Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 28 January 2026 [Draft]
28 Jan 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Portfolio Question Time
Constitution, External Affairs and Culture Portfolio Funding (Value for Money)
Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, and Parliamentary Business
Brexit has been an unmitigated economic and social disaster. Its red tape has increased costs to businesses and hit Scotland’s trade with our largest international export market, which is the European Union. Recent research estimates that, in 2023, the United Kingdom suffered a 2.5 per cent hit to gross domestic product as a result of Brexit, which is forecast to increase to 5.7 per cent by 2035. In Scotland, it equates to a cut in public revenues of around £2.3 billion in 2023 alone. I will take no lessons from the Tories on external affairs.
In the same item of business
2. Tess White (North East Scotland) (Con)
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures value for money when allocating funding within the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture portfolio. (S6O-0...
The Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture (Angus Robertson)
SNP
The constitution, external affairs and culture portfolio received £415.8 million in the Scottish Government draft budget for 2026-27. That represents a £36.1...
Tess White
Con
The Government’s tax and spending plans show that funding for international and European relations will rise by 29.3 per cent. Two years ago, it rose by 12 p...
Angus Robertson
SNP
I am genuinely surprised that Tess White is not aware that the increase in the external affairs advice and policy budget reflects the inward transfer of budg...
Alasdair Allan (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP)
SNP
It is grimly amusing to hear a Tory use the words “value for money”, “funding” and “external affairs” in the same sentence. Scotland still awaits from the To...
Angus Robertson
SNP
Brexit has been an unmitigated economic and social disaster. Its red tape has increased costs to businesses and hit Scotland’s trade with our largest interna...