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.

Scottish Government Officials and Ministers engage with a wide range of stakeholders to inform policy. This engagement has informed the production of the Building a new Scotland series (BANS). We are not aware of any representations from foreign investors expressing concerns about access to the UK Market in an independent Scotland.

The Scottish Government is committed to working with like-minded investors to increase investment in Scotland. EY's latest Annual Attractiveness Survey showed that Scotland has maintained its position as the top performing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) region or nation of the UK outside of London for the past 10 years and is ranked sixth among the top ten FDI locations in Europe.

With the full powers of independence, it would be possible to further strengthen our approach to attracting investment. The full range of fiscal and regulatory powers and incentive mechanisms could be aligned to match our policy ambitions and values.

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.

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.

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

Requirements for border staff will be subject to the trade arrangements agreed between the EU and the UK at the time, and negotiations following independence.

As detailed in Building a New Scotland: A stronger economy with independence (October 2022) an independent Scotland could draw from best practice around the world, seeking to agree and develop the form of border that works best for our circumstances and needs and those of our partners in the EU and in the rest of the UK.

Scotland already has infrastructure and processes in place to operate its current border, including, for example, customs processes at airports, and Trading Standards Officers who may check at the point of sale that non-compliant goods are not being placed on the market.

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 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.

Building a New Scotland: A stronger economy with independence (October 2022) provides details on trade with the rest of the UK following Independence.

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.

Ultimately trade with the rest of the UK would be based on the trade arrangements agreed between the EU and the UK at the time. Agreements between the EU and UK are subject to change and we welcome the renewed momentum to improve relations with the EU which may further reduce in the barriers to trade.

The Scottish Government is committed to providing people with what independence would mean for them. As a result, we have now published thirteen papers in Building a new Scotland series, with a final overview paper to follow in due course.

For additional information I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-37999 on 25 June. 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.