Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government set out proposals in the paper A Stronger Economy with Independence for the two main trunk routes between Scotland and England in a scenario in which an independent Scotland was in the EU and the rest of the UK was not. It should be noted that the Common Travel Area means there would be no new passport or immigration checks at any of an independent Scotland’s land, sea or air border points with the UK and Ireland for those travelling within it.

The UK Government is currently negotiating an SPS Agreement with the EU. Precise border arrangements between the EU and the UK will not be known until the conclusion of those negotiations. The Scottish Government supports an ambitious agreement to minimise checks and delays. We also continue to press the UK Government to drop its red line on UK membership of the Customs Union and Single Market to mitigate some of the damage of Brexit and smooth trade between the UK and EU.

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 question S6W-38000 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.

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.

With Independence, Scotland, like all independent countries, would control its borders. Details of how this would impact on movement of people and trade were published in Building a New Scotland: A stronger economy with independence (October 2022).

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 or air border points with the UK and Ireland and British, Irish and Scottish citizens would have the right to move freely within the CTA.

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.

Building a new Scotland: Independence in the modern world. Wealthier, happier, fairer: why not Scotland (June 22) looks at the potential impact of Independence on GDP. The paper sets out that comparable European independent countries to Scotland have higher national income per head than the UK. Across the ten comparator countries GDP per person in 2021 was on average £14,000 higher than in Scotland. The case of Ireland is used as an illustration which shows greater trade diversity coincided with substantial growth in the Irish economy.

It should further be noted that the Office For Budget Responsibility estimates Brexit will reduce UK GDP by 4 per cent in the long-run compared with continuing EU membership.

Scottish public procurement contracts are already delivered by Scottish and international businesses.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-38009 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.

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.

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.

I refer the member to the answer to question 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.