Westminster – Page 63 – The NEN

Tackling the scourge of modern slavery

The Modern Slavery Bill was introduced in the House of Commons this week, but local MP Mark Lazarowicz believes the legislation doesn’t go far enough.

The bill would provide law enforcement with stronger tools to stamp out modern slavery, ensure slave drivers can receive suitably severe punishments and enhance protection of and support for victims.

The bill includes provisions to:

ensure that perpetrators can receive suitably severe punishments for these appalling crimes – including life sentences
introduce new orders to enhance the court’s ability to place restrictions on individuals where this is necessary to protect people from the harm caused by modern slavery offences
create an Anti-Slavery Commissioner to improve and better coordinate the response to modern slavery
introduce a defence for victims of slavery and trafficking compelled to commit an offence
create an enabling power for child trafficking advocates
introduce a new reparation order to encourage the courts to compensate victims where assets are confiscated from perpetrators
close gaps in the law to enable the police and Border Force to stop boats where slaves are suspected of being held or trafficked

Edinburgh North & Leith MP Mark Lazarowicz‘ says the Bill is a major step forward but should be tougher. Speaking in Tuesday’s debate on the Modern Slavery Bill at Westminster, he praised the Bill as a major step forward but highlighted two areas where it needs to be strengthened significantly at UK level:

· Extension of the powers and funding of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority created by the last Labour Government, and

· Increased transparency and accountability of companies for their supply chains.

Commenting after the debate, the local MP said: “Modern slavery can see people desperately seeking a better life trapped and exploited in ways as varied as sex trafficking, domestic servitude or agricultural workers whose meagre wages are docked to pay for sub-standard food and accommodation leaving them with debts they can never pay off.

“Vulnerable people, often with very few language skills, may simply not know where to seek help even if they get the chance and be fearful that they may be deported if they do escape.

“The last Labour Government first set out to tackle this modern evil by creating the Gangmasters Licensing Authority to root out abuse in agriculture and related industries: it’s been widely praised and its funding and remit should be increased.

“Companies should also be accountable for how their goods are produced in supply chains with annual reports setting out steps they took to verify and audit suppliers.

“Whilst enabling the prosecution of traffickers and slave-masters, the Bill must also advance the protection of victims: too often companies and consumers do not know and in the worst case may not even care how workers are exploited in producing the food we eat, the clothes we wear.”

MP acts to resolve parking deadlock

Edinburgh North and Leith Labour MP Mark Lazarowicz is launching a new Private Members’ Bill this week to resolve the deadlock which has delayed new legislation in the Scottish Parliament to ban irresponsible parking.

Inconsiderate parking can be a major headache for people like wheelchair users, the visually impaired and parents with children in pushchairs, and the Bill would end uncertainty as to whether the Scottish Parliament has the power to legislate on this issue after a Bill to introduce a Scotland-wide ban was delayed due to conflicting legal advice.

Mark Lazarowicz said: “This Bill would ensure that the Scottish Government has the power to make a real difference to our streets by tackling irresponsible parking that can block pavements, kerbs and crossings and choke the flow of traffic.

“It can be dangerous where for instance it pushes people into the road to get past or impedes a wheelchair user from crossing a street because someone had thoughtlessly blocked a dropped kerb.

“A Bill in the Scottish Parliament has had its progress delayed because of conflicting legal advice as to whether the power to legislate to tackle irresponsible parking is still reserved or not.”

“I want to cut through that with this Bill which would specifically devolve this power once and for all to make a practical difference to the streets in our towns and cities in Scotland.”

Sandra White MSP has proposed a Bill to introduce a Scotland-wide ban on irresponsible parking. The Bill has support from a wide range of organisations such as Guide Dogs Scotland and Capability Scotland and has cross-party support in the Scottish Parliament.

Mark was one of 20 MPs who won the right to introduce a Private Members’ Bill in the draw for Bills which recently took place. He will introduce the Responsible Parking (Scotland) Bill tomorrow ( Wednesday).

