Scotland Office Ministers have conducted one visit to the constituency of Midlothian in the past five years. This was by Iain Stewart MP, while Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Scotland Office, to Midlothian Council Projects on 4 February 2022.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4619", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Alister Jack"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Dumfries and Galloway"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Alister Jack"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-04-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-04-30T09:33:57.24Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Scotland"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Scotland"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-04-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Scotland Office: Domestic Visits"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will provide a list of ministerial visits to the Midlothian constituency in each of the last five years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4482", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Owen Thompson"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Midlothian"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Owen Thompson"} ], "uin" : "23248"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1701499", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Scotland Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1701499/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Scotland Office and Office for the Advocate General are currently in the process of finalising the department\u2019s figures for financial year 2023-24. These figures are subject to external audit and the department\u2019s Annual Report and Accounts for 2023-24 are expected to be available later this year. The budget for the department for financial year 2024-25 as agreed in Spending Review 2021 is £13.354m.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4619", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Alister Jack"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Dumfries and Galloway"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Alister Jack"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-04-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-04-22T09:39:49.607Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Scotland"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Scotland"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-04-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Scotland Office: Public Expenditure"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what the cost to the public purse was of (a) staff and (b) running costs for his Department in financial year 2023-24; and how much he has allocated for 2024-25.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4482", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Owen Thompson"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Midlothian"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Owen Thompson"} ], "uin" : "22078"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1701509", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Scotland Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1701509/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Scotland Office and Office for the Advocate General publish an Annual Report and Accounts which contains the information requested. The latest version can be found at Scotland Office Annual Report 2022-23<\/a>. Prior year Annual Reports and Accounts for the Scotland Office and Office for the Advocate General are available online or can be obtained from the Library of the House.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4619", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Alister Jack"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Dumfries and Galloway"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Alister Jack"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-04-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-04-22T09:38:36.12Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Scotland"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Scotland"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2024-04-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Scotland Office: Public Expenditure"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what the administration costs of his Department were in each year since his appointment.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4482", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Owen Thompson"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Midlothian"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Owen Thompson"}
], "uin" : "22082"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1608480", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Scotland Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1608480/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Scotland Office takes issues raised by businesses very seriously indeed. That is why we have listened to the concerns of businesses, particularly small businesses, in relation to the Scottish Government's Deposit Return Scheme.<\/p> <\/p> I hope that the new First Minister and the Scottish Government will do the same and pause its scheme so that we can work together to find solutions that work for Scotland and the whole of the UK.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4608", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for John Lamont"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "John Lamont"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-03-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-03-29T14:55:49.9Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Scotland"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Scotland"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-03-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Food: Scotland"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on promoting and supporting the Scottish food and drink sector.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4482", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Owen Thompson"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Midlothian"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Owen Thompson"}
], "uin" : "904302"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1579715", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Scotland Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1579715/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Polling is clear the people of Scotland want their currency to be Sterling. I was clear in my contribution of 11 January, the people of Scotland do not favour abandoning Sterling in order to create a new, temporary currency that would require to be superseded by the Euro.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4619", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Alister Jack"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Dumfries and Galloway"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Alister Jack"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-01-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-01-30T10:35:59.54Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Scotland"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Scotland"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-01-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "European Union: Scotland"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the Answer of 23 January to Question 126735 on European Union: Scotland, what evidence he used to determine that there is no desire in Scotland to have membership of the EU in his Oral Contribution on Impact of Leaving the EU on 11 Januarys 2023, Official Report, Column 546.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4482", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Owen Thompson"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Midlothian"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Owen Thompson"}
], "uin" : "129916"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1568206", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Scotland Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1568206/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Scotland Office does not conduct its own polling, focus groups, or attitudinal studies on this or any other issue.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4619", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Alister Jack"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Dumfries and Galloway"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Alister Jack"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-01-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-01-23T10:40:39.73Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Scotland"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Scotland"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-01-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "European Union: Scotland"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the Answer of 18 January to Question 122480 on European Union: Scotland, whether his Department has commissioned (a) polling, (b) focus groups and (c) studies on attitudes towards the EU of people in Scotland.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4482", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Owen Thompson"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Midlothian"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Owen Thompson"}
], "uin" : "126735"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1566805", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Scotland Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1566805/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " I recently made clear in Parliament my view that people in Scotland should understand the difficulties an independent Scotland would face in re-entering the EU in terms of currency, deficit thresholds, pensions and many other issues.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4619", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Alister Jack"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Dumfries and Galloway"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Alister Jack"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-01-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-01-18T14:24:51.657Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Scotland"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Scotland"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-01-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "European Union: Scotland"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether his Department has made an assessment of attitudes towards the EU of people in Scotland.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4482", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Owen Thompson"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Midlothian"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Owen Thompson"}
], "uin" : "122480"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1381319", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Scotland Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1381319/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Ministers holding meetings or phone calls on government business are routinely accompanied by a private secretary or other official, in line with the expectations of paragraph 8.14 of the Ministerial Code. Specific procedures are in place for external meetings involving ministers. These are publicly available and can be found in the Guidance on the management of Private Office Papers.<\/a><\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4619", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Alister Jack"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Dumfries and Galloway"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Alister Jack"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-11-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-11-30T11:24:33.933Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Scotland"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Scotland"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2021-11-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Scotland Office: Meetings"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps his Department takes to ensure that at least one official from his Department is present during all (a) meetings and (b) phone calls relating to Government business between Ministers and third parties.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4482", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Owen Thompson"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Midlothian"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Owen Thompson"}
], "uin" : "80400"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1380234", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Scotland Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1380234/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Formal, structured meetings are usually minuted, however, not all meetings need to be minuted. It is expected that the general guidance that departments give to their staff will help officials make judgements as to what meetings need to be minuted, noting their Civil Service Code obligation to \u2018keep accurate official records.\u2019<\/p>