Yes, indeed, convener. I just want to say a few words.
I am pleased to be here this morning to discuss developments since the publication of the committee’s report on the Trade Bill legislative consent memorandum and the Scottish Government’s response last November. The Trade Bill was originally described by the United Kingdom Government as legislation that would build a future UK trade policy after Brexit, although what was introduced in November 2017 was more limited in scope and fell some way short of that ambition.
The committee will be aware that, despite some changes that have been made to the bill since then, we still have concerns about it and the constraints that it puts on the powers of Scottish ministers in devolved areas. Mike Russell wrote to the committee on 11 March to confirm that, in the absence of any movement by the UK Government to address the Scottish Government’s concerns in relation to the Trade Bill, the Scottish Government cannot seek formal legislative consent for it.
More generally, the bill neither provides for sufficient scrutiny of trade arrangements by either the Scottish or UK Parliaments nor establishes the role of devolved Administrations in the development of future UK trade arrangements. The paper that the committee has published ahead of this morning’s meeting sets out the various strands of activity that are under way in that area. I will not rehearse what that paper says; suffice it to say that the committee’s consideration of the role of devolved Administrations in the development of future trade arrangements is well timed.
When I spoke to the Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee last week, I said that one thing is clear: if the UK is to create an independent trade policy, there is a huge amount to do. It is therefore essential that the devolved Administrations and legislatures play a full part in that work and that the voice of Scotland’s commercial and trade interests be heard.
The Scottish Government is serious about enhancing and securing Scotland’s role in future trade arrangements, not just for its own sake but because we know the importance of trade to the success of our economy. A discussion paper that we published last year makes the case for a guaranteed role for the Scottish Government and the Parliament in all stages of the formulation, negotiation, agreement and implementation of future trading arrangements. We are continuing to press that case in discussions with the UK Government and colleagues from Wales and Northern Ireland to ensure that the economic and social needs of all parts of the UK are protected and promoted.
For its part, the UK Government has made some suggestions about how that can be achieved. The committee will not be surprised to hear that we do not think they go far enough yet, but we are still talking. At the same time, we are working across Government and beyond to identify what matters to the Scottish economy and, in particular, the key differences between Scotland and the UK that must be taken into account in developing and negotiating trade deals that benefit the whole of the UK.
The scope of modern trade deals is increasing, and typically they now deal with and merge a range of reserved and devolved policy areas. That is why it is so important that devolved Administrations and legislatures play a full part in developing them.
Convener, I know that you have written to all parliamentary committees to seek views on the matter, and that exercise will be invaluable. We have made it clear that the Parliament as well as the Scottish Government must have a role, and I look forward to discussing what that might mean in practice.