The Bill has already won the support of MPs from other parties and Mark’s move has also been welcomed by Sandra White MSP.

The North and Leith MP must now wait to see if his Bill will go through. He said: “Although the fact that there are controversial Private Members’ Bills ahead of mine in the queue this year will make it a challenge to get mine through, my Bill has all party support which I believe gives it a reasonable chance of making progress.”

A time for community: Prime Minister issues Ramadan message

Prime Minister David Cameron has issued a message to Muslims at the start of the holy month of Ramadan:

I want to send my very best wishes to everyone observing the holy month of Ramadan.

This is an incredibly special time of year for Muslims at home and abroad: a time for charity, for contemplation and community.

Charity is one of the things that Islam is all about. Here in Britain, Muslims are our biggest donors – they give more to charity than any other faith group. We see this spirit of giving all year round, from the mosques running sports clubs for local children to the Muslim groups selling poppies for Remembrance Day, to those people from around the country who put their wellies on, rolled their sleeves up, and went to help the families hit hardest by this winter’s storms.

Ramadan is a time when that spirit comes to the fore and I am so proud when I hear, every year, about the millions of pounds raised for good causes for those less fortunate than us here in Britain, and those who are suffering in wars and in famines overseas.

Ramadan is a time for contemplation to fast, and to pray, and to think deeply about others.

This Ramadan, I hope that we can reflect upon a key aspect of our shared history: the bravery of those who fought and died for our freedoms nearly 100 years ago.

Just days after Eid, we will be marking 100 years since the First World War.

More than a million men and boys from India fought with our troops during that conflict and many thousands of them were Muslims.

They travelled across the world to fight to defend our freedom, guided and sustained by their bravery, comradeship and, above all, by their faith.

Their selflessness and their courage helped to secure the liberties we all enjoy today, so this Ramadan – and this centenary – we will remember them and reflect upon their sacrifice.

Ramadan is a time for community. And there is nothing that exemplifies this more than those nightly iftars when the fast is broken, the dates are opened, and all that great food is served.

Last year I was delighted to see how many community iftars were taking place across the country in mosques and in community centres, in parks and even in tents.

Again this year government is supporting the Big Iftar programme with hundreds more communities, from Leeds to Luton, Woking to Manchester, throwing open their doors so that people of all faiths and none can break bread and get to know their neighbours.

So wherever you are this holy month, I wish you Ramadan Mubarak.

Lararowicz: new homes must be energy efficient

Mark Lazarowicz MP has criticised the Westminster government’s failure to make the energy efficiency of new homes a central plank of its Help to Buy scheme in order to boost jobs, cut energy bills and carbon emissions.

THE North & Leith MP was speaking at Treasury Questions in the House of Commons, and said afterwards: “Increasing the energy efficiency of our homes can help cut fuel bills, create new skilled jobs and meet our targets for reducing carbon emissions.

“For instance, surely the Government could have seen that a scheme aimed at first-time buyers should have prioritised energy efficiency so helping young couples with mortgages save money on fuel bills.

“Building all new homes to a high level of energy efficiency helps avoid the need for retrofits later on and Help to Buy could have been used to provide a strong lead by setting a benchmark for the industry.

“It’s an example of where regulation can create new skilled jobs and apprenticeships and boost small businesses but once again the Government has just sat on its hands and failed to act.”

Lazarowicz calls for education for all in Africa

Praise for local school’s ‘Send my sisters to school’ campaign

Edinburgh North and Leith MP Mark Lazarawicz has stressed the role of education in offering a better life for children in the world’s poorest countries.

Speaking during a Westminster debate in Africa, the MP referred to sub-Saharan Africa in particular but pointed to how young women are so often still denied even the chance of a primary education.

That’s a point highlighted to Mark recently by children from St Mary’s (Edinburgh) Primary School in East London Street, who delivered 300 cut-out figures the pupils had produced as part of the Send My Sister to School campaign.

