters, producers and manufacturers. They know that they are being dragged underwater by yet another Westminster Government who simply do not care. And for what—swimwear?

    In the 1970s, the Tories officially called Scottish fishing expendable, and they repeated that attitude on the way out of the EU. Even the Tories in Scottish constituencies now show the same contempt for Scottish agriculture. They have failed to back any amendments to legislation that would protect UK standards in trade negotiations or even public services.

    Can the Secretary of State guarantee that the deal does not include investor-state dispute settlement mechanisms that could give corporations the right to sue Governments over actions that affect their profits, thereby potentially leading to the privatisation of public services such as the NHS or changes to workers’ rights? How will she guarantee that no cut of hormone-injected beef from Australia or food products treated with pesticides and antibiotics will appear on our supermarket shelves? She cannot, can she? Will she simply duck these questions and prove, once again, that the only way to protect Scotland’s business and consumers is through independence?

  • Tom Arthur – 2021 Comments on Balanced Budget in Scotland

    Tom Arthur – 2021 Comments on Balanced Budget in Scotland

    The comments made by Tom Arthur, the Scottish Public Finance Minister, on 17 June 2021.

    The last year has brought unprecedented challenges to public spending in Scotland. We have made significant investment to protect communities, support health and social care services, including running the largest vaccination programme the country has ever seen, and over £3 billion in support for businesses.

    Despite these challenges, strong financial management has enabled us to deliver a balanced budget whilst investing in the services and support required to help the country get through the pandemic.

    While managing demand-led support schemes and ongoing health demands, we are carrying forward less than 1% of the 2020-21 Scottish Budget, with every penny allocated to support recovery.

    The Scottish Government has repeatedly called on the UK Government to work with us to overhaul the fiscal framework which if reformed, would help us manage budget pressures and further prioritise investment in vital public services.

  • John Swinney – 2021 Comments on the Scottish Coronavirus Act

    John Swinney – 2021 Comments on the Scottish Coronavirus Act

    The comments made by John Swinney, the Deputy First Minister and COVID Recovery Secretary, on 18 June 2021.

    The Scottish Coronavirus Acts contain provisions which make temporary adjustments to respond to the pandemic, and protect the health of people living in Scotland.

    We have already suspended or expired many provisions that are now redundant as restrictions have eased. However, to ensure those still required to protect the public and maintain essential public services can continue beyond 30 September, we have brought legislation forward to enable parliamentary scrutiny before the summer recess.

    This timeframe is necessary to give public services like the courts certainty ahead of the Acts’ original expiry date, taking into account the time needed for this legislation to come into effect.

    We will continue to report to Parliament every two months on the use of these emergency powers, and remain committed to expiring or suspending any provisions that are no longer necessary.

  • Shirley-Anne Somerville – 2021 Comments on the Attainment Scotland Fund

    Shirley-Anne Somerville – 2021 Comments on the Attainment Scotland Fund

    The comments made by Shirley-Anne Somerville, the Scottish Education Secretary, on 19 June 2021.

    Closing the poverty-related attainment gap and ensuring every young person has the chance to fulfil their potential remains central to this Government’s work. Our ambition is a long-term one and we know that the challenges presented by the pandemic mean our efforts to deliver equity in education are more vital than ever.

    This first instalment of the expanded Attainment Scotland Fund, with record funding of more than £215 million, will allow headteachers, schools, councils and other partners to provide targeted help for some of our most disadvantaged pupils.

    We are providing investment across a number of diverse programmes which will benefit looked after children, support pupils in our most deprived areas and empower headteachers to invest their funding on initiatives that are right for the children in their schools.

  • Humza Yousaf – 2021 Comments on NHS Dental Services in Scotland

    Humza Yousaf – 2021 Comments on NHS Dental Services in Scotland

    The comments made by Humza Yousaf, the Scottish Health Minister, on 10 June 2021.

    The remobilisation of the NHS is one of our number one priorities and the Scottish Government remains committed to ensuring that NHS dental services emerge from this pandemic well-placed to care for the oral health of the population.

    This new funding is an important step in ensuring the continued remobilisation of NHS dental services and to ensure more patients can be seen safely. We will also continue to fund free PPE for the dental sector and, from July, we will increase it by up to 50 per cent.

    We are continuing to work with the sector to provide much-needed support to fully remobilise dental services.

  • Humza Yousaf – 2021 Comments on Expanding Vaccine Rollout to International Students

    Humza Yousaf – 2021 Comments on Expanding Vaccine Rollout to International Students

    The comments made by Humza Yousaf, the Scottish Health Secretary, on 11 June 2021.

    There is a huge amount of work going on to ensure that everyone is able to get vaccinated. This is crucial to the success of the programme and our efforts to bring the virus under control.

    Based on the latest data, we estimate there could be around 65,000 international students studying in Scotland in the next academic year. I am pleased to confirm they will be included in our national vaccination programme.

    Of course many will be from countries where there is a mature vaccination system and they will already be fully or partially vaccinated. However, some may not yet have been vaccinated or may still require a second dose and we are currently working with the Universities and Colleges Scotland as well as local health boards to firm up plans for these students.

    We continue to urge everyone to take up their appointment for a vaccine when it is offered and remember the second dose offers greater and longer protection against the virus.

  • Mairi Gougeon – 2021 Comments on the Seafood Industry and Brexit

    Mairi Gougeon – 2021 Comments on the Seafood Industry and Brexit

    The comments made by Mairi Gougeon, the Scottish Rural Affairs Secretary, on 11 June 2021.

    Six months on from Brexit and the seafood sector is still trying to work through the red tape and barriers to trade imposed by a damaging and last minute deal.

    At this crucial point, where we are starting to see some hope of recovery there remains a strong need for a forum where Ministers from the UK and Scottish Governments, and industry, continue working together to minimise the impact of changes to import regulations.

    Given the significance of seafood to our national economy and our coastal communities, we are continuing to do all we can to protect the livelihoods of those working in the industry.

    We have provided support through the Seafood Producers Resilience Fund to more than 800 vessels and 26 aquaculture businesses impacted by COVID-19 and Brexit.

    Funding has also been used to support ports and harbours who have lost landing fees, while welfare advice and Brexit advisers to assist businesses navigate through the new processes have also been made available.