Speeches by Alexander.

“I am always happy to make representations to colleagues within Government—of course, the Energy Minister is a fellow Scot, representing a Scottish constituency. I know this has been a matter of long-standing concern for the hon. Gentleman, and if he wants to write to me, I will make sure I take it up with the Energy Mi…”

“The UK Government’s £50 million Scottish defence growth deal is a true step change for Scotland’s industrial base. It will support jobs, skills and regional growth. The deal includes £10 million for innovation facilities, both on the Clyde and in Rosyth. Where the SNP will not back Scottish industry, young people or ou…”

“I thank the hon. Gentleman for his concern. I can assure him that on Monday morning, from my desk in the Scotland Office, I met officials from the Foreign Office when I first had word that there were concerns about the electronic system for travel authorisation and the visa requirements. On Monday afternoon, I met the …”

“The hon. Gentleman is going to have to do better than that. That was a meeting facilitated, attended and minuted by officials in the Department for Business and Trade. If he were actually aware, he would know that the Prime Minister has already stated that I have “acted appropriately” and no further action is needed, n…”

“There is no more doughty defender of, or advocate for, the Navantia yard than my hon. Friend. I was delighted to visit the yard with my hon. Friend a few weeks ago, and I congratulate the workforce on completing the Seahorse pontoon ahead of schedule. Having visited the yard, I have seen at first hand the expertise and…”

“The hon. Gentleman is full of beans—that is obviously what you get with three coffee machines. [Hon. Members: “More!”] He really has to do a whole lot better than his pathetic attempts at smears.”

“None.”

“Very good; I think the First Minister would probably bring the coffee with him, if he was willing to accept the invitation. The hon. Gentleman makes a serious point. I wrote to the First Minister congratulating him on his recent success and inviting him to meet, but no acceptance was forthcoming. That was exactly the s…”

“My hon. Friend brings long and valuable experience in both of Scotland’s Parliaments to her understanding of these issues. In 2014, there was an agreement across all parties and across civic society in Scotland that there should be a referendum. There is simply no such consensus today. This is not the time for the SNP’…”

“Yes.”

“I have ongoing discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the oil and gas sector’s future in Scotland, focusing on ensuring that our oil and gas workers have a future as part of our transition to clean energy. Indeed, the Chancellor and I met oil and gas sector leaders earlier this year.”

“It seems to have slipped the hon. Lady’s mind that the energy profits levy was introduced by the previous Conservative Government. It also seems to have slipped her mind that fully a third of the jobs in the North sea were lost during the Conservative Government’s time in office. They failed time and time again to come…”

“Committee rose.”

“The hon. Gentleman is full of beans—that is obviously what you get with three coffee machines. [Hon. Members: “More!”] He really has to do a whole lot better than his pathetic attempts at smears.”

“I assure my hon. Friend that, together with officials, I am actively engaged in efforts to secure the future of the Grangemouth industrial cluster, and I was central to the UK Government’s commitment of £120 million last December to secure the future of the wider site. In December last year, funding of up to £3 million…”

“The hon. Gentleman is going to have to do better than that. That was a meeting facilitated, attended and minuted by officials in the Department for Business and Trade. If he were actually aware, he would know that the Prime Minister has already stated that I have “acted appropriately” and no further action is needed, n…”

“I thank the hon. Gentleman for his concern. I can assure him that on Monday morning, from my desk in the Scotland Office, I met officials from the Foreign Office when I first had word that there were concerns about the electronic system for travel authorisation and the visa requirements. On Monday afternoon, I met the …”

“History did not begin in July 2024. The hon. Gentleman can run, but he cannot hide from his record: 70,000 jobs lost in the North sea under the Conservatives, the energy profits levy introduced by the Conservatives, and zero plans for the North sea under the Conservatives.”

“May I pay generous tribute to my hon. Friend for her tireless efforts on behalf of her constituents in relation to the challenge faced by the Mossmorran workforce? She has been a powerful and consistent advocate for the workforce and for the changes that we needed to see. That is why I am proud that the UK Government h…”

“I respectfully point out that it was the Conservative Government who introduced the EPL. Why did they do so? They did it in order to deal with excess profits generated by a geopolitical crisis. The conflict in the middle east that we are living through at the moment makes the case for dealing with excess profits from s…”