Moray's MP speaks at Dispatch Box House of Commons
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THE PARLIAMENTARY Under Secretary of State for Scotland has become the first Moray MP in 34 years to speak at the Dispatch Box in the House of Commons.
Former Forres Academy pupil Douglas Ross MP was honoured to become the first Moray Minister to answer Scottish questions on behalf of the Scotland Office and Secretary of State Alister Jack.
Mr Ross said: "My first words in the Chamber as a Minister were to say what a privilege it is to be re-elected as Moray’s MP representing my home area in the House of Commons.
"It was a very lively question session where I answered on a range of issues from fishing, growth deals and funding. I was able to reiterate that we’re coming out of the Common Fisheries Policy so will be able to say who catches what, where and when in our waters and I look forward to working with communities across Scotland on this key issue to make fishing the bright industry it deserves to be with more job opportunities, particularly for young people."
He added: "The questions session also allowed me to highlight some local successes such as the Moray Growth Deal and reiterated the fact we are receiving the biggest settlement per head of population in the country.
"The session passed in a flash and we have it all to do again in a few weeks’ time but I’m relishing the opportunity to highlight Moray and Scotland at the dispatch box."
Meanwhile, Mr Ross's main political rival in Moray warned him against becoming a mere mouthpiece for Westminster.
Richard Lochhead MSP said: "Our MP must start to recognise that Brexit poses an enormous threat to the vast majority of Moray’s industries and our living standards. Hopefully he’ll use the opportunity of being a close ally of Boris Johnson in Government to ensure that the Scotland Office is not simply a very expensive anti-Scottish Government propaganda machine.
"Mr Ross needs to remember that his Party lost over half their seats in Scotland and is now down to a rump of six MPs of which he is one after being re-elected by the skin of his teeth.
"Hopefully, as a UK Minister he will seek to mitigate his Party’s more extremist policies and not just be a messenger for his London colleagues."
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