UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Bill

Part of the debate – in the Scottish Parliament at on 22 December 2020.

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Photo of Michael Russell Michael Russell Scottish National Party

Thank you, Presiding Officer. I am wondering how I will take us up to decision time, but I will do my very best.

I start by addressing the point of substance that Mark Ruskell made in his speech. ESS will have no specific role in making proposals for keeping pace, but it has a general power to consider the effects of European environmental legislation. If ESS believes that a European regulation would be useful, desirable and better than a Scottish regulation, there is absolutely nothing to prevent it from making a recommendation on the matter. That may not be an absolute power, but it is fair. That is the situation as I understand it. My colleague Roseanna Cunningham has confirmed that, so I feel confident that I am not trespassing on her area of responsibility.

I listened with respect, as I always do, to Liz Smith. She is one of the very few people who has called for my resignation in trenchant terms with whom I still get on well. I know that that does not do her any good in the Tory party—