To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Scottish Government has requested that agricultural and fisheries funding not be ringfenced and therefore subject to the Barnett Formula from 2024–25 onwards; and if so, whether they will publish any details relating to this request.

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Scottish Government has requested that agricultural and fisheries funding not be ringfenced and therefore subject to the Barnett Formula from 2024–25 onwards; and if so, whether they will publish any details relating to this request.

Letter dated 12/02/2026 from Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent to Lord Bruce of Bennachie regarding issues raised during the debate on the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 (Carer’s Assistance) (Consequential Modifications) Order 2026: current level of support for carers in Scotland, and funding of support. 2p.

Letter dated 12/02/2026 from Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent to Lord Bruce of Bennachie regarding issues raised during the debate on the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 (Carer’s Assistance) (Consequential Modifications) Order 2026: current level of support for carers in Scotland, and funding of support. 2p.

First, I pay tribute to my hon. Friend’s very passionate advocacy for higher education in Scotland. He will be well aware that the Scottish Government have received an additional £11 billion since the general election, money that could have been spent on Scotland’s world-class universities and colleges, but as a recent Audit Scotland report shows, those institutions have been put under immense stress, with Scottish colleges suffering a 20% cut in real-terms funding since 2021. That is utterly shameful.

First, I pay tribute to my hon. Friend’s very passionate advocacy for higher education in Scotland. He will be well aware that the Scottish Government have received an additional £11 billion since the general election, money that could have been spent on Scotland’s world-class universities and colleges, but as a recent Audit Scotland report shows, those institutions have been put under immense stress, with Scottish colleges suffering a 20% cut in real-terms funding since 2021. That is utterly shameful.

Scotland’s universities have been facing a funding crisis that has been many years in the making. Funding for students in Scottish universities is currently over £2,000 less than it is in England. Universities Scotland yesterday, in response to the SNP Budget, made it clear that it will have little impact on this problem, as

“it does not adequately address”

the situation. No Government in Europe cares less about the education of their young people. Will the Secretary of State or the Minister make time to visit Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh South West to meet the vice-chancellor, Richard Williams, the staff and the students to hear about the impact of this situation?

Scotland’s universities have been facing a funding crisis that has been many years in the making. Funding for students in Scottish universities is currently over £2,000 less than it is in England. Universities Scotland yesterday, in response to the SNP Budget, made it clear that it will have little impact on this problem, as

“it does not adequately address”

the situation. No Government in Europe cares less about the education of their young people. Will the Secretary of State or the Minister make time to visit Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh South West to meet the vice-chancellor, Richard Williams, the staff and the students to hear about the impact of this situation?

I agree with my hon. Friend that Scotland’s young people have been appallingly let down, which is why it is time for a new direction. I would, of course, be delighted to meet him and representatives of Heriot-Watt to discuss Scotland’s desperate need for a new direction.

I agree with my hon. Friend that Scotland’s young people have been appallingly let down, which is why it is time for a new direction. I would, of course, be delighted to meet him and representatives of Heriot-Watt to discuss Scotland’s desperate need for a new direction.

What recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on funding for tertiary education.

What recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on funding for tertiary education.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what is the specific purpose is of the Government's £14.5 million funding for Granngemouth; whether this funding is expected to be allocated to technologies identified in the Project Willow scope; and whether this funding will align with (a) existing Grangemouth investment workstreams...

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what is the specific purpose is of the Government's £14.5 million funding for Granngemouth; whether this funding is expected to be allocated to technologies identified in the Project Willow scope; and whether this funding will align with (a) existing Grangemouth investment workstreams...

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the expected breakdown of the £14.5 million allocated to Grangemouth, including funding for site remediation, feasibility work, infrastructure upgrades, skills programmes, and any other defined purposes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the expected breakdown of the £14.5 million allocated to Grangemouth, including funding for site remediation, feasibility work, infrastructure upgrades, skills programmes, and any other defined purposes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how the £14.5 million announced for Grangemouth at the November 2025 Budget will be allocated; and what project milestones or conditions must be met before funds are released.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how the £14.5 million announced for Grangemouth at the November 2025 Budget will be allocated; and what project milestones or conditions must be met before funds are released.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the impact of the Scottish Government's real terms reduction in College Funding since 2021 to the delivery of the industrial strategy in Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the impact of the Scottish Government's real terms reduction in College Funding since 2021 to the delivery of the industrial strategy in Scotland.

My hon. Friend has mentioned Reform UK, which is apparently a recent convert to devolution. Does it tell us all we need to know about how much it values devolution, Scotland and its future that there is not one Member from that party in the Chamber this afternoon?

My hon. Friend has mentioned Reform UK, which is apparently a recent convert to devolution. Does it tell us all we need to know about how much it values devolution, Scotland and its future that there is not one Member from that party in the Chamber this afternoon?

My hon. Friend makes a very good point. Devolution opened the door for the delivery of good legislation. It was an opportunity for devolved Assemblies and Parliaments, whose politicians were closer to home, to deliver positive change for the people they represented. However, for almost two decades, Scotland has been...

My hon. Friend makes a very good point. Devolution opened the door for the delivery of good legislation. It was an opportunity for devolved Assemblies and Parliaments, whose politicians were closer to home, to deliver positive change for the people they represented. However, for almost two decades, Scotland has been...

My hon. Friend rightly mentions the crucial role that further education plays, both in our communities and in our economy. Does he recognise that the reality is that, in my area, Fife colleges are receiving real-terms cuts from the SNP Scottish Government, whereas colleges in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen are...

My hon. Friend rightly mentions the crucial role that further education plays, both in our communities and in our economy. Does he recognise that the reality is that, in my area, Fife colleges are receiving real-terms cuts from the SNP Scottish Government, whereas colleges in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen are...

The whole further education system across Scotland needs to be looked at rather rapidly. Things are moving quickly, and we are now becoming a skills economy, with skills not just in AI, but in other things. A lot of companies want to move into Scotland, and they want a good,...

The whole further education system across Scotland needs to be looked at rather rapidly. Things are moving quickly, and we are now becoming a skills economy, with skills not just in AI, but in other things. A lot of companies want to move into Scotland, and they want a good,...

I thank the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross (Jamie Stone) for bringing forward this debate, and for the way in which he did so. This is always a useful exercise: let me start off by being consensual. [Interruption.] I know that will astonish my Conservatives colleagues. There...

I thank the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross (Jamie Stone) for bringing forward this debate, and for the way in which he did so. This is always a useful exercise: let me start off by being consensual. [Interruption.] I know that will astonish my Conservatives colleagues. There...

rose—

rose—

I have barely started. Let me make a bit of progress, and maybe I can take the hon. Gentleman’s point shortly.

There is so much that we can learn, and there is always a way to learn. I know from my experiences here that there may be something that this place...

I have barely started. Let me make a bit of progress, and maybe I can take the hon. Gentleman’s point shortly.

There is so much that we can learn, and there is always a way to learn. I know from my experiences here that there may be something that this place...

I want to pick up on the point about working with other parties to get a majority. The first thing that comes to mind is the SNP’s venture with the Scottish Greens after the last election in Scotland. Would the hon. Member reflect on how damaging that was, particularly for...

I want to pick up on the point about working with other parties to get a majority. The first thing that comes to mind is the SNP’s venture with the Scottish Greens after the last election in Scotland. Would the hon. Member reflect on how damaging that was, particularly for...