Chamber and committees

Requirements for border staff will be subject to the trade arrangements agreed between the EU and the UK at the time, and negotiations following independence.

As detailed in Building a New Scotland: A stronger economy with independence (October 2022) an independent Scotland could draw from best practice around the world, seeking to agree and develop the form of border that works best for our circumstances and needs and those of our partners in the EU and in the rest of the UK.

Scotland already has infrastructure and processes in place to operate its current border, including, for example, customs processes at airports, and Trading Standards Officers who may check at the point of sale that non-compliant goods are not being placed on the market.

There is a long-standing Common Travel Area (CTA) in these islands. This allows for free movement between the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man for citizens of those territories. The Scottish Government is committed to the protection of the CTA and the associated reciprocal rights for British, Irish and Scottish citizens after independence. Maintenance of the CTA would mean that there would be no new passport or immigration checks at any of an independent Scotland’s land, sea of air border points with the UK and Ireland and British, Irish and Scottish citizens would have the right to move freely within the CTA.

Further information can be found in Building a New Scotland: citizenship in an independent Scotland - gov.scot.

I refer the member to the answer to S6W-38005 on 25 June 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

Building a New Scotland: A stronger economy with independence (October 2022) provides details on trade with the rest of the UK following Independence.

It should also be noted that the nature of the border between an independent Scotland as an EU member state and the UK will depend on negotiations between the UK Government and the EU. For example, the UK and EU are currently negotiating an SPS Agreement which would reduce border checks.

Ultimately trade with the rest of the UK would be based on the trade arrangements agreed between the EU and the UK at the time. Agreements between the EU and UK are subject to change and we welcome the renewed momentum to improve relations with the EU which may further reduce in the barriers to trade.

The Scottish Government is committed to providing people with what independence would mean for them. As a result, we have now published thirteen papers in Building a new Scotland series, with a final overview paper to follow in due course.

For additional information I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-37999 on 25 June. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-38001 on 25 June 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

Tariffs for any new member of the World Trade Organization are a matter for negotiation with existing WTO member countries. The Scottish Government has held no discussions of this kind.

The mental health and wellbeing of children and young people is an absolute priority for the Scottish Government. Since 2021, we have continued to support our local authority partners with £16 million in funding to ensure that all school pupils aged 10 and above and all secondary schools in Scotland have access to school counselling services.

Funding for school counselling services was established in the 2019-20 financial year and therefore the table below outlines the distribution and allocation of funding since 2019-20. The funding for the years 2019–20 to 2022–23 was ring-fenced for the provision of counselling services. From 2023–24 onwards, this funding has been baselined in the overall local government settlement.

The following figures represent funding provided to local authorities for the provision of counselling services. The Scottish Government does not hold information on how much has been spent on counsellors in schools as local authorities are responsible for the delivery of education. Local authorities may hold this information.

Funding distribution and allocations - Scottish Government funding for delivering access to counsellors in schools

Scottish Government Officials and Ministers regularly engage with Scottish business representatives to inform policy. Engagement with businesses in Scotland informed the production of the BANS series, including Building a New Scotland: A stronger economy with independence (October 2022) which details how businesses will be supported on trade.

The proposals in the paper include support services and guidance to help traders understand and comply with any new arrangements. Working with industry to identify the right focus areas, the Scottish Government would seek to bring forward a range of measures – targeted across sectors and developed in response to trading conditions on the ground. Advice and guidance would be made available to businesses, such as through websites, helplines, and government-backed stakeholder support sessions.

The Scottish Government would also establish a support service for exporters to maximise Scotland’s export growth opportunities through our new trading arrangements. We also commit to supporting businesses with administrative requirements. We know that Scottish businesses have considerable expertise in trading internationally and would be best placed to determine which support measures are the most helpful. On re-joining the EU, we would work with business to provide the right practical help as new arrangements come into force.

Building a New Scotland: A stronger economy with independence (October 2022) provides details on trade with the rest of the UK following Independence.

The nature of the border between an independent Scotland as an EU member state and the UK will depend on negotiations between the UK Government and the EU. For example, the UK and EU are currently negotiating an SPS Agreement which would reduce border checks.

Ultimately trade with the rest of the UK would be based on the trade arrangements agreed between the EU and the UK at the time. Agreements between the EU and UK are subject to change and we welcome the renewed momentum to improve relations with the EU which may further reduce in the barriers to trade.