Northern Ireland Protocol Bill

– in the Scottish Parliament at on 1 December 2022.

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Photo of Jenni Minto Jenni Minto Scottish National Party

3. To ask the Scottish Government what recent dialogue it has had with the United Kingdom Government regarding the potential impact on Scotland of the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill. (S6O-01638)

Photo of Angus Robertson Angus Robertson Scottish National Party

I met the Foreign Secretary two weeks ago and urged the UK Government to seize the current window of opportunity to re-engage in good faith with our European partners, seek sustainable shared solutions on the Northern Ireland protocol and withdraw the bill without delay. The bill risks violating international law and sparking a trade conflict with our European Union neighbours in the middle of a cost of living crisis, with potentially disastrous consequences for Scotland and the whole of the UK. That is simply indefensible.

Photo of Jenni Minto Jenni Minto Scottish National Party

In its report on the legislative consent memorandum for the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee reiterated its view that

“the extent of UK Ministers’ new delegated powers in devolved areas amounts to a significant constitutional change.”

Does the cabinet secretary agree that, to ensure that the Scottish Parliament has the opportunity to effectively exercise legislative powers to ensure that Scotland is a fairer, greener and progressive country, the constitutional change that is really required is for Westminster to keep its promise of 2014—that the power to decide how Scotland is governed lies with the Scottish people—and to grant a section 30 order?

Photo of Angus Robertson Angus Robertson Scottish National Party

It would indeed be far better for the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government to be able to make decisions in that area.

In general terms, people in Scotland have made a clear decision to be offered a choice about this country’s future in a referendum, and we call on the United Kingdom Government to respect that decision and to open discussions with the Scottish Government on a change to the Scottish Parliament’s powers so that it can give effect to the mandate of the people of Scotland that was obtained in last year’s Scottish Parliament elections. The easiest route to doing that would be through a section 30 order.

The Presiding Officer:

Question 4 has not been lodged.