Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 22 December 2020
For the purposes of rule 9.11 of the standing orders, I advise the Parliament that Her Majesty, having been informed of the purport of the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Bill, has consented to place her prerogative and interests, in so far as they are affected by the bill, at the disposal of the Parliament for the purposes of the bill.
I am pleased to present the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Bill to the Parliament for debate at stage 3. I invite members to agree to pass the bill.
We are nine days away from the end of the transition period that started when the United Kingdom left the European Union and that has protected the UK from feeling the full force of Brexit. It was intended to allow a comprehensive deal to be reached, and it could have been extended. However, despite representations in the strongest possible terms having been made by the Scottish Government and others, no extension was sought by the UK Government.
It is still not too late to say to the UK Government, “For heaven’s sake, be sensible.” Considering what is presently happening at the channel ports, the disaster that is befalling many shellfish dealers and fishermen in Scotland—particularly those in my own constituency—it is utterly extraordinary that the UK Government is proceeding with this madness, and apparently with the support of the Tories in the Scottish Parliament. Let me repeat what the First Minister said this week: please do whatever it takes, Prime Minister, to extend the transition period to ensure that this chaos comes to an end.
It is against that backdrop of instability and chaos that we can see why the bill is vital. Part 1 will provide ministers with the power to align the law in Scotland with that in the EU when that would be in Scotland’s best interests. I am grateful to members from across the chamber who came together to work with me to find a way of ensuring that the power has a clear purpose and is both operable and transparent and that the Parliament’s scrutiny role is appropriately recognised. I pay tribute to Angela Constance, Liam McArthur, Patrick Harvie, Alex Rowley and Mike Rumbles, among others, for their constructive approach in reaching consensus on those vital matters.
Part 2 incorporates into Scots law guiding principles on the environment, to replace the fundamental environmental protections that will be lost as a result of Brexit. It establishes environmental standards Scotland, which will carry out some of the functions that were previously carried out by the European Commission. As there are only nine days to go until 1 January 2021, we shall ask the Parliament, in a motion to endorse the setting up of that body on a non-statutory basis, to bridge that gap. I know that my colleague Roseanna Cunningham has had valuable discussions with the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee and with individual members as part 2 has progressed. I commend Gillian Martin of that committee for her effective management of consideration of the bill at stage 2. I also thank the Finance and Constitution Committee for its work. I thank Liz Smith for her constructive attitude to working on the amendment on the future review of governance, and I know that Roseanna Cunningham thanks her, too. Although the Scottish Government has not been able to support all the amendments, I am grateful to those who lodged them—although, perhaps, when they see a result of 90 votes to 26, they should be able to read the runes.
I commend the bill team, led by Emma Lupinska, which I have to say has been exceptional. I speak as someone who knows a thing or two about bill teams. I think that this is my ninth or 10th bill—not just this year, although it feels as though it could be so. However, I also have to say, with regret—although it will not be met with regret by some members in the chamber—that for both Roseanna Cunningham and me it is likely, although not certain, given the unpredictable situation, to be the last piece of legislation that we will take through the Parliament. That is an important part of the job of a minister, and it is a very important part of the job of a parliamentarian. I have learned a great deal during the legislative process, and I hope that I have been able to pass some of that on from time to time.
I move,
That the Parliament agrees that the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Bill be passed.