Chamber and committees

In 2025, there is to be a scheduled review of the trade and co-operation agreement, and the UK and Scottish Governments should be working together to take the opportunity to fix mistakes in the Brexit process.

That is the serious work that the Scottish Government could be doing to mend the broken relationship with our EU counterparts. As Alex Rowley highlighted, the Scottish Government should be looking at what it could do now to improve conditions in Scotland. Instead, it continues the fantasy of the ideological pipe dream of independence, which does nothing to help the people of Scotland. The people of Scotland deserve better and Labour is prepared to pave the way to make that happen.

In the past few months, we have seen countless debates on the SNP’s ideological pipe dream of independence, and valuable taxpayers’ money has been spent on the white paper outlining that fantasy scenario. This vital time in the chamber could have been used to address the many people in Scotland who are still struggling with the cost of living crisis. We could be discussing the vast array of health and social inequalities that are still present in Scotland, or addressing the serious problem with NHS and mental health support waiting times. Instead, we are here to once again talk about independence.

The SNP is doubling down on politics of division in a desperate attempt to distract from the real problems faced by people in Scotland. As Maurice Golden and Neil Bibby outlined, the SNP is wasting money working on myths and fantasy. Instead of hypothetical papers outlining a series of ifs, whens and maybes, the Scottish Government could, right now, be implementing policies that can minimise the damage caused by Brexit.

Willie Rennie highlighted that the UK’s withdrawal from the Erasmus programme meant the loss of opportunities for thousands of Scottish students to travel and study abroad. The opportunity for thousands of international students who would have wanted to visit and study in Scotland was also lost.

If the Scottish Government is serious in its ambition to build a more vibrant, visible and connected Scottish community around the world, it must replace the Erasmus scheme. In order to maintain good relations with the EU, the Scottish Government must commit to renewing an international student exchange programme.

The Welsh Labour—

I find it very difficult to understand our cabinet secretaries and ministers: we are out of Europe now, so why are we talking about the past when a lot of colleagues have said that we should move forward? If they can do it in Wales, why can we not do it in Scotland? Why are we just talking about what we have done? Why should we not move forward?

Clare Adamson outlined that the Brexit disaster has isolated the UK from the benefits that EU members are receiving as part of the customs union. By the Scottish Government’s own admission, for an independent Scotland to join the EU would take years of complex negotiations and deals—not to mention the chaos that would ensue from trying to separate Scotland from the place with which it shares a border, a currency, countless institutions and an internal market.

If Brexit has taught us anything, it is that withdrawing from an economic and political union is shrouded in difficulty and regret. Neil Bibby highlighted the mess that the Tories have made over Brexit. They created divisions and difficult relationships with our European allies and economic partners, and they created a sea of chaos for businesses seeking to maintain trade and business in Europe. As has already been said in the chamber many times, however, independence is not the solution to Brexit chaos.

Labour wants to make Brexit work. Revisiting old rows will only create more divisions and distractions from the real and immediate problems facing people in Scotland.

Labour’s priority in government will be to improve our relationship with our closest neighbours to help businesses and working people in Scotland and across Britain. We would review and tear down unnecessary trade barriers and seek a new defence and security pact with the EU.

Finally, Kevin Stewart spoke—[Interruption.] I am bringing up Mr Stewart’s points.

Kevin Stewart spoke of the Balkan states throwing off their imperial rulers. Is the SNP still trying to compare Scotland’s union with the UK to being an imperial colony? That is insulting to all those countries that fought hard for independence from Scotland as part of the United Kingdom. The SNP needs to focus on what the people of Scotland desperately need, instead of doubling down on a useless argument for independence.

We would seek to end divisions between the UK and the EU due to Brexit, and to reset our relations in Europe.

I have a lot to get through.

The cabinet secretary recently informed me that

“Social Security Scotland are committed to ensuring people applying for disability assistance are helped to provide supporting information, which can include obtaining it on their behalf.”—[Written Answers, 14 November 2023; S6W-22558.]

A constituent of mine advised that, as his claim was being considered, he was not contacted once and nor were the clinicians whom he provided to verify the claims. What data is kept on the number of applicants who may need additional assistance with applications? How often is that reviewed?

To ask the Scottish Government how it holds Social Security Scotland to account to ensure that it is fulfilling its responsibility to help claimants, who request support, to provide supporting information, including obtaining it on their behalf. (S6O-03009)