Commenting after the debate, Mark said: “Education is a basic human right and yet the recent shock of the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls in Nigeria by extremists highlighted how girls and young women especially still so often fail to get the chance of finishing even primary school.

“I was really impressed by how the letters written by the children from St Mary’s Primary School showed a genuine desire for children whose lives are so different to have the same chance children here have to an education.

“There is a vital meeting next week to decide funding for the next four years of the international Global Partnership for Education initiative yet the UK Government has not yet said if a Minister will be attending.

“Education should be a right not a privilege for people in the world’s poorest countries as here but without funding we won’t move closer to making that a reality.”

Progress has been made: since 1999 the number of children out of school around the world has fallen by almost by half. Yet in many countries the goal of universal completion of even primary school remains far-off and inequality of opportunity remains deep-rooted between children from rich and poor backgrounds and also between girls and boys.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, 30 million primary-aged children are out of school – 22% of the region’s primary school age population. One in four girls don’t receive even a basic education and only about a quarter of those from the poorest households will complete primary school.

A meeting to decide funding over the next four years for the Global Partnership for Education programme takes place in Brussels on Thursday (26th June). There has been a decline in recent years in external aid for education so Mr Lazarowicz believes it is important that the UK Government gives a strong lead there.

Queen’s Speech: ‘UK Government will continue to deliver for people across Scotland’

This year’s Queen’s Speech contains a range of measures designed to support families, firms and fairness across Scotland, the Scottish Secretary said today. Nine of the eleven new Bills will apply in Scotland, in a speech which reiterated the commitment of the UK Government of making the case for Scotland to stay in the UK.

The UK Government’s legislative programme was announced during the State Opening of Parliament and contains measures to support families with childcare costs, small businesses with access to finance and give pensioners greater freedom to access their savings.

Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael said: “We are building on strong foundations for a prosperous and exciting future in Scotland. This legislation will help improve the lives of people across the country and lend a helping hand to working families and the businesses at the heart of our economy.

“At the same time we will further support the North Sea industry and give Scotland’s pensioners security and flexibility over their retirement funds. It is a comprehensive package for Scotland and I welcome the positive changes it will bring.”

Legislation such as the Childcare Payments Bill will see around 160,000 families in Scotland eligible for help with their childcare costs, up to a maximum of £2,000 per year for each child. Some 325,000 small and medium-sized businesses in Scotland will benefit from the Small Businesses Bill, making it easier for firms to access finance.

It also focuses on maximising North Sea resources, powers to tackle serious crime across the UK and support for Armed Forces charities.

This parliamentary Session will also see the Government affirm its commitment to devolution by commencing vital provisions of the Scotland Act 2012.

This is the last legislative programme before both September’s referendum and the General Election in 2015 and the Westminster government says it underlines their commitment to economic growth and deficit reduction.

However both Labour and the SNP say today’s Queen’s Speech was a missed opportunity – although for different reasons. Labour leader Ed Miliband said the speech failed to match the scale of the challenges Britain faces and Labour’s Shadow Scottish Secretary Margaret Curran said Scotland was being let down by both the UK and Scottish governments.

Ms Curran added: “We have an SNP Scottish government that is so obsessed with the referendum that they aren’t doing anything else, and a Tory-led UK government that has run out of ideas.”

The SNP’s Shadow Scottish Secretary Angus Robertson said: “The absence of any mention at all of the Westminster parties’ plans for Scotland in the Queen’s speech is extraordinary. Not even Air Passenger Duty was mentioned, even though this could be transferred to the Scottish Parliament now, as the Tories admitted this week.

“In this – the year of the biggest opportunity in Scotland’s history – Scotland hardly even gets a nod at Westminster, and not a single mention of future plans for improving government in Scotland.”

Housing payment cap powers to be transferred

More help for 72,000 Scottish households

Thousands of Scots families can be given more ‘Bedroom Tax’ assistance following discussions between the Westminster and Scottish governments. The UK government has offered to transfer power over the housing payment cap to Holyrood, it was announced yesterday.

