§ 7. Mr. Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow)If he will list the matters in respect of which he has a shared role with the First Minister and the Scottish Executive. [91604]
§ The Secretary of State for Scotland (Dr. John Reid)My role is quite distinct from that of the First Minister and the Scottish Executive. My main responsibilities are to represent Scottish interests in reserved areas within the Government and to promote the devolution settlement to Scotland. In doing so, I am responsible to this Parliament. What I share with the First Minister is a common interest in promoting the well-being of Scotland within the UK.
§ Mr. DalyellIn respect of the fire service—a part of the shared role—what response is there to the concerns of the Edinburgh fire master, Colin Cranston, about the future of progression core training at the fire service college at Moreton-in-Marsh?
§ Dr. ReidAs my hon. Friend will know, the future of the fire service college is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department. However, he will take full account of the views expressed in the context of the prior options review of the college at Moreton-in-Marsh. I shall ensure that my hon. Friend's views and those of the fire master are passed on to the Home Secretary. I would not want the West 113 Moreton-in-Marsh question to become a running sore in this Parliament; I will therefore act on my hon. Friend's representations.
§ Mrs. Margaret Ewing (Moray)Given that responsibility for elements of transport are shared between here and the Scottish Parliament, when will the Government report on air links be published? When it is published, who will take the decision about regional air links: the Scottish Executive, the Scotland Office, as it is now known, the Department of Trade and Industry, or the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions?
§ Dr. ReidI think that it will be the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, but, of course, there will be input from me and the Department of Trade and Industry. As the hon. Lady will know, a full study of regional airports throughout the United Kingdom has been somewhat impeded by difficulties connected with the legal procedures at one particular event in one particular airport. Everyone has been very careful not to transgress in any way the situation as regards terminal 5, lest others could reopen the whole inquiry and stop the terminal, but progress has been made on the regional airport studies. I am sure that the my right hon. Friend Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions will be as keen as anyone to get a final paper on the matter as soon as he possibly can.
§ Mr. Michael Connarty (Falkirk, East)On the issue of shared responsibility between the First Minister and the Secretary of State for Scotland, may I commend the Secretary of State on the way in which he has very firmly laid down a marker in asserting that Scottish constituencies will be vigorously represented—at least by Labour Members—in the United Kingdom Parliament? Will he also confirm that he will work with the First Minister in making it clear to all hon. Members that Scottish Members will continue to play a vital and vibrant part in the United Kingdom Parliament?
§ Dr. ReidI can certainly reassure my hon. Friend on both points. First, I have no doubt at all about the vigour and energy that Members of this Parliament—particularly Labour Members from Scotland—will continue to bring to their task. Secondly, I assure him that, as I have been doing, I shall continue working closely and in a businesslike fashion with the First Minister for the benefit of the Scottish people. It goes without saying—but bears repeating—that the Scottish people are extremely well served in their First Minister. He is a man of outstanding integrity and commitment, and ranks with those who have done most to deliver the Scottish Parliament to the Scottish people.
§ Mr. Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield)I am delighted to hear that the Secretary of State will be working closely with the First Minister. Will the Secretary of State explain whether it is he who will have the unhappy responsibility of putting a veto on inward investment into Scotland, were the Government to decide that such investment was undesirable, or will that responsibility fall to some other Minister at Westminster?
§ Dr. ReidThe matters to which the hon. Gentleman refers will be dealt with in the concordats that will be 114 agreed between the United Kingdom Government and the Scottish Parliament. The people of Scotland want no great advantages over any other part of the United Kingdom, but fairness in the distribution of resources. I share that aim not only with the First Minister, but, I hope, with the hon. Gentleman himself.