§ 19. Mr. GallowayTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received on the subject of Scottish government; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Allan StewartA range of representations has been received on the subject of Scottish government.
§ Mr. GallowayNow that the Government's risible rump of 10 Scottish Members of Parliament has been reduced to the nefarious nine, and now that the Secretary of State for Scotland arid virtually every one of that nefarious nine trembles on the edge of the abyss of a total 1078 political wipeout in Scotland, will the Government finally see the sense of coming to the negotiating table and talking about Scottish government? If not, how few Tory Members do there need to be in Scotland before it is accepted that the status quo is no longer tenable?
§ Mr. StewartThis Government will fight the next general election as a Conservative and Unionist Government. On the by-elections, Iangbaurgh strongly suggests that the Labour party will not have the chance to implement its half-baked proposals for a Scottish Assembly, as proposed by the Scottish Constitutional Convention—it would increase taxes, be a constitutional impossibility and lead to constant feuding between Westminster and Edinburgh. That is no answer to Scotland's problems or opportunities. Of course, there is a constitutional choice for the people of Scotland—it is between the Union and independence.