Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 20 March 2024
20 Mar 2024 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill
If people want to change the foreign or trade policy of the United Kingdom, they can do so at a general election, but I do not think that we should be tearing up the devolution settlement and rewriting the UK constitution just because of Mr Johnson’s concerns.
I am not surprised that the Scottish National Party and the Greens object to the bill, as they do not want the UK Government to have foreign or trade policy. I am a little bit surprised, however, that the Labour Party seems to share that view.
Despite the minister dressing up the issue as a great matter of constitutional principle, there is another angle to it that should concern us.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-12551, in the name Tom Arthur, on the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill, which i...
The Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance (Tom Arthur)
SNP
The United Kingdom Government’s Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill engages the legislative consent process because it would limit the...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
As we have heard, the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill intends to prevent public bodies, including local councils, national health ...
Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Lab
I am afraid that I am going to disappoint Murdo Fraser. Ultimately, is it not the job of public bodies to use their judgment in accordance with their values?...
Murdo Fraser
Con
If people want to change the foreign or trade policy of the United Kingdom, they can do so at a general election, but I do not think that we should be tearin...
Tom Arthur
SNP
Murdo Fraser says that, in his view, the bill relates to trade and foreign affairs. In that case, why do the explanatory notes to the bill, as published by t...
Murdo Fraser
Con
I will come on to explain why I have wider concerns about the proposed legislation, and the minister should listen. There are many oppressive regimes and st...
Tom Arthur
SNP
Israel is already party to relevant agreements that give bidders from Israel the relevant protections in domestic procurement law in Scotland. I know that Mr...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I can give Murdo Fraser the time back for the interventions.
Murdo Fraser
Con
I do not understand why the minister does not recognise the concerns in the Jewish community in Scotland, which I have just referred to, about the approach t...
Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Lab
I will begin by agreeing with the minister, who set out very clearly the context in which the legislation is taking place. It is right to acknowledge and rep...
Murdo Fraser
Con
Can Daniel Johnson name any other countries, with human rights records far worse than that of Israel, that there have been campaigns to sanction? This debate...
Daniel Johnson
Lab
They may well not receive such prominence, but there are campaigns against procurement from Myanmar and from China because of the Uyghur situation. The situa...
Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (SNP)
SNP
Mr Johnson made the point that the campaign against anti-apartheid South Africa was largely led by local authorities in Scotland and throughout the rest of t...
Daniel Johnson
Lab
Indeed, and I think that Mr Fraser and others would need to answer for themselves. In my view, it is important that democratic bodies such as local governme...
Tom Arthur
SNP
I thank members for their contributions. The strength of feeling about the bill is obvious to anyone who is watching the debate. It is clear that, although ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
That concludes the debate. There will be a brief pause to allow for a changeover of members on the front benches.