Question reference: S6W-07022
- Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 4 March 2022
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Current status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 15 March 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of the implications of sanctions on Russia for any Scottish businesses that trade with Russia, and what support can be given to those businesses in order to best facilitate their rapid diversification in the face of such sanctions.
Answer
While international sanctions are reserved to the UK Government, we are exercising all possible levers at the disposal of the Scottish Government to ensure we reinforce the international response to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
Export Statistics Scotland 2019 show that Scottish exports to Russia (excluding oil and gas) were relatively small - worth £245 million (less than 1% of total international exports) in 2019. HMRC trade in goods statistics show that in 2020, 457 businesses in Scotland exported goods to Russia.
We have been clear that the Scottish Government and our Enterprise Agencies will not support trade or investment activity with Russia, and have encouraged all businesses in Scotland to review – and then sever – their links with Russia.
Our Enterprise Agencies are actively supporting businesses who previously traded with Russia to find alternative markets for their goods and services. Scottish businesses looking to find new customers in alternative markets can contact the Enterprise Agencies through the Find Business Support website at: https://findbusinesssupport.gov.scot/ where they can also find relevant advice and guidance signposted.