Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Scotland – in the House of Commons at 2:30 pm on 18 October 2005.
David Cairns
Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Scotland Office
2:30,
18 October 2005
I agree entirely with my hon. Friend. It is a significant historical event, whatever people's individual views of its merits, or otherwise. It is far too early to be able to put forward any definitive plans, but discussions are ongoing. As well as looking at the tremendous success of the UK over 300 years on the anniversary, I hope that we will be able to look to the future and Scotland's role in the Union in the 21st century—in a globalised economy with the threats of the fast-developing world—so that we can think about not only our historically tremendously successful country, but a confident nation that is looking forward to a confident future and the next 300 years of the Union.