Speeches by Alexander.

“We certainly with earnest endeavour sought to do so and, you are right, I led the Internal Market Act review. Let us start with the policy and then come to the process. How do you balance—as someone deeply committed to devolution—the policy space for decision making under a devolved framework of power, with the reality…”

“Sure.”

“I do not have the exact number of hotels in Scotland, but as I say, the bulk of the asylum seekers presently in Scotland are housed in Glasgow in a range of accommodation.”

“Yes.”

“There are now fewer hotels than there were. The peak under our predecessors was about 400 asylum hotels and that is now down to about 200. We have returned about 35,000 people with no right to be in the United Kingdom, but essentially the processing under our predecessors simply collapsed. In that sense of course we ne…”

“First, thank you for the question. Let me deal with the question in two ways. First, on the process of engagement, I spoke to colleagues in my own party in a highlands and islands conference at the weekend and was able to share with them some of the information on what contact the UK Government had. Given the sensitivi…”

“Notwithstanding the fact that we are proud of that record, it is worth recognising there are occasions where, at the request of different Governments, last minute changes are required. For example, on the Bus Services Act the Scottish Government made a late-stage request to extend non-zero emission bus provisions to al…”

“You are absolutely right to recognise that on occasion the nature of the demands of the legislative scrutiny and parliamentary timetables means that short notice consideration is sometimes unavoidable. I feel that we have had a pretty effective record on LCMs to date of securing those consents, and that stands in a gre…”

“Not least because he has just turned up, let me say that I always agree with my boss. The reality is that we are clear and unequivocal that we do not want the break-up of the United Kingdom. As Scots, we made our choice in 2014, and that was for a better future within the United Kingdom.”

“I sense that it might be myself. We would take seriously any SNP majority, but if the SNP is returned to office, I hope it will do better than it has done over the past 18 years. I assure the hon. Gentleman that we on the Government Benches are not anticipating defeat; we are working for victory.”

“Returning to the Dispatch Box as the Secretary of State for Scotland, I think it is striking that the SNP’s answers are no better than they were in 2017, 2014 or 2021. I simply ask: what is its policy on a Scottish currency? What is its policy on foreign reserves? What is its position on a Scottish pension? It is no be…”

“I am a great fan of Para Handy, the Vital Spark and the Waverley, but I would not want to offer them in the face of Vladimir Putin as an approach to Euro-Atlantic security. The reality is that we have student gesture politics from the Scottish National party. I met with the major defence companies in Greenock last Frid…”

“Well, Mr Speaker, the quality of the SNP’s contributions does not seem to have improved since 2007, and neither has its arguments. In the face of failing schools and hospitals, and the inability to build ferries in the hon. Gentleman’s own constituency, what do we see? Once again, dreary documents about independence. T…”

“As my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland made clear, we have committed £5.2 billion to the Scottish Government this year—the largest settlement in the 25 years of devolution. There is a very basic question that we Scots are asking: “Where’s the money gone, John?” The reality is that our…”

“I was elected on a very clear manifesto, which made clear that this UK Labour Government do not support independence or another referendum. If, after 18 years, the SNP is not prepared to run on its record, that begs the question: what kind of record have they left, after 18 years in power? Behind the smokescreen it has…”

“The good news is that those in receipt of pension credit that tops them up to a minimum weekly income will continue to receive the discount automatically. The scheme is opening again this month; anyone who thinks they may be eligible, in Glasgow or elsewhere across Scotland, should contact their energy supplier.”

“Communities can feel tangible benefits, but those community benefits are largely voluntary at the moment. The hon. Gentleman makes an important point, however; that is why this Government are considering mandating the provision of community benefit funds for low-carbon energy infrastructure across the United Kingdom. W…”

“This Government are taking action to support vulnerable families this winter, including by expanding the warm home discount scheme, which means that more than 500,000 households now benefit from that £150 payment—one in five Scottish households.”

“I gently remind the shadow Secretary of State that there is a difference between abuse and argument, and in relation to his substantive arguments, of course I am happy to be Scotland’s voice at the Cabinet table. That is why only next week I will be meeting a range of energy companies based in Aberdeen and listening di…”

“Where to begin? We have a Government that have invested in GB Energy and that have a transition fund up against an Opposition that abjectly failed in their responsibilities towards the North sea. We just heard from my hon. Friend the Member for Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Torcuil Crichton) that 77,000 jobs were lost. That is…”