Devolution (Scotland and Wales)

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 13 January 1976.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Mr Nicholas Budgen Mr Nicholas Budgen , Wolverhampton South West 12:00, 13 January 1976

Many hon. Members on this side of the House, particularly those who represent English constituencies and who, like me, may be Englishmen who have little knowledge of the situation in Scotland, will be asking themselves, as they view the debate with some doubt and apprehension, whether anything can placate the SNP.

One of the first arguments that the SNP puts forward is that government in Scotland is over-centralised. They are not uniquely unfortunate in that. Government in the whole United Kingdom is over-centralised. Indeed, there is far too much government throughout the United Kingdom. We want less government. We want to get the Government off the back of the people. But what we do not want to do is to suggest yet another layer of government imposed by the taxpayer on the backs of our fellow citizens. What we want to see thoughout the United Kingdom is a spirit of choice and individual freedom which may give to the people of the whole United Kingdom, including Scotland, that sense of economic well-being which we have so sadly missed for so long.

But there may be many of my right hon. and hon. Friends from England who, knowing as little about Scotland as I do—