Speeches by MacDonald.

“Do you think defence bonds, £20 billion of them, are a runner?”

“Minister, there was quite a lot of discussion with Lord Robertson about financing our ambitions for our defence sector. One of the things we talked about the UK joining the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank. What is our current position with that, and is it likely that when you go to Anchorage you might sign on the…”

“The basis of my question—which you have answered to some extent—was that we have heard calls for the UK Government to develop a greater appetite for risk and a willingness to be an anchor customer for start-ups and SMEs. In this inquiry we have heard mention of the policy decision of America, the Federal Acquisition Re…”

“Gentlemen, the MV Alfred, as far as I am aware, was the first time there has been a catamaran. For a long time the ferry operator, whether it is CMAL or you guys, have favoured a mono-hull. I know that MV Alfred is proving very successful. Can you let us know whether you think there is a complete new model for ferries …”

“CMAL and CalMac were separate organisations set up as a result of EU regulations in 2006. Could you let us know whether you think it is still appropriate to have two organisations and what you believe the Scottish Government’s thinking on this is?”

“Mr Sobey, can I just push you on that £100 billion? I was at the presentation where that figure was announced. I wonder if you think it really is a true figure, because the money is from an overseas manufacturer; it is owned by an infrastructure fund or a utility abroad. It is not actually real money being put into the…”

“Mr Sobey, HIE was key in the distribution of the EU money. Is this a subject that comes up with HIE about the non-availability of funds that the EU used to provide?”

“I was going ask about London’s or Westminster’s role in funding transportation, seeing as it is a devolved subject. The more I looked into it, the more I came up with a major issue. After the Brexit vote, the UK Government promised their UK shared prosperity fund would replace EU funding in full. The EU funds provided …”

“Mr de Wolff, what do you think the benefits of making it one organisation would be?”

“As a variation on that question, the Westminster Government are responsible for defence and the security of the UK. Do you think Shetland can make an extra case for funding to Westminster based on, for example, the Greenland Gap or your oil and gas?”

“It is a privilege to serve under your chairship, Mrs Barker. I am grateful to the Backbench Business Committee for affording me the opportunity to make a statement on the publication of the Scottish Affairs Committee’s first report of the Session, on the Government’s clean power 2030 mission. It is a pleasure to speak …”

“I thank the hon. Lady for chairing the Committee—she was the driving force behind the report. The curtailment costs demonstrate quite how meagre the community benefits are. I do not have the curtailment cost figures to hand, but hundreds of millions of pounds are often being paid to utilities and infrastructure funds t…”

“That is a bit of a curveball. That is not something I know anything about. If the Minister is better informed, maybe he can answer.”

“It would have been helpful if the Conservative Government had made it mandatory 12 years ago, but they did not. Although I applaud the Scottish Government for doing so, they should have increased the benefit every year, rather than leaving it at £5,000. The £6,000 figure that they have now come up is completely ridicul…”

“Scotland exports 10 to 12 times more electricity than it needs. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is doing a review of community benefits, and we are very concerned that that review will produce a poor outcome for the people of rural Scotland. Could the Secretary of State make representations on that?”

“Scotland exports 10 to 12 times more electricity than it needs. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is doing a review of community benefits, and we are very concerned that that review will produce a poor outcome for the people of rural Scotland. Could the Secretary of State make representations on that?”

“We are waiting for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to come up with the results of the community benefit consultation. The highlands only got £9 million of community benefit last year, and Scotland as a whole got less than £30 million. There are tens of thousands of jobs in renewables in the highlands, b…”

“May I intervene, please?”

“In my constituency, I am getting a substantial amount of mail in my inbox from people who are glad that the Bill has been turned away. What they really wanted to see was investment in hospices, and there has been remarkably little to move that forward. I suspect if this Government made a major investment in hospices an…”

“Thank you. I have a slightly different question for each of you, but on the same thing. If I could start with you, Councillor Robinson. Looking at the age of your ferries, I understand that a replacement life for a ferry is approximately 25 years, and yet I see that five of yours are 40 years plus, and the youngest is …”