Act of Union

Mr. Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con)
9. What plans his Department has to mark the 300th anniversary of the Act of Union in 1707.

The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Douglas Alexander)
As I informed the House on 7 November, the Chancellor and I will launch a commemorative £2 coin. There will be exhibitions in both Houses of Parliament and in the Scottish Parliament, and other activities are in preparation.

Mr. Hollobone
Apart from her gracious agreement to appear on the new £2 coin, what other activities and engagements does the Secretary of State plan for Her Majesty in the tricentenary celebrations?

Mr. Alexander
With respect, it would be better to take that issue forward in discussions with the royal household rather than prejudging it with an answer today.

Mr. Greg Hands (Hammersmith and Fulham) (Con)
Would not one way of celebrating the Act of Union effectively next year be for Scotland to join England in its World cup bid for 2018? That would allow the two countries to show joint sporting endeavour, and Scotland would finally be allowed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to bid for the World cup with England.

Mr. Alexander
The hon. Gentleman may be aware that FIFA does not encourage joint bids. I will disappoint him, if he wants to argue for a joint United Kingdom football team, because I have supported Scotland too often and with enough disappointment in the past to be deeply unconvinced by that particular argument.