Working for Scotland in partnership - George Foulkes

29 Jan 2001

The Government will work in partnership with the Scottish Government to deliver a fairer more just Scotland within a strong and dynamic modern economy, that was the message delivered today by Scotland Office Minister, George Foulkes.

In his first speech as Minister of State at the Scotland Office, Mr Foulkes explained the continuing role of MPs and Scotland Office Ministers in the UK Parliament and Government, and how a strong partnership between the Parliaments delivers benefits for the people of Scotland.

Addressing the Hansard Society Scottish Conference in Edinburgh Mr Foulkes said:

"The Hansard Society has the objective of promoting effective parliamentary democracy. That same objective lay at the heart of this Government’s determination to establish the Scottish Parliament and the devolved assemblies in Wales and Northern Ireland, by taking government closer to the people.

"Let me say that there have never been two more committed supporters of devolution than Helen Liddell and myself. The Scottish Parliament now exists after many years of campaigning, 35 in my own case, after detailed consideration by the Constitutional Convention, involving representatives from different political parties and all sections of Scottish society; and, above all, after receiving the overwhelming support of the Scottish people in the Referendum

"We should all therefore recognise we have a responsibility, even a duty, to do everything we can to make the settlement work. It is naïve to imagine that the biggest constitutional change in the United Kingdom for 300 years could be achieved without teething troubles. In some ways it is remarkable there are so few.

"It will inevitably take some time for politicians, media and the public, both north and south of the border, to recognise that devolution means decisions may be different in Scotland from the rest of the UK, recognising different priorities.

"The Scotland Office and its Ministers continue the long tradition of representing Scots interests at the heart of the government of the United Kingdom.

"A whole range of vitally important matters are reserved to the UK Government and UK Parliament - issues like employment, fiscal, monetary and economic policy, benefits and pensions, defence, foreign affairs and international development, energy policy and telecommunications. These are issues that really matter to the people of Scotland. They involve direct spending by the UK Government in Scotland, which is roughly equal to total spending by the Scottish Government.

"Having an effective Scottish voice in the heart of the UK Government and MPs to represent Scottish views and interests in Parliament is every bit as vital now as it was prior to devolution.

"Ultimately, however, it is the delivery of results for the people of Scotland which is the measure of success. In less than four years the government, working in partnership for the last eighteen months with the Scottish Parliament, has made major advances:

  • all 5.1 million residents in Scotland will benefit from the £2.4 billion boost to Scottish public services provided in last year’s Budget and the £3.4 billion of new money to be spent in Scotland provided in the Spending Review for 2000.
  • 108,000 families across Scotland, including 67,900 lone parents, are receiving Working Families Tax Credit. Families on Working Families Tax Credit receive, on average, £30 per week more than under the Family Credit system it replaced.
  • Over 160,000 pensioners in Scotland will benefit from the increase in April in the Minimum Income Guarantee, which directly helps poorer pensioners. This will rise to £92.15 for a single person and £140.55 for a couple. The winter fuel payment of £200, doubled since last winter, is helping around 1 million Scots
  • Through running anfficient economy, and special measures such as the New Deal, we have slashed unemployment. Youth unemployment has been cut by nearly 80 per cent since 1997 and over 30,000 young people have found jobs through the New Deal
  • Nearly 110,000 people in Scotland have benefited from the introduction of the national minimum wage
  • Personal tax and benefit measures introduced in this Parliament will lift more than 1 million children out of poverty – 100,000 of them in Scotland.

"Devolution is about decentralisation of power, not separation. The two administrations and Parliaments are responsible for different but complementary areas of policy. Through partnership between the Parliaments we are delivering for the people of Scotland."

NOTES FOR NEWS EDITORS

  1. The Hansard Society conference is part of its Scottish Parliament Programme. It was held at the MacDonald Holyrood Hotel in Edinburgh.
  2. George Foulkes was appointed Minister of State at the Scotland Office by the Prime Minister on Thursday 25 January.