Question reference: S6W-01642
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 20 July 2021
-
Current status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 30 July 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the message from the director of the Scottish Centre on European Relations of 14 July 2021, whether it will take steps to ensure that the centre can continue its work, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer
The Scottish Government is grateful for the work done by the SCER to promote informed debate and produce high quality policy analysis since its establishment in 2017. In particular, the Government notes the SCER’s thoughtful work on the reception that an independent Scotland will receive on applying to rejoin the EU as an independent Member State. As the Director of the SCER noted in her statement of 14 July 2021, the SCER has operated as an independent think tank and has not received research funding from the Scottish Government.
The Scottish Government is willing at all times to consider representations on ways in which the political debate in Scotland can be informed and further improved.