Housing help for people on benefits – known as Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) – is currently reserved to Westminster and administered by local authorities in Scotland. This power will now transfer to Scotland, however, and the Scottish Government is now urging Westminster to transfer these powers as soon as possible.

The Scottish Government has already spent up to the previous legal limit in order to mitigate the effects of the ‘Bedroom Tax’. Once the powers are transferred, a total of £50 million can be invested to help the 72,000 households in Scotland who are suffering from the effects.

Welcoming the news, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:

“We had already set aside the money to be able to help every household in Scotland affected by the ‘Bedroom Tax’ – once we have the powers, we will be able to use it and provide vital assistance to thousands of hard-pressed Scots.

“I am delighted that in future anyone who has been affected by this unfair policy will receive the help they need and would encourage them to contact their Local Authority to apply for assistance through the DHP scheme.

“We will never turn our back on people in need, and I am pleased to finally be able to get on and help people. But the fact is that this decision has taken far too long. We have been pressing since January for Iain Duncan Smith to remove this cap – and at last Westminster has seen sense and have given us what we requested. We will now work to ensure the law is changed as quickly as possible.

“The DHP scheme is the only legal way – under the powers that Scotland currently has – to provide regular financial payments to people on housing benefit. But the only way to get rid of the ‘Bedroom Tax’ for good is through the powers of an independent Scottish Parliament.

“We know that Scots want welfare decisions to be made and taken by the Scottish Parliament. The ‘Bedroom Tax’ has been rejected by people right across Scotland, yet is still being imposed on us by the UK Government.

“With independence we will have the opportunity to create a welfare system that really works for us.”

However the UK Government says that their willingness to transfer the power to set the cap on Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) in Scotland demonstrates a ‘commitment to taking a pragmatic approach to devolution and to engaging intensely with local authorities in Scotland.’

In a letter to Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland Office Minister David Mundell has offered to transfer the power to the Scottish Government through a Section 63 Order which will require the agreement of the UK and Scottish Governments before being approved by both the UK and Scottish Parliaments.

If the Scottish Government chooses to accept this offer, it will have the flexibility to pass on more funding from its existing block grant to local authorities – it will be up to to the Scottish Government and local authorities how they choose to allocate their money.

As things currently stand, DHPs can be used by local authorities across Great Britain to provide additional funding for people in receipt of housing benefit who need extra support. At present each local authority must operate within a formula-based spending cap set by the Department for Work and Pensions. The proposal from the UK Government would mean that the Scottish Government would have the power to set the DHP cap for Scottish local authorities in future.

Mr Mundell said: “I have completed a programme of visits to all Scottish local authorities and believe that transferring this power to the Scottish Government is the correct thing to do.

“The UK Government believes in taking a pragmatic approach to devolution and we believe in a United Kingdom that gives Scotland the best of both worlds. I hope that officials from both governments will now be able to take this forward.”

Alexander urged to ‘come clean’ on assets share

As we confidently predicted yesterday (!) (see ‘Fantastical’), John Swinney was quick to counter Danny Alexander’s pronouncements on how an independent Scotland’s economy would shape up. Sadly the Holyrood Finance Secretary’s response made no reference to the forthcoming Eurovision Song Contest …

Finance Secretary John Swinney said any claims about Scotland’s finances from the UK Government must include details on Scotland’s share of UK assets worth nearly £1.3 trillion.

Mr Swinney said the Chief Secretary to the Treasury has recently admitted to the Scottish Parliament that Scotland will inherit a share of UK assets.

He said billions of pounds could be paid to an independent Scotland in cash as many of the assets paid for by Scottish tax-payers will be physically located in the rest of the UK.

Mr Swinney said: “Danny Alexander has said the UK Treasury is examining the finances of an independent Scotland.

“We already know Scotland is one of the wealthiest countries in the developed world and that over the past 5 years our public finances have been healthier than the UK’s to the tune of around £1,600 per person.

