Hansard

The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone) NPA

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-11698, in the name of Clare Adamson, on behalf of the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture ...

Clare Adamson (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) SNP

Presiding Officer, could you confirm how much time I have for my opening speech?

The Presiding Officer NPA

You have 12 minutes.

Clare Adamson SNP

Thank you very much. I put on record my thanks to our committee clerks, colleagues from across other legislatures and all those who gave evidence to our inqu...

John Swinney (Perthshire North) (SNP) SNP

I am enjoying Clare Adamson’s thoughtful and substantial speech. Has the committee considered what the respective roles of the United Kingdom Government and ...

Clare Adamson SNP

That is one of the aspects that we have considered. The committee looked at how the common frameworks are developed, and we noted that there is a lack of tra...

The Presiding Officer NPA

I call Angus Robertson. You have up to 11 minutes, cabinet secretary. 14:51

The Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture (Angus Robertson) SNP

Thank you very much. Happy new year to you, Presiding Officer, and to members right across the chamber. Like Clare Adamson, I am delighted to participate in...

John Swinney SNP

Before the cabinet secretary develops his argument, I wonder whether I could take him back to his opening argument about the actions of the public in Scotlan...

Angus Robertson SNP

John Swinney makes his point clearly and persuasively. I am really keen that, given that the report was agreed unanimously—all the political parties were in ...

Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

Is that not what the convener was seeking earlier in relation to the definition of “not normally”? In the period up to 2018, the only breach was an error—tha...

Angus Robertson SNP

Indeed, it is. I encourage the member and other colleagues who have views on how governance in the UK might be improved to share them. I believe that the is...

John Swinney SNP

Will the cabinet secretary give way?

Angus Robertson SNP

I ask Mr Swinney to forgive me, as I will overrun if I take an intervention at this stage. The committee’s report states: “It is essential that we have the...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

I can confirm to members that we have no time in hand for this afternoon’s debate, so members will have to stick to their speaking allocations. 15:03

Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

I am delighted to open the debate on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives. At the outset, I state that the Scottish Conservatives are clear about the importa...

Kate Forbes (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

Alexander Stewart Con

I want to make a little progress, but I will come back to the member. Philip Rycroft told the committee that “you have to see Brexit as a break point in al...

Kate Forbes SNP

The member said that the post-Brexit period was a test for intergovernmental relations and democracy. Has the UK Government passed that test or failed it?

Alexander Stewart Con

That is a good question to ask, because, as I said, there has been conflict and it continues. That period is still on-going, and we need to look at what we c...

John Swinney SNP

Will Alexander Stewart give way?

Alexander Stewart Con

No, not at the moment. The report also sets out a possible vision for tackling some of those challenges. It received input from the UK Government and the Sc...

John Swinney SNP

Will Mr Stewart give his opinion on the question that I put to the convener about whether there should be changes to the intergovernmental frameworks to enab...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

I call Alexander Stewart.

Alexander Stewart Con

The convener partly answered Mr Swinney’s question about how that would happen. There has been and continues to be a need for the UK Government to understand...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

Although I always encourage interventions, I urge members to try to keep them as concise as possible. I call Neil Bibby. 15:12

Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab

Thank you, Presiding Officer. I wish you and every member across the chamber a very happy new year. I join the convener of the Constitution, Europe, Externa...

John Swinney SNP

Mr Bibby made the important point that two additional tranches of powers have been allocated to this Parliament. I would contend—I think that Mr Bibby would ...

Neil Bibby Lab

I will come on to that. There are clearly concerns about how devolution has been undermined in recent years post-Brexit. In terms of the democratic way forwa...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

I want you to close.