Chamber and committees

Scotland is an active and valued partner in European research collaborations. Higher Education Institutions in Scotland have secured a total of 185 million and Research Institutions secured 18 million under Horizon 2020 (up to July 2016) based on our world-class research.

The UK Government’s guarantee on European funding, including Horizon 2020, is welcome as far as it goes. However, the guarantee fails to take account of the impact of uncertainty on potential collaborations and it does not take account of the longer-term funding and other benefits that we otherwise would have received through continuing membership of the EU—including through future framework programmes.

The Scottish Government will publish proposals over the coming weeks that would allow Scotland to stay in the single market and to preserve aspects of our relationship with the EU, even if the rest of the UK is intending to leave.

Analysis published by the Scottish Government (“Potential Implications of the UK Leaving the EU on Scotland’s Long Run Economic Performance”) on 23 August 2016 summarises the impact that leaving the EU could have on the Scottish economy based on a range of recent studies covering different trading relationships that the UK could adopt.

The analysis shows that the potential cost to Scottish GDP of leaving the European Union could be up to £11.2 billion per year by 2030 than under a scenario where the UK remains a member. The analysis also indicates that leaving the EU could result in a reduction in Scottish tax revenues of up to £3.7 billion a year by 2030.

Evidence published by the European and External Relations Committee based on analysis by the Fraser of Allander Institute confirms the risks Brexit poses to Scotland’s economy. The Fraser of Allander Institute forecast that leaving the EU could result in the number of people in employment being up to 80,000 lower after 10 years.

The Scottish Government is pursuing all options to retain our relationship with Europe, access to the single market, and all the advantages that brings.

The Scottish Government research published on 28 October 2016 contains a breakdown of Scotland's population by sector of employment. This includes a breakdown of recent EEA migrants and established EEA migrants. This research is cited in answer to question S5W-04192 on 16 November 2016.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

It is for individual public bodies to determine their approaches to consideration of the implications ofthe EU referendum result, in the context of wider business planning and risk management. The Scottish Government has discussed this issue with Chief Executives of these bodies.

The Scottish Government will publish proposals over the coming weeks that would allow Scotland to stay in the single market and to preserve aspects of our relationship with the EU, even if the rest of the UK is intending to leave the single market. The Scottish Government has met with the UK Government to discuss negotiations and will update the Scottish Parliaments as negotiations unfold.

The Scottish Government began preparing its proposals for protecting Scotland’s interest and to stay in the single market immediately after the EU Referendum vote. This is being informed by the Standing Council on Europe, which was established by the First Minister to provide the Scottish Government with independent, expert advice on how Scotland’s interests can best be protected following the EU referendum.

The Scottish Government is exploring all options and will table specific proposals in the coming weeks to protect Scotland’s interests and keep us in the Single Market, even if the rest of the UK decides to leave.

The Scottish Government will publish proposals over the coming weeks that would allow Scotland to stay in the single market and to preserve aspects of our relationship with the EU, even if the rest of the UK is intending to leave the single market. As part of this, the Scottish Government is considering the potential risks and implications of the UK leaving the EU across a range of sectors.

The Scottish Government 2015 Sea Fisheries Employment Report estimates that:

• 73 per cent of employees working in the Scottish fleet are UK citizens;

• 8 per cent are citizens of European Economic Area countries; and,

• 19 per cent are citizens of countries outside the European Economic Area.

The Scottish Ministers are currently considering all available options to promote fair work practices, including payment of the National Minimum Wage and, where possible, the Scottish Living Wage in their contracts. Under the current devolution settlement, responsibility for matters relating to employment rights and duties, including the National Minimum Wage, are reserved to the UK Government. The Minister has written to the UK Government to urge them to take action on the National Minimum Wage in respect of seafarers rates of pay.