Hansard

Jamie Halcro Johnston deserves a medal for his contribution and for drawing some great credit from the two trade deals with New Zealand and Australia. They are the only tangible so-called benefit that we have had from Brexit in six and a half years. Not even George Eustice has recognised the benefit of the trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand. In fact, he criticised them even though he was the minister who, in part, negotiated the deals.

I would have hoped that Jamie Halcro Johnston could have perhaps acknowledged that this is a pathetic set of trade deals. Of course we support free trade, and of course the opportunity to export across the world benefits Scottish and UK producers, but to hold the bill up as a great success is not realistic, and I think that Jamie Halcro Johnston truly knows that.

We will support the motion at decision time. There should be greater scrutiny by and involvement from the Parliament, and there should be greater partnership between the Scottish and UK Governments on trade deals, so it is disappointing that we are here again with the same old song.

We support Labour’s amendment. We think that it is appropriate for the Parliament, not just the ministers, to have the power. In fact, the Scottish Government has criticised UK ministers for holding on to powers when there should be scrutiny by the Parliament.

However, it is depressing—utterly depressing—that, once again, we have two Governments that seem to be incapable of agreeing between themselves on an important area. Perhaps that is an area of process, but it is nevertheless important for people’s livelihoods. For the wit of man, we should be able to get the two Governments to work together to work up an arrangement for scrutiny by the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government of any international trade deals. As Daniel Johnson has highlighted, other countries manage to do that, so why can we not do that as well?

It is perhaps the fact that, over the past 15 years, the Government has taken every single—often cheap—opportunity to attack whoever is in power at Westminster. Perhaps that has led to this day. The relationship has broken so badly that both sides are incapable of agreeing. That is why we need reform of the United Kingdom and a change of Governments both north and south of the border.

We need free trade and co-operation between the two Governments for the sake of the businesses that produce excellent-quality products. They deserve to be able to export those products across the world. However, they also deserve to have politicians in the Parliament scrutinising trade deals, applying our expertise to them, and ensuring that they are fit for purpose. However, once again, we have two Governments that have let us down and that have been incapable of reaching agreement. I hope that, one day, we will manage to get some co-operation, although I suspect that that day may be some time away.