Scottish Secretary Alister Jack yesterday said he is looking forward to working with Nicola Sturgeon and her new Cabinet.
The Tory said it was vital that they strive to “supercharge” the economy as the country emerges from the Covid-19 crisis.
And he called on the Scottish Government to co-operate with Westminster to improve transport links between Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom.
It came ahead of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s meeting with First Minister Sturgeon and the other heads of power in Northern Ireland and Wales.
Jack said: “Scotland, and the whole of the UK, faces a critical period, perhaps the most challenging since the end of World War II, as we continue to tackle the pandemic and begin the monumental task of rebuilding our economy and the public services we all rely on.
“The UK Government and the Scottish Government must focus exclusively on that. We can achieve more – and more quickly – if we work together.
“I would like to congratulate members of the Scottish Government’s Cabinet on their appointment and wish them well in their new roles.
“I and my Cabinet colleagues in the UK Government look forward to working with Nicola Sturgeon and her team.”
Jack said it was vital that NHS waiting list times are tackled after they increased during the pandemic, that children don’t get left behind because they had missed school lessons, and court backlogs are reduced.
He added: “And, of course, it is of critical importance that we supercharge our economy.”
About 400,000 people in Scotland remain on the UK Government’s furlough scheme and Jack pledged that both Scottish and UK governments would work hard to “save livelihoods just as our vaccine programme is saving lives”.
He said: “No one should underestimate the scale of the challenge ahead, and I am sure these issues will be at the top of the agenda when Scottish Government ministers meet to discuss their priorities.
“Since before the pandemic struck, the UK Government has been developing an ambitious programme to boost our economy.
“As we seek to bounce back from Covid-19 that programme has taken on an added urgency.
“It is more important than ever that the UK Government and devolved Scottish Government, whose economic responsibilities interact closely, work together.
“Despite our political disagreements, we have a track record we can build on.”
He added: “I hope the new Scottish Government will cooperate with our Union Connectivity plans. They are designed to improve transport links between Scotland and other parts of the UK – a vital step in connecting people and powering our economy.
“I hope we can work together as we roll out plans to deliver Freeports across the whole of the UK.”
He also said he hopes the SNP Government will support local initiatives such as the Community Renewal Fund, the Shared Prosperity Fund, and the £4.8billion UK Levelling Up Fund aimed at regenerating town centres and improving transport.
Jack said: “I am not going to pretend we will always see eye to eye but Scots do expect the UK Government and the Scottish Government to collaborate where we can.
“As a new Scottish Government starts work, I want to put on record my commitment to making that happen.”
The Scottish Government declined to comment.
