8. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office regarding the reported communiqué to United Kingdom ambassadors and diplomats and their involvement in the Scottish Government’s international engagements. (S6O-02235)

I have written to the Foreign Secretary to ask him to withdraw that guidance, which will damage Scotland’s interests and undermines devolution. More than two weeks later, I have yet to receive a reply, which says everything about the disrespect that the UK Government has shown thus far.

Despite what those documents assert, nothing in the Scotland Act 1998 precludes Scottish ministers from discussing any issue with other Governments or international organisations. On that basis, I had a successful visit to Vienna this week, promoting Scotland’s energy and space sectors, our commitment to human rights and the rule of law and our work to achieve net zero. As ever, I was grateful for the positive and constructive support provided by the FCDO in capital, both from the embassy to Austria and the mission to the United Nations.

As the Cabinet secretary has intimated, condescending Westminster attitudes could cost real jobs and investment, such as that which the Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy announced on his recent visit to Japan of plans for a subsea cable factory in the Highlands, which will bring much-needed jobs to that region and across Scotland.

Westminster is endangering direct foreign investment, which rose in Scotland by 14 per cent last year in comparison with 1.8 per cent across the UK.

Does the cabinet secretary agree that we should all get behind Scotland’s businesses and economy instead of meekly accepting the Westminster Government’s blatant contempt for Scottish interests?

I thank the member for raising a vital reason why ministers travel overseas—namely, to secure investment and jobs for people in Scotland. My Cabinet colleague Neil Gray was in Japan last month, when there was the announcement from Sumitomo, which demonstrates the strength of confidence that investors have in our vision for a net zero economy.

We have a world-beating pipeline of offshore wind projects and the visit demonstrated the important role that Scotland’s international network plays and the value of growing and developing relationships with our partners around the world. The Government will therefore continue to promote Scotland’s interests and fight attempts to undermine devolution.

The Deputy Presiding Officer:

That concludes portfolio questions on constitution, external affairs and culture. There will be a very brief pause before we move to the next portfolio to allow front-bench teams to change position.