Chamber and committees

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. 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.

Scotland’s participation in Erasmus+, the EU’s 2014-2020 Education, Training, Youth and Sport Programme, is in line with our aims to promote Scotland as a learning nation and to increase student and staff mobility, and brings strong educational, employability, cultural and economic benefits. Scotland’s preference would be to continue full participation in Erasmus+.

Erasmus+ 2014-2020 is delivered by the British Council with Ecorys under contract to the UK Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) with and on behalf of the four nations of the UK. The Scottish Government has received assurances that the EU Referendum result has no immediate effect on learners, staff or volunteers from Scotland. The Scottish Government continues to seek assurances covering the medium and longer term.

The verdict from Scotland’s universities and from the UK’s research bodies could not be clearer – leaving the EU would have potentially devastating effects for Scotland’s higher education sector. The Scottish Government’s starting point is to protect our relationship with, and place in, the European Union. 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.

No specific assessment has been made in relation to the living wage.

The construction sector and associated supply chains are a vital part of the Scottish economy and partly depend on labour from across the EU. It is estimated that in 2015 some seven thousand employees in the construction sector were from EU member states (non UK). Our priority is to protect all of Scotland’s interests and we are considering all possible steps to ensure Scotland’s continuing relationship with the EU. The UK Government has yet to set out its preferred model to underpin the UK’s future relationship with the EU and, indeed, appears to be all at sea amidst internal wrangling over what, if any, strategy to take.

The most recent update on the estimated final cost of the refurbishment of the SFRS control room in Dundee was received in March 2016. This information is contained in Scottish Fire and Rescue Service board papers which can be found on the SFRS website at www.firescotland.gov.uk. This included the cost of providing a temporary control facility whilst the refurbishment works are undertaken.

The best way to protect all our interests, including those most important to rural areas, is by protecting Scotland’s place in Europe, maintaining membership of the single market and access to the free movement of labour.

The Scottish Government is currently exploring a range of options to protect Scotland's relationship and place in the EU with all its economic and social benefits and specific proposals will be published shortly.

The Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland’s Place in Europe for 2016-17 does not have a specific budget allocated to him. However, the Scottish Government Europe and External Affairs budget supports the promotion of Scotland as well as its interests and identity at home and abroad. Further details on this budget can be found at: http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2015/12/9056/15.

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.

The analysis shows that both Scottish GDP and tax revenues are likely to be lower in future years than if Scotland remained in the EU. This would reduce household prosperity and the funding available for the public services upon which households rely.

Analysis by the Fraser of Allander Institute confirms the risk of leaving the EU poses to Scottish households. Their report “Long-term Economic Implications of Brexit” estimates that after ten years, leaving the EU could result in average wages being £2,000 a year lower, and the number of jobs being 80,000 lower, than if Scotland remained in the EU.

Since the EU referendum result, Ministers have undertaken a number of engagements with EU partners. These engagements are to ensure there is awareness of the vote in Scotland for Remain in the referendum, and to explain that the First Minister has said the government is exploring all options to protect Scotland’s interests and our relationship with, and place in, the European Union.