Meeting of the Parliament 26 February 2025
I have already outlined the backdrop against which the debate is taking place and said that we should unite on many key principles, which I hope John Mason will support.
Although it is currently the responsibility of the UK Government to issue licences for arms exports, we should be clear and united in our calls for the UK Government to use its powers to stop arms exports to Israel and to protect the lives of those who have suffered so much.
As the Scottish Government’s amendment states, the focus should be on extending the ceasefire, securing the release of the remaining hostages and ensuring that humanitarian aid reaches the people of Gaza. It also outlines support for a two-state solution and calls on the UK Government to officially recognise the state of Palestine in order to break the political impasse that has condemned Israelis and Palestinians to successive cycles of violence.
The Green motion does not address the wider backdrop against which this debate is taking place. The Government believes that such issues should be aired and voted on today, but I appreciate that the Greens have been consistent in their support for a recognised Palestinian state, too.
I am aware of the concerns that have been expressed about the support that Scottish Enterprise provides to companies that are involved in the defence sector in Scotland. Scottish Enterprise operates a human rights due diligence process when it awards any funding, including funding to companies in the defence sector. It does not provide funding for the manufacture of weapons or munitions, in line with the Government’s long-standing policy. We have fulfilled the commitment, to which Lorna Slater referred, that was given back in 2019.
The due diligence process is designed to ensure that public funds are not directed to companies that engage in activities that contravene international law or human rights standards. The checks involve an assessment of each company’s operations, with cross-referencing against a number of independent resources. Any awarding of grants follows careful scrutiny and assurances that the companies in question meet the required ethical standards and have passed the due diligence checks.
The Scottish Government funding that is given to many of the companies that are being discussed in the context of this debate is largely directed towards the diversification away from core defence activities. We must also acknowledge that Scotland benefits from being home to highly skilled industries that contribute to national and international security at the same time. However, I appreciate the concerns that have been raised and the calls for Scottish Enterprise to review its human rights due diligence checks to ensure that it takes into account a product’s end use, so we will support the Labour Party’s amendment to ensure that the due diligence process is always as robust as it can be.
Our amendment speaks to the values that the Government holds. As I said, it calls for peace in Gaza, for humanitarian aid to be provided and for a lasting two-state solution. It urges the UK Government to suspend arms exports to Israel and it sends a clear and unequivocal message that the Parliament does not believe that any public funding should go towards the supply of arms to Israel.
I move amendment S6M-16571.3, to leave out from first “notes” to end and insert:
“reiterates its unwavering support for the ceasefire in Gaza, for the calls for all efforts to be made to ensure an extension of the ceasefire, for humanitarian aid to reach people in Gaza, and for the remaining hostages to be released; recognises and supports the humanitarian assistance that the Scottish Government has provided to the people of Gaza; calls for recognition of a Palestinian state and a two-state solution; recognises that Scottish Enterprise does not provide funding for the manufacture of weapons or munitions; notes that Scottish Enterprise operates a human rights due diligence process in the awarding of any funding; recognises that responsibility for issuing licences for the export of arms is reserved to the UK Government; calls for the suspension of arms exports to Israel, and does not believe that any public funding should be going to supply arms to Israel.”
15:04Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.