Meeting of the Parliament 24 September 2019
Like others before me, I commend the committee for its work; I particularly commend Bruce Crawford for his leadership on the issue, which is, and will continue to be, vital to Scotland’s economy in the post-Brexit world.
As my colleague Murdo Fraser mentioned, the need for common frameworks has been accepted across the chamber and has been largely dealt with above party-political disagreement.
Therefore, it is welcome news that the Finance and Constitution Committee has also recommended that Parliament have a greater role in scrutinising such frameworks.
Frameworks matter not only because they apply to our trade with Europe in general but because they have shaped and will continue to shape the prosperity of our internal market and our trading relationships with the EU and with every other state. Believe me: there is a world far greater than the part of it that is the EU.
It is vital that we maintain the integrity of the common market across the United Kingdom. That view is shared by many representative bodies across the commercial, manufacturing and service sectors. The Scottish Retail Consortium is just one among a chorus of interests that support proper, consistent and deliberate co-operation across all four home nations.
However, we find ourselves in unfamiliar territory. Eighty-seven new powers will be immediately devolved to the Parliament, and the remaining 24 are to be handed over in the aftermath of any agreed transition period. That has been aided greatly by the UK Government’s acknowledgement in its “Revised Frameworks Analysis” that, of 162 policy areas that will require attention in dealing with Brexit’s legislative effects in the devolved Assemblies, there are only 21 in which future legislation might be required alongside non-legislative frameworks, or where a consistent approach potentially requires to be taken to retained EU law.
I entirely agree with the approach of the cabinet secretary, Michael Russell—frameworks operate on the basis of mutual co-operation and established relationships. It will be important, when powers are newly realised by the Parliament, that both legislative and non-legislative frameworks are properly considered. Constitutionally, such co-operation and the mechanisms for resolving disagreements or conflicts of interest are very important. Equally, it is vital that the decision-making and arbitration processes are fully deliberated upon. I venture to suggest that it is Conservative values that are driving forward work to transfer new and old areas of the law to this Parliament.
The Scottish Government’s budget is to increase by more than £500 million in the next financial year. In 2020, Scotland will receive £1.2 billion in Barnett consequentials. That is the behaviour of a supportive UK Government that wishes to invigorate Scotland’s Parliament in setting standards and enabling the economy.
The powers that are to be newly repatriated from the EU should not be used just for powers’ sake. Scotland’s trade with the other home nations still ranks as three times greater than that with the EU, sitting at a not inconsiderable £48.9 billion last year. Indeed, Professor Jim Gallagher has compelled the Scottish Government to maintain the integrity of the UK’s common market on the ground of that being simple economic common sense.
It is therefore vital that the frameworks and the repatriation of power are approached in a good-natured and constructive fashion, as only then will the full potential of our country’s economy and trading strength be realised. The Scottish Parliament will continue to be one of the most powerful devolved legislatures in the world. The Scotland Act 2016 means that the Parliament has gained and maintained powers in areas including energy, tax and welfare. It is now time for the Scottish Government to put an end to its constant attempts to create constitutional crises between the UK and Scottish Parliaments on devolution. Let the people see us work constructively going forward.