“To have a shred of credibility any Westminster analysis should also set out in detail the assets that will be due to Scotland in the event of a vote for independence in September.

“As part its campaign rhetoric we know the UK Government talks about Scotland’s share of the debt run up by successive Westminster Chancellors. It cannot be taken seriously if does not also talk about Scotland’s share of assets.”

“Scotland’s share of UK assets will be realised in a combination of ways – through physical assets, cash transfer and continued use of assets through shared service agreements.

“Assets located elsewhere in the UK will be included in negotiations, as Scotland has contributed to their value over a long period of time. For physical assets like these, the equitable outcome may be to provide Scotland with an appropriate cash share of their value.

“We note with interest preliminary analysis by academics suggesting that on defence alone Scotland may be entitled to draw upon a notional sum of nearly £5 billion for physical assets located elsewhere

“The apportionment of the UK national debt will be negotiated and agreed as part of the overall settlement on assets and liabilities.

“On any reasonable scenario, because national income per head is higher in Scotland than the UK, an independent Scotland will have a lower debt burden as a share of GDP than the UK.

“Both the Scottish and UK Governments have signed the Edinburgh Agreement which commits both governments to working together on matters of mutual interest, good communication and mutual respect.

“The two governments have also said they will work together constructively, whatever the result, so we can expect these matters to be worked out in that spirit of mutual respect and co-operation.”

BUCKS FIZZ: Not mentioned in Swinney speech

‘Fantastical’ referendum myths must be debunked – Danny Alexander

It is time to debunk the calculations and claims that have been put forward by the Scottish government in this referendum, Chief Secretary Danny Alexander will say in a keynote speech to business leaders in Edinburgh today (30 April). And while Europe is a clearly a relevant referendum issue, the Eurovision Song Contest gets a mention for the first time!

Speaking on the day of publication by HMRC of new oil revenue data and ahead of publication of the Westminster government’s most comprehensive analysis of the fiscal consequences of separation yet, the Chief Secretary will challenge some of the ‘myths’ perpetuated by nationalists and call on the Scottish Government to be honest with people about the cost of independence.

He will also call on the Scottish government – and Finance Secretary John Swinney – to publish revised and realistic forecasts of oil and gas revenues.

Danny Alexander (pictured above) will say:

“The nationalists’ assertions on Scotland’s finances are at best ill-informed and at worst, deeply misleading to Scottish voters. The fact is that their £1.5 trillion figure for the value of oil left in the North Sea doesn’t include any costs for getting the oil out of the ground and into the petrol pump.

“Over the whole 5 year period of the Scottish government’s Oil and gas bulletin [2012 to 2017], their most cautious forecast for Scottish oil and gas revenues is £41 billion. Yet the independent Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts that whole UK revenues will be just £25 billion over the same period. It doesn’t matter how deep you drill into the figures, they simply don’t add up. The indisputable point is that we are better off together.

“It is time for the Scottish government to confirm what we all know: that the White Paper was wrong, to correct the discredited Oil and gas bulletin and the errors at the heart of the White Paper. The Scottish government must confront the fact that it is promising tax revenues and public spending that it cannot deliver. It should revise its oil and gas forecasts or better yet, follow international best practice and follow an independent forecast like the OBR’s. It is the very least that the Scottish voters deserve.

On the ‘myths’ perpetuated about independence, Mr Alexander will say:

It’s perhaps true that the Referendum campaign here in Scotland hasn’t provided many laughs so far and given both the enormity – and the irreversibility – of the choice we face, that is perfectly understandable. But as the campaign continues, when it comes to some of the statements and assertions made by nationalists, you really do need a sense of humour.

On some of the basic financial assumptions made in the White paper, he will say that the nationalists ‘ignore the reality, that when the financial crisis hit, it was the government of the United Kingdom that stepped in to recapitalise RBS and HBOS and the taxpayers of the United Kingdom that extended £275 billion of total support to RBS alone’.

