Reacting to the story in the Daily Telegraph today [Tuesday] – which reveals details of Scottish Secretary Helen Liddell's light ministerial diary between 28 January and 3 February – Scottish National Party Westminster Chief Whip Mr Pete Wishart MP tabled Parliamentary Questions and a House of Commons Motion calling for the Scotland Office to be abolished.

Mr Wishart's Motion is as follows: "That this House notes the extremely light ministerial engagements of the Secretary of State for Scotland, as revealed by a report in the Scottish edition of the Daily Telegraph on 5 February 2002; and believes that this reinforces the case for abolishing the Scotland Office and transferring its resources to the Scottish Parliament for spending on health and education."

Mr Wishart has also tabled Parliamentary Questions seeking further information on the diary entry for 30 January which reads: "Meeting to discuss Scottish Parliament's powers to confer devolved functions on UK bodies."

Commenting on his Motion and Questions, Mr Wishart said:

"The details of Helen Liddell's diary show that she doesn't have a real job in Government, and the Scotland Office should be wound up now.

"Worryingly, one of Mrs Liddell's few ministerial engagements, on 30 January, was about conferring ‘devolved functions on UK bodies'.

"Instead of trying to take powers from the Scottish Parliament, the Scotland Office should be scrapped and its resources handed back to the Scots Parliament for spending on health and education."