Chamber and committees

Work on the global affairs framework is continuing and the framework will be published in due course.

Scotland’s international network works to create domestic opportunities, attract investment and, ultimately, benefit the people of Scotland. Our offices are focused on improving Scotland’s international profile, helping businesses to trade internationally and protecting Scotland’s interests in the European Union and beyond. Together, that will continue to further Scotland’s economic, cultural and policy visibility in key countries in the months and years ahead.

As I have mentioned, the constitutional futures division that is working on the prospectus is comprised of one senior civil servant and 14 other officials. The far-reaching consequences of Brexit have meant that almost all parts of the Scottish Government have had, or continue to have, officials dedicated to assessing and responding to the UK’s exit from the European Union.

Brexit has resulted in exports of UK goods falling by 14 per cent in the three months to January, while the global average continued to rise over the same period. The opportunities of independence stand in stark contrast to the economic damage that is being caused by Brexit, and it must be up to the people of Scotland to decide their future.

I wrote to the Russian ambassador on 26 February condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in the strongest possible terms and laying out the Scottish Government’s position that Russia’s illegal aggression against Ukraine had no conceivable justification.

I have not received a response from the Russian ambassador. I will continue to condemn Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and to offer my unqualified support for Ukrainian sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

That is a key question from Kenneth Gibson. Although the United Kingdom Government has outlined the overall value of the shared prosperity fund, Scotland’s specific allocation is still to be determined, and it remains unclear what methods will be used to allocate the fund nationally. There has been no indication that it will be top-sliced from Barnet consequentials. In November 2020, Scottish Government officials calculated that replacing the European structural funds, including the European territorial co-operation and LEADER programmes, would require £183 million of funding per year.

Despite the engagement to which I drew attention a moment ago, there is a strong likelihood that, in financial terms, the UK shared prosperity fund will be insufficient. Last autumn, the announcement of the UK spending review noted that the fund will provide only £2.6 billion over three years across the whole of the UK, with £560 million of that already ring fenced for the UK Government’s multiply programme on adult numeracy. That falls far short of the calculations of what is necessary to maintain the levels of investment of the European Union structural funds. Replacing the European regional development fund and the European social fund in Scotland would require £162 million per year, and an additional £21 million would be required each year to continue the work of the LEADER and European territorial co-operation programmes.

I would welcome the co-operation of Scottish Conservative Party members to apply pressure on the UK Government to at least match the commitment that was shown to Scotland by the European Union, which the UK has not done so far.

The work to prepare an independence prospectus is being co-ordinated by the constitutional futures division within the Scottish Government’s constitution and Cabinet directorate. That division is currently comprised of one senior civil servant and 14 other officials. The work will draw on other officials across a range of portfolios, who will contribute to varying extents as part of their wider responsibilities in supporting the Scottish Government.

I commend the member for the implicit recognition in his original question that there will be an independence referendum. That is very welcome.

The member and I differed on the issue in the Scottish Parliament election last year but, as democrats, I hope that we all recognise that the parties that were committed to there being a referendum won the election, and that the parties that opposed a referendum, such as his, lost the election.

We are now getting on with delivering on the policy of the Government, including a prospectus, ahead of the independence referendum, and I look forward to further announcements on that in the future.

I always thought that, in a democracy, it was recognised by democrats, including those who stood in the name of the member’s party, the Liberal Democrats, that when one stood in an election on a manifesto that opposed something and lost, the party that won that election—which in this case it did on a manifesto to deliver a referendum—should deliver on that. I would have thought that even a Liberal Democrat would recognise that the democratic result of last year’s election would compel us to get on with our policy platform, instead of jeering from the sidelines in opposition to that democratic result.

I start by thanking all members who have participated in this afternoon’s debate. This year in particular, Commonwealth day was a timely reminder of the importance of friendship and community between nations, and the importance of upholding values that we share and hold dear. I am grateful to Sarah Boyack for lodging the motion.

As members have already noted, Commonwealth day was marked earlier this month with celebrations taking place in Commonwealth nations across the globe. My colleague Keith Brown, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans, was honoured to represent Scotland at the Commonwealth day service at Westminster abbey.

