To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the formal arrangements for liaison between the UK Government and the devolved administration.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the formal arrangements for liaison between the UK Government and the devolved administration.

I want to reassure the right hon. Gentleman that there is no part of the United Kingdom where the Conservatives do not want to be in government. There are some places where the people do not want us to be, but we are out to change their minds.

I want to reassure the right hon. Gentleman that there is no part of the United Kingdom where the Conservatives do not want to be in government. There are some places where the people do not want us to be, but we are out to change their minds.

Indeed I can. That decision was reached after much internal debate in the SNP. It became clear that that Bill did have consequences for Scotland, and not least for the national body representing parole officers, which approached the SNP. That is why we voted on the Bill.

Indeed I can. That decision was reached after much internal debate in the SNP. It became clear that that Bill did have consequences for Scotland, and not least for the national body representing parole officers, which approached the SNP. That is why we voted on the Bill.

The hon. Gentleman perhaps anticipated the nature of my intervention, but the fact is that we are not allowed to ask questions on devolved matters at Scottish questions. We are rigorously controlled by the Table Office if we should choose to attempt to do so. It is still the case...

The hon. Gentleman perhaps anticipated the nature of my intervention, but the fact is that we are not allowed to ask questions on devolved matters at Scottish questions. We are rigorously controlled by the Table Office if we should choose to attempt to do so. It is still the case...

I hope that I can help the hon. Lady. She has strayed into the sphere of taxation and Treasury matters, which would not be affected. Those are United Kingdom matters and would continue to be so.

I hope that I can help the hon. Lady. She has strayed into the sphere of taxation and Treasury matters, which would not be affected. Those are United Kingdom matters and would continue to be so.

I thank you for that, Madam Deputy Speaker. I will return to the Acts of Union referred to earlier; the hon. Member for Edinburgh, North and Leith (Mark Lazarowicz) said that I had not mentioned the Act of Union, so I am mentioning several of them now. In 1801, Ireland...

I thank you for that, Madam Deputy Speaker. I will return to the Acts of Union referred to earlier; the hon. Member for Edinburgh, North and Leith (Mark Lazarowicz) said that I had not mentioned the Act of Union, so I am mentioning several of them now. In 1801, Ireland...

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

I will do so once more, and then I must make some progress.

I will do so once more, and then I must make some progress.

It is because there was a revolution.

It is because there was a revolution.

It certainly does. I will not speak for the hon. Member for Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Mr. MacNeil) as he takes a different view from me on these matters. I support the Union—that is one difference I have with the hon. Gentleman. I believe that the Union has served this...

It certainly does. I will not speak for the hon. Member for Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Mr. MacNeil) as he takes a different view from me on these matters. I support the Union—that is one difference I have with the hon. Gentleman. I believe that the Union has served this...

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for giving way. On the probation service, unless I am wrong—if I am, I am sure that the hon. Member for Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Mr. MacNeil) will correct me—some members of the Scottish National party voted in the Division in question according...

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for giving way. On the probation service, unless I am wrong—if I am, I am sure that the hon. Member for Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Mr. MacNeil) will correct me—some members of the Scottish National party voted in the Division in question according...

Only two communities are mentioned in my constituency name; some Scottish colleagues have many more. The fact that the hon. Member for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale has been elected as a Scottish Member means that the Conservatives now have a putative shadow Secretary of State. That it appears that he...

Only two communities are mentioned in my constituency name; some Scottish colleagues have many more. The fact that the hon. Member for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale has been elected as a Scottish Member means that the Conservatives now have a putative shadow Secretary of State. That it appears that he...

What about Somerton and Frome?

What about Somerton and Frome?

The hon. Gentleman might have exercised just a little patience. I have already accepted that there is an issue. I reject the proposal before us, as I understand he intends to do—because his party has a very important constitutional working party which has yet to determine Conservative policy. We are...

The hon. Gentleman might have exercised just a little patience. I have already accepted that there is an issue. I reject the proposal before us, as I understand he intends to do—because his party has a very important constitutional working party which has yet to determine Conservative policy. We are...

The hon. Gentleman’s point is essentially about what is the right procedure. The leader of his party, the right hon. and learned Member for North-East Fife (Sir Menzies Campbell), has said:"““Once devolution has bedded down…it would make sense to examine the role of Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland MPs at...

The hon. Gentleman’s point is essentially about what is the right procedure. The leader of his party, the right hon. and learned Member for North-East Fife (Sir Menzies Campbell), has said:"““Once devolution has bedded down…it would make sense to examine the role of Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland MPs at...

My Scottish colleague may put me right if I have got that wrong.

My Scottish colleague may put me right if I have got that wrong.

The hon. Gentleman is right, in that there is an element of mythology. However, people see key decisions about social programmes being taken in Scotland by a Scottish Parliament that seem to provide a better arrangement than is being provided for them by a United Kingdom Parliament in our English...

The hon. Gentleman is right, in that there is an element of mythology. However, people see key decisions about social programmes being taken in Scotland by a Scottish Parliament that seem to provide a better arrangement than is being provided for them by a United Kingdom Parliament in our English...

It would lead to a very chaotic period. First, it would lead to numerous tensions and divisions among Members of the Westminster Parliament. Secondly, it would lead to chaotic and unstable government, because the Government formed from the Westminster Parliament would be unable to proceed with their legislative programme. Thirdly,...

It would lead to a very chaotic period. First, it would lead to numerous tensions and divisions among Members of the Westminster Parliament. Secondly, it would lead to chaotic and unstable government, because the Government formed from the Westminster Parliament would be unable to proceed with their legislative programme. Thirdly,...

I agree with my right hon. Friend on that point, but he also said that the Bill would lead inexorably to the establishment of an English Parliament, de facto. Is it not the case that the way in which the Bill would come into effect would lead to much bad...

I agree with my right hon. Friend on that point, but he also said that the Bill would lead inexorably to the establishment of an English Parliament, de facto. Is it not the case that the way in which the Bill would come into effect would lead to much bad...

I am not sure which remarks the hon. Gentleman means, but the surveys, facts and records speak for themselves. A big debate is taking place in England about identity, both Englishness and Britishness, and we need to learn from what is happening north of the border. I see no great...

I am not sure which remarks the hon. Gentleman means, but the surveys, facts and records speak for themselves. A big debate is taking place in England about identity, both Englishness and Britishness, and we need to learn from what is happening north of the border. I see no great...