Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 15 May 2025
15 May 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Scotland in Today’s Europe
I am happy to make an intervention. No, I would not be pleased to see defence and security co-operation being conditional on any other consideration. I believe that defence and security serve us all, and they should be key priorities. However, I hope that the member recognises that it is a hugely deficient situation that, with only Friday, Saturday and Sunday—three days—to go until the summit meeting in London, and when he is able to read about the issues on the front pages of UK newspapers, Government ministers in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Northern Ireland have not been informed by the UK Government about any of the detailed discussions.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-17539, in the name of Angus Robertson, on Scotland in today’s Europe. I invite members who wish to partic...
The Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture (Angus Robertson)
SNP
This year, we mark 75 years since the signing of the Schuman declaration on 9 May 1950. Last Friday, I and others in the chamber celebrated Europe day and th...
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD)
LD
The Liberal Democrats will support today’s Government motion. The cabinet secretary is right to refer to the European Coal and Steel Community, the establish...
Angus Robertson
SNP
I thank the Liberal Democrats for their support for the Government’s motion. It has been drafted in a way that has received a welcome from other parties, whi...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
I agree with the sentiment that the cabinet secretary expresses, but does he agree that that sentiment would be given fuller expression if the UK and the EU ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I can give you the time back, cabinet secretary.
Angus Robertson
SNP
I certainly agree that sanctions should be respected and that any evidence of companies trying to get round those should be brought to light. Interruption. I...
Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?
Angus Robertson
SNP
If the member does not mind, I will not take the intervention now as I want to make a bit more progress. It is important that we understand and respect that...
Stephen Kerr
Con
Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?
Angus Robertson
SNP
I will.
Stephen Kerr
Con
I am grateful to the cabinet secretary. I wanted to intervene earlier, when he talked about the forthcoming UK-EU summit in London. He will have seen, as I s...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Cabinet secretary, I can give you the time back for the intervention.
Angus Robertson
SNP
I will come to that specifically in a moment, and, indeed, in my summing up; I will answer that in full in the course of the debate, for reasons that will be...
Clare Adamson (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP)
SNP
During your discussions with the UK Government, has there been any detail about an agreement that was sought involving the potential fisheries arrangements—a...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Always speak through the chair.
Angus Robertson
SNP
I confirm to Clare Adamson and to the Parliament that the United Kingdom Government has had no detailed discussion with the Scottish Government, the Northern...
Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Will the member take an intervention?
Angus Robertson
SNP
I will give way to Mr Bibby. He might be able to explain that.
Neil Bibby
Lab
Well, I will explain to the cabinet secretary that if we rejoined the EU—as is his position—we would be rejoining the common fisheries policy. On economic g...
Angus Robertson
SNP
I always welcome economic growth, but I will not welcome holding discussions on behalf of the Parliament, the Scottish Government and the country but not inv...
Alex Cole-Hamilton
LD
The cabinet secretary kindly invited me to intervene at this stage in his remarks, and I am gratified to hear that a number of the clauses that were in the L...
Angus Robertson
SNP
Indeed, they are, and there is largely consensus on that. At least, perhaps there is consensus—I am not entirely sure what the position of the Scottish Conse...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Thank you, cabinet secretary. I call Stephen Kerr to speak to and move amendment S6M-17539.4. You have a generous eight minutes, Mr Kerr. 15:14
Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
I do not think that the cabinet secretary actually answered the question that I asked in my intervention. I am happy for him to intervene on me to answer the...
Angus Robertson
SNP
I am happy to make an intervention. No, I would not be pleased to see defence and security co-operation being conditional on any other consideration. I belie...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I can give you the time back, Mr Kerr.
Stephen Kerr
Con
The relationship between the Scottish Government and the UK Government is a long-running story. On taking office, the Labour Party thought that it could rese...
Douglas Lumsden (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
Will the member take an intervention?
Stephen Kerr
Con
Of course I will.