Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 05 March 2024
05 Mar 2024 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Scotland’s Place in the World
I will in a moment.
It has been reported that the cabinet secretary has said that Scotland would join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, but that is not what he said in answer to Ross Greer, and the paper talks of a “nuclear-free Scotland”. If the Scottish Government wants the paper to be remotely taken seriously, that needs clarification. Is the Scottish Government saying that it would allow NATO nuclear assets into Scottish waters and on to Scottish land? Yes or no? Will the cabinet secretary make clear to the United States, France and the rest of the UK whether their nuclear fleets would be banned from Faslane?
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-12372, in the name of Angus Robertson, on Scotland’s place in the world. I invite members who wish to par...
The Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture (Angus Robertson)
SNP
This debate follows yesterday’s publication of the latest paper in the Scottish Government’s “Building a New Scotland” series, “An independent Scotland’s pla...
Craig Hoy (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
If this is such an important series of reports and if this is such a serious debate, why have only 10 of the cabinet secretary’s parliamentary colleagues tur...
Angus Robertson
SNP
I look forward to hearing the member’s speech; I hope that he has something positive to contribute. I will make progress, Presiding Officer. People in the r...
Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green)
Green
My party and the cabinet secretary’s party have different positions on NATO—as I will outline in my speech—but we absolutely agree on the moral obscenity of ...
Angus Robertson
SNP
Yes, absolutely. The Scottish Government supports the objectives of the international Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and the Treaty on the Non-...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I call Alexander Stewart to speak to and move amendment S6M-12372.1. You have around nine minutes, Mr Stewart. 15:11
Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I am pleased to open the debate on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives, although it is disappointing that the Government has chosen to waste parliamentary t...
Ross Greer
Green
Will the member give way?
Alexander Stewart
Con
I will take some time before I take an intervention; I might take one later. My amendment calls for the Government to put a stop to the continuous grandstan...
Angus Robertson
SNP
A majority of MSPs wish to see an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, as do a majority of members of Parliament from Scotland at Westminster. What has the UK Govern...
Alexander Stewart
Con
There are many views and the situation is dire. We have to admit that. I want to see progress on a resolution to things and to see a two-state situation in t...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Mr Stewart, will you resume your seat for a moment? Mr Hoy and Mr Kerr, I have tried to make it clear to you that I do not want to hear separate conversation...
Alexander Stewart
Con
Thank you, Presiding Officer. The SNP Government is clearly willing to continue the same old narrative week after week. Taking such an approach is within it...
Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
This is a crucial time for global democracy, as 2024 will see nearly 2 billion people around the world go to the polls and give their verdicts on their polit...
Keith Brown (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP)
SNP
How can that be the case, given the recruitment and retention crisis, the possible selling off of one of the aircraft carriers, and the Ajax tanks fiasco? Su...
Neil Bibby
Lab
I am just coming on to why that would be the case. The paper does not propose having any aircraft carriers. I pay tribute to our excellent armed forces. The...
Angus Robertson
SNP
Will Neil Bibby give way?
Neil Bibby
Lab
I will in a moment. It has been reported that the cabinet secretary has said that Scotland would join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, but ...
Angus Robertson
SNP
What Neil Bibby has outlined is the position of the Governments of the Kingdom of Denmark, the Kingdom of Norway, Sweden and the Republic of Finland. If it i...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Neil Bibby, I will give you the time back.
Neil Bibby
Lab
Talk about not answering the question! I asked not about Denmark, Finland or Norway—Interruption.—but about the Scottish Government’s position on whether it ...
Angus Robertson
SNP
As Neil Bibby should know, the right of passage for any vessel—conventional or nuclear, armed or powered—is guaranteed under the United Nations Convention on...
Neil Bibby
Lab
The cabinet secretary’s position is extremely confusing. Do we seriously think that NATO would allow a situation whereby a member would prevent it from using...
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
Deputy Presiding Officer, you already know that I think very highly of our Minister for Independence. I think that he is destined for many greater things in ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Mr Rennie, even if you are quoting, as I have made clear before—
Angus Robertson
SNP
He should sit down.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Please resume your seat, Mr Rennie.
Willie Rennie
LD
Certainly.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I would expect members to use language that is fitting for the parliamentary chamber; that was not fitting for the parliamentary chamber.