On currency, he will challenge the: “…continued, belligerent, assertion that Scotland could – and would – keep the pound. Alex Salmond has to face up to the fact that the rest of the UK does not have to – and would not want to – continue to share the credit card.”

And on UK institutions, he will say: “There is also the fantastical claim, made in the White Paper that an independent Scotland would share a third of the UK’s institutions and services despite the fact that this is completely unprecedented anywhere in the world. This is a claim we have to listen to whenever an institution crops up that the nationalists haven’t had time to think about.

“So it won’t surprise me if next Saturday night Alex Salmond declares that an independent Scotland will share the UK’s automatic place in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest!”

The Treasury’s forthcoming fiscal analysis will set out the benefits of the UK and the costs of independence. In the absence of any detailed costings from the Scottish government, Treasury economists have spent months analysing data and forecasts and consulting with independent bodies to calculate in detail the figures that illustrate the benefits of the UK and the cost of independence.

That analysis will be published in coming weeks – but John Swinney’s response to Danny Alexander’s assertions will come considerably quicker than that. Nil points is a fair guess!

Cross-border skirmish marks St George’s Day

What’s Scottish independence got to do with the English, anyway? Well, quite a lot according to Prime Minister David Cameron. Mr Cameron chose St George’s Day to launch a passionate defence of the union, but in the evening Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond launched a cross-border raid to assure our neighbours that social and business links will remain as strong as ever …

David Cameron relected on England’s role in the United Kingdom in his St George’s Day message. The Prime Minister said: “I want to send my best wishes to everyone celebrating St George’s Day. Up and down the country – including here in Downing Street – the flag of St George is flying high and celebrations – from the archaic to the eccentric – are taking place:

“In Plymouth – a patriotic festival; in London – a great feast in Trafalgar Square; in Leicester – a medieval re-enactment; and in Worcestershire – an annual ‘asparagus run’, to welcome the new harvest.

“St George has been England’s patron saint since 1350. But for too long, his feast day – England’s national day – has been overlooked. Today, though, more and more people are coming together on or around April the 23rd, eager to celebrate everything it is to be English. And there is much to celebrate. Because this is a country whose achievements in industry, in technology, sport, music, literature and the arts – they far outweigh our size.

Our counties and cities are known the world over:

In America, where Newcastle Brown Ale is the most imported ale; in China, where the most popular international football team is from London: Arsenal; in Australia, where they go mad for a Cornish cuisine – the humble pasty; in South Korea, where Yorkshire-set Downton Abbey is a TV favourite. And across the globe, where the best-selling band is from Liverpool: the Beatles.

“This St George’s Day, I want us to reflect on one of England’s greatest achievements: its role in the world’s greatest family of nations – the United Kingdom. In just 5 months, the people of Scotland will go to the polls and decide whether they want to remain a part of this global success story. So let’s prove that we can be proud of our individual nations and be committed to our union of nations. Because no matter how great we are alone, we will always be greater together.

So once again, to everyone across England, I’d like to wish you a very happy St George’s Day.”

Alex Salmond did not miss an opportunity to reaffirm Scotland’s commitment to our friends across the border. The First Minister said that Scotland will not wait until independence day to strengthen Scotland’s relationship with the north of England and celebrate ‘the ties that bind the nations of these islands’ following September’s independence referendum.

In a St George’s Day speech delivered in the shadow of Carlisle Cathedral, Mr Salmond told the invited audience of business people that a successful Scotland will become a new beacon of growth to the north, shifting the centre of economic gravity of these islands and preventing the flow of power, wealth and talent flow downhill to the south east.

He said independence for Scotland would cause an economic rebalancing of Britain and the Scottish Government would refuse to wait 30 years for high speed rail to be delivered by Westminster and instead will commission a feasibility study on work on HSR beginning from the north heading south. The Scottish Government will also push forward its responsibility to make improvement to the West Coast rail line north and improve the transport connectivity between Carlisle and the south west of Scotland, creating a ‘a conurbation of connectivity’.

