1. To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact that any future devolution of employment law to the Scottish Parliament would have on the development of the wellbeing economy. (S6O-02552)

Securing the full range of powers on employment law would enable the Scottish Parliament to implement the policies that would best meet Scotland’s distinct needs. Those powers would enable us to create fairer workplaces, enhance workers’ rights in Scotland, help to shift the curve on poverty and deliver on our shared ambition for a just transition to a net zero, nature-positive wellbeing economy that is fair, greener and growing.

In our paper “Building a new Scotland: a stronger economy with independence”, we propose a number of specific labour market measures, including a fair national minimum wage set at a rate that better reflects the cost of living and that applies to all ages, and better access to flexible working.

Given that both the Scottish and United Kingdom trade union congresses have come out in support of the devolution of employment law, and that a number of Labour Party MSPs have spoken previously in the Scottish Parliament in support of that policy, does the minister have any explanation as to why not a single Labour member of this Parliament signed the motion that the Parliament considered last night in support of the devolution of employment law? The motion did not mention independence; it mentioned only devolution, which is meant to be the settled policy of the Labour Party. Is he aware whether the UK Labour Party still supports the policy of devolving employment policy to the Scottish Parliament?

The Deputy Presiding Officer:

I suggest to the minister that he answer the question with reference to matters that fall within his jurisdiction.

The Scottish Government supports the devolution of employment law, and it asks all parties in the chamber—in particular, the Labour Party, given its members’ past comments on the matter—to support the Scottish Government’s position. Given what Keith Brown has highlighted, it appears that Labour’s enthusiasm for the devolution of employment law is waning—and it seems to be waning because a Westminster election is approaching, which should worry us all in Scotland. I urge the Labour Party to clarify its position and to get whole-heartedly behind the Scottish Government position that the devolution of employment law should happen as soon as possible in the event of a Labour Government at Westminster.