Scotland

In his opening remarks, the Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray, welcomed the new members of Parliament and thanked the former Secretary of State, Sir Alister Jack, for his work. He highlighted the Government's commitment to introducing a new industrial strategy to drive long-term, sustainable growth across Scotland and the UK, in partnership with the Scottish Government. The official opposition, represented by Labour MPs, raised concerns about the need to involve Scotland's universities and higher education institutions in the industrial strategy, as well as the failure of previous governments to deliver a coherent and sustainable strategy for industrial jobs in Scotland. They also expressed worries about the potential job losses at the Mitsubishi Electric plant in Livingston and called for the Secretary of State to meet with the management and workers to discuss support. The debate then covered a range of topics, including the Government's plans to support working people in Scotland, particularly in relation to the mineworkers' pension scheme and the winter fuel payment. The Scottish National Party (SNP) questioned the impact of the UK Government's tax decisions on Scotland's public finances, while the Government argued that the problems were largely of the Scottish Government's own making. The discussion also touched on the relationship between the UK and Scottish Governments, with the Secretary of State emphasizing the importance of resetting the relationship and working together to drive economic growth. The debate explored the impact of the UK's exit from the European Union on the Scottish economy, as well as the Government's plans to support the energy industry in Scotland, including the creation of the new publicly owned clean energy company, GB Energy. Finally, the debate addressed the potential merits of devolving the power to introduce a Scottish work visa scheme to the Scottish Government, with the Government indicating a willingness to work with the Scottish Government on ensuring that immigration and skills policies work for all parts of the UK.