Today, I am particularly appreciative of the Commonwealth’s key role in fostering dialogue and promoting peace and prosperity around the world. I would also like to recognise the important work that the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association is doing to promote good governance, parliamentary oversight and accountability.

As many members have noted, the Commonwealth is a family of nations that have committed to the values that are set out in the Commonwealth charter: values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Those are the same values that underpin the Scottish Government’s international approach to being a good global citizen.

Multilateral organisations, such as the Commonwealth, which gives an equal voice to member states of all sizes, provide the ideal forum for likeminded nations to come together to share ideas and experiences, endeavouring to find shared solutions to shared challenges, and, indeed to deliver a common future. The Scottish Government looks forward to the day when we can engage with multilateral institutions, including with the Commonwealth and its members, as sovereign equals.

Just last year, though we were not at the negotiating table, the 26th United Nations climate change conference of the parties—COP26—gave us the opportunity to see at first hand the major convening power and unparalleled international prominence that such multinational events carry with them.

COP26 also served to highlight the global inequality that is still all too real. That is why the Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that the developed world realises its commitments to help developing countries reduce emissions, adapt to an already changing climate and address the losses and damages that are already being suffered. Scotland committed to trebling our climate justice fund and put £2 million on the table for loss and damage, showing solidarity with those who are most impacted by climate change. That, of course, echoed the Commonwealth’s contribution at COP26, championing and amplifying the voices of members, including climate-vulnerable small states.

I have been pleased to hear about the important work that the Commonwealth women parliamentarians network is doing to enshrine women's full and equal participation in political and parliamentary leadership at all levels. At COP26, the First Minister, in partnership with UN Women, launched the Glasgow women’s leadership statement on gender equality and climate change. I hope that women leaders from across the Commonwealth will join those from Tanzania, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Canada and Pakistan in adding their names to the statement.

This year, it is really encouraging that the postponed Commonwealth heads of Government conference will go ahead, hosted by our partner country Rwanda, in the beautiful city of Kigali. This Parliament knows how highly we value our close relationship with partner countries: Malawi, Zambia, Rwanda and Pakistan, all of which are members of the Commonwealth of Nations. International development is a key part of Scotland’s global contribution within the international community. It encompasses our core values, historical and contemporary, of fairness and equality. We are, for example, funding 11 projects through the Malawi development programme. Those projects cover the themes of health, education, renewable energy, civic governance and sustainable economic development. With specific regard to the Covid-19 response, in February, we announced a further £1.5 million to support equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines and therapeutics in three African countries. That follows support that we have made available throughout the pandemic, including funding for UNICEF, to meet specific needs in Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia.

Parliament also knows the fantastic work that our international network is doing, including GlobalScot and Scotland Development International. Across the world, they help us boost ties and further Scotland’s economic, cultural and policy visibility, including in Commonwealth members such as Australia, Canada, Singapore and India.

The Scottish Government is committed to promoting international human rights standards in a manner that has practical impact. I would, therefore, like to recognise the important work of the Commonwealth secretariat's human rights unit, which helps Commonwealth countries to establish and strengthen their own national human rights institutions.

Scotland is a proudly inclusive nation, and we continue to work hard to ensure that nobody is denied rights or opportunities because of their sexuality or gender. We understand that ensuring that internationally recognised human rights having a meaningful, everyday effect is a core function of Government, and Scotland stands ready to play its part in assisting others where we have knowledge and good practice to share.

As members will remember, in 2014, Scotland welcomed Commonwealth members from across the world when we successfully hosted the Commonwealth games—our largest-ever multisport and cultural event. As active champions for LGBTI equality, we supported Pride House Glasgow, which was the first ever pride house at any Commonwealth games to receive Government support.

With 2022 marking Her Majesty the Queen’s platinum jubilee, a special focus of Commonwealth day celebrations was rightly placed on the role of service in the lives of people and communities across the Commonwealth. Although we might not always agree, members across this chamber are united in our service to our constituents and to the people of Scotland.

I again thank Sarah Boyack for lodging today’s motion, which I am pleased to support.