Announcing the study, the First Minister said: “The vision – of these border lands as hubs – requires the transport connectivity to link Scotland and the north of England more effectively together.

“The UK’s current plans for high speed rail lack high ambition – for Scotland and for the north of England. They also lack speed – they may not reach Manchester and Leeds, let alone Carlisle, until 2032. Indeed even Sir David Higgins, who is in charge of delivering the project, has expressed concern about that current timescale.

“But since 2007, rail travel has increased by 144% between London and Glasgow; by 191% between Manchester and Scotland; and by 261% between Birmingham and Scotland. Demand for freight is also increasing, but line capacity is constrained.”

The First Minister continued:

“But by the time high speed rail first came to the UK, when the Eurostar link was completed, the regions weren’t served at all. There was no further development of services beyond London. In fact, a report by the House of Commons Transport Select Committee pointed out that “The acquiescence of Members of Parliament to the Channel Tunnel Act 1987 depended on the provision of regional services.” Its view was that “The regions have been cheated.”

“And we have seen in the last ten years that the major upgrade to the West coast Main Line focused on Southern parts of the line. We then missed the opportunity for faster services to the north because the UK Government’s procurement process for the InterCity West Coast franchise collapsed. That piece of incompetence which cost taxpayers £50m. At the moment, we may have to wait for refranchising in 2017 to see a significant improvement.

“To summarise, under Westminster control, high speed rail won’t come to Carlisle for decades. The west coast line doesn’t get upgraded, and the franchise process collapses. The east coast line has seen consistent failures of operators – and when they do have a public operator which works, their answer is to change the franchise!

“By comparison, I am pleased to report that our two rail franchise procurements are proceeding well and on schedule. And we’re keen to get on with making major improvements to connectivity.

“We are already working with the UK Government to prepare joint plans for high speed rail links between England and Scotland. Initial findings from this review are due in the summer. And we are taking the initiative within Scotland – detailed planning is being undertaken for a high speed service between Edinburgh and Glasgow, which could link to high speed lines from England. The business case for that Edinburgh to Glasgow link will be sent to Scottish Ministers in a few weeks.

“An independent Scotland could do more. Rather than paying our share of the borrowing costs for high speed rail, as we wait decades for it to spread up from the south, we can use that money to build high speed rail from the north instead.

“It’s time to take positive action. I can confirm today that the Scottish Government will build on the joint work we are undertaking with the UK Government. We will establish a feasibility study to explore in detail the options for building high speed rail from Scotland to England. In doing so, we will work closely with partners across the UK, especially in the north of England. Of course we can’t determine the route, until we undertake the feasibility study. But it is a statement of intent.

“I want to draw a brief comparison. In the north of Scotland, we are investing to reduce the time it takes to travel between Aberdeen and Inverness. We’re doing that because we want to create a conurbation of connectivity across that part of Scotland. In a similar way, we can develop a conurbation of connectivity between Carlisle and the south west of Scotland.

“That way, a prosperous Carlisle and Cumbria will benefit south west Scotland, just as a prosperous Scotland will benefit the north of England.

“These rail projects could have the potential to bring huge benefits for all of us. But they require an initiative and impetus which is more likely to come from a Scottish Government whose main population centres are within 100 miles of here, than from a Westminster Government based 300 miles away.”

The First Minister’s commitment to closer cooperation between an independent Scotland and the border lands of England will also be recognised through a forum to forge strong economic links for those both north and south of the Border with a dedicated lead minister post-independence.

During the speech, the First Minister told a gathering of business people that a railway line from London to Manchester and Leeds would bring £3 billion benefit to Scotland – but a full High Speed Rail connection would bring £24 billion and lead a major shift from air to rail.

Concluding, the First Minister said:

“I look forward to a future of close collaboration between an independent Scotland and the north of England – in a partnership which will be good for Scotland, good for the north of England, and good for all of the nations of these islands. Happy St George’s Day. ”