🤝 Oral Answers to Questions

• Tribute to Denis Law: The session began with a tribute to the late Scottish football legend Denis Law, acknowledging his contributions to Scottish football and expressing condolences to his family.

• Celebration of Burns Day and Holocaust Memorial Day: The Secretary of State for Scotland wished everyone a happy Burns Day and acknowledged the upcoming Holocaust Memorial Day, reinforcing the country’s commitment to remembrance.

• Economic Initiatives for Scotland: The Scottish Secretary outlined several economic initiatives aimed at growth and opportunity, including the establishment of Great British Energy in Scotland, securing the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, launching “Brand Scotland”, and increasing the state pension.

• Funding for Scotland: It was mentioned that £4.9 billion in additional funding has been allocated to the Scottish Government, fulfilling the Labour Government’s promise to end austerity.

• Collaboration Between UK and Scottish Governments: There was emphasis on the importance of cooperation between the UK and Scottish Governments to address pressing issues such as immigration and demographic challenges, with the Secretary of State meeting regularly with the Deputy First Minister.

• Levelling Up Funds for Drumchapel: £14 million in levelling up funds was allocated to the Drumchapel area in Glasgow, aimed at addressing under-provision and overcrowding in the local health centre.

• Support for the Farming Industry: Discussions with the Scottish Government highlighted ongoing support for the farming industry, with specific mention of the recent Budget providing above-population share funding for agriculture.

• International Promotion of Scotland: The Scotland Office’s “Brand Scotland” initiative focuses on promoting Scottish trade and investment internationally, with recent visits to Norway, Singapore, Malaysia, and planned visits to the US.

• Employment Rights and “Make Work Pay” Initiative: The Employment Rights Bill, part of the “Make Work Pay” initiative, aims to benefit over 100,000 workers in Scotland on zero-hours contracts by improving employment conditions.

• Green Energy and Great British Energy: Scotland’s role in the UK’s goal to become a clean energy superpower by 2030 was emphasized, with Great British Energy set to play a key role, headquartered in Aberdeen.

• Support for Women Pensioners: The government’s commitment to the pension triple lock was highlighted, ensuring pensioners will see increased pensions over the Parliament, despite no commitment to compensation for WASPI women.

• NHS and Waiting Lists in Scotland: Concerns were raised about the crisis in Scotland’s NHS, particularly the long waiting lists, with calls for the Scottish Government to utilize the record funding from the UK Government more effectively.

• Security Concerns on Chinese Investments in Scotland: Discussions on the involvement of Chinese companies in Scottish green energy projects were raised, with calls for ensuring national security and local benefits.

• Educational Initiatives: The Prime Minister discussed the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which includes measures to enhance child protection and support education, though it faced criticism from the opposition.

• Mental Health for Young People: The Prime Minister outlined steps to improve mental health support for children nationwide, including providing access to specialist professionals in schools and establishing Young Futures hubs.

• Public Safety and Police Funding: In response to violent incidents in Luton, there were calls for adequate police funding to enhance local safety, with the government committing to additional resources.

• Defence and Strategic Review: The Prime Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fully fund the strategic defence review and meet the challenges of the modern era.

• Cancer Care: The government aims to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment, investing in surgical hubs and diagnostic scanners to address the previous government’s failings.

• Eating Disorders and Mental Health: Attention was drawn to the need for improved services for people with eating disorders, with a report on enhancing these services set to be published.

• Flood Prevention: Concerns about flooding in Stafford were addressed, with the government committing funds for flood prevention and support for affected communities.

• New Hospital Construction: The government clarified its plan to fund and build new hospitals, including one in Watford, following unfulfilled promises by the previous Conservative government.

The parliamentary session displayed a moderate level of disagreement, earning a rating of 2 out of 5. This level reflects a session where there were instances of disagreement, but these were not pervasive or extremely contentious. The disagreements that occurred were focused primarily on specific policy issues rather than leading to widespread confrontational debates. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the disagreements observed:

1. Agricultural Property Relief Reforms: There was clear disagreement regarding the agricultural property relief reforms and their impact on tenant farmers. Wendy Chamberlain from the Liberal Democrats raised concerns about the reform’s negative effects on tenant farmers, while Kirsty McNeill defended the reforms as providing significant tax relief. This exchange was marked by a direct policy critique and defense, showing a level of disagreement.

   Example: Wendy Chamberlain questioned the reforms’ impact, stating, “My understanding from answers to the questions I have asked is that they do not have the same opportunities to ameliorate the APR changes as others do, and it feels like that cohort has been completely forgotten by the Government.” In response, Kirsty McNeill argued, “These reforms still provide a very significant level of tax relief, with the first £1 million of combined business and agriculture assets continuing to receive 100% relief in most cases.”

2. Great British Energy: Disagreement arose over the Great British Energy initiative, particularly its job creation figures and the initiative’s headquarters location. Andrew Bowie from the Conservative Party criticized the fluctuating job creation numbers and lack of clarity on the company’s operations, whereas Ian Murray defended the initiative as a boon for Scotland and questioned Bowie’s refusal to accept new jobs and industries in his constituency.

   Example: Andrew Bowie challenged, “In Committee in October it was claimed that GB Energy would directly employ 1,000 people; by November, that had fallen to 300 people. What is the figure, what are those jobs, where will they be based and what on earth will GB Energy actually do?” Ian Murray responded by emphasizing the benefits for Scotland and questioning the opposition: “GB Energy is headquartered in Scotland. In fact, it is headquartered in the region that he represents in Scotland, it is capitalised with £125 million and it will bring valuable jobs to his constituency.”

3. Support for Women Pensioners: There was a notable dispute about compensation for women pensioners affected by changes to the state pension age. Kirsty Blackman from the SNP questioned the government’s stance on compensation, while Kirsty McNeill justified the government’s position against it, citing the ombudsman’s findings and the disproportionate cost.

   Example: Kirsty Blackman questioned, “Do the Minister and the Secretary of State agree with Labour MSPs that WASPI women deserve compensation?” Kirsty McNeill responded, “The ombudsman’s findings showed that the vast majority of WASPI women knew that the state pension age was changing. It is therefore difficult to justify up to £10 billion for a compensation scheme and conclude that that is a fair, proportionate and good value-for-money use of public funds.”

These instances of disagreement are specific, focused on policy critiques, and do not escalate into broader confrontations, hence the rating of 2, indicating a session with disagreement present but not overwhelmingly so.