💪 Oral Answers to Questions

• Defence Spending Impact in Scotland:
  • The UK government plans to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP, a move praised for showing Britain’s commitment to defending democracy and supporting European peace.
  • Scotland’s defence industry is expected to benefit, though there are concerns about the Scottish National Party’s (SNP) impact on investment in Scottish defence SMEs, which currently receive only 2.5% of the MoD’s spending.
  • The Secretary of State has been working to enhance Scotland’s defence capabilities and has hosted a defence industry roundtable to discuss opportunities.
• Employment Rights and Education:
  • The Employment Rights Bill aims to significantly upgrade workers’ rights across the UK, including banning zero-hours contracts and improving access to statutory sick pay. This is expected to benefit working women particularly.
  • Concerns were raised about the growing attainment gap in Scottish schools, and the SNP’s education policies were criticized for not prioritizing children’s needs despite additional funding from the UK Government.
  • The importance of apprenticeships in Scotland was highlighted, with calls for the Scottish Government to reform skills policies to boost employment opportunities.
• Economic Growth Initiatives:
  • The Scotland Office is working on driving economic growth through a new industrial strategy, with significant investments like £200 million for Grangemouth and £1.4 billion for local growth projects over the next decade.
  • The Scotch whisky industry’s role in economic growth was acknowledged, with discussions ongoing to ensure its stability.
  • Concerns were expressed about policy changes affecting family businesses, particularly in agriculture, due to changes in business property relief.
• Energy and Industry:
  • Discussion focused on the potential closure of Grangemouth refinery, with commitments to support workers through income guarantees and reskilling opportunities.
  • Scotland’s nuclear policy was debated, with support for nuclear energy to enhance economic and environmental benefits, though the SNP opposes it.
  • The oil and gas sector’s future was highlighted, with the government backing the industry while also pushing towards clean energy by 2030.
• Prime Minister’s Engagements and Statements:
  • The Prime Minister paid tribute to fallen British soldiers, acknowledging their sacrifice in Afghanistan and Iraq.
  • He discussed the Employment Rights Bill as a major step towards economic growth and improving living standards for workers.
  • The PM emphasized the importance of security guarantees for Ukraine, maintaining close ties with the US and Europe to ensure lasting peace.

The parliamentary session displays a moderate level of disagreement, primarily focused on policy critiques and political posturing rather than outright conflict or significant contention. The disagreements are largely centered around economic policies, particularly the impact of changes to employer national insurance contributions, the SNP’s approach to various sectors including education and defense, and international relations involving the US and Ukraine. Despite the criticisms, there are instances of cross-party support and acknowledgment of shared goals, such as the commitment to economic growth and national security. Below are detailed examples and explanations supporting this assessment:

1. Economic Policies and National Insurance Contributions: There is notable disagreement between the Conservative and Labour Parties regarding the impact of the Labour Government’s decision to increase employer national insurance contributions. Conservative MP Harriet Cross directly challenges Labour’s policy, stating it negatively affects businesses, leading to potential job cuts (e.g., ‘In response to my recent business survey, one large business said that it is now looking to cut up to 25 jobs because of the NICs changes’). However, Labour’s response (Kirsty McNeill) defends the policy as necessary for funding public services, suggesting a disagreement but not a deeply hostile one (‘As is so often the case with Conservative Members, they will the ends of the Budget but not the means’).

2. Scottish National Party and Defence: Disagreement is also evident between Labour and the SNP concerning defense policies, particularly regarding the nuclear deterrent and SME investment. Labour’s Ian Murray criticizes the SNP’s approach, claiming it creates a hostile environment for defense SMEs (‘investment in Scotland’s defence SMEs lags far behind that in the rest of the United Kingdom…owing to the hostile environment created by the SNP’). Nevertheless, the critique is part of a broader narrative to champion Scottish defense industries and support from other parties, suggesting a politically motivated disagreement rather than a substantive policy conflict.

3. Education and Attainment Gap: There is a dispute over the handling of education in Scotland, with Labour calling out the SNP for failing to prioritize education and address the growing attainment gap (Dr Scott Arthur’s comments and Kirsty McNeill’s response about the ‘disgraceful’ report). This disagreement is presented within the context of proposed solutions and improvements, indicating disagreements within policy goals but not a polarized conflict.

4. International Relations and Security: The exchange between the Prime Minister and opposition MPs, particularly regarding the UK-US relationship and support for Ukraine, highlights a disagreement on approach but not on the fundamental goal of achieving peace and security. For example, Kemi Badenoch argues about the potential risk of being drawn into conflict and questions the effectiveness of the UK’s diplomacy efforts (‘If British peacekeeping troops in Ukraine were attacked…we could be drawn into conflict with Russia’). The Prime Minister responds by emphasizing the importance of US cooperation for lasting peace, indicating a dispute over strategy rather than objectives.

In summary, while there are clear points of contention and disagreement across various topics, the session’s tone is balanced by acknowledgments of shared aims and instances of cross-party support, leading to a rating of 2 for disagreement.