Lewis Macdonald

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether funding for the fishing sector through the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund will be maintained.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: EU funding contracts that are agreed before the UK proposes to leave the EU will be paid in full. This guarantee covers the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is regarding access for EU fleets to Scottish fishing waters.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Under the current Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) the principle of equal access is applied, whereby all vessels registered in the EU fishing fleet register have equal access to all EU waters managed under the CFP. There are some exceptions to this, predominantl…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has regarding future arrangements for managing Scotland's fishing resources after Brexit.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has devolved responsibility for fisheries management and will continue to do so in the event that we leave the European Union. We will continue to work closely with the fishing industry and other stakeholders to ensure that resources a…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will meet financial penalties imposed by the EU for not spending Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) funds if guarantees for that funding are not forthcoming at the end of the year.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The UK Government has recently revised its position on EU funding guarantees to cover in full the payment of all EU funding contracts for SRDP projects that are entered into before the UK proposes to leave the EU. The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Con…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its proposals for allowing Scotland to stay in the single market.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government 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.

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what contingency plans it is preparing in the event that the UK leaves the single market.

Answer · Michael Russell: 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.

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it began preparing its proposals for allowing Scotland to stay in the single market.

Answer · Michael Russell: 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 Mi…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of what engagement it has had or plans with the (a) European Free Trade Association (EFTA), (b) European Economic Area (EEA) and (c) EU and its institutions since the EU referendum result regarding future trade arrangements with Scotland.

Answer · Michael Russell: Powers to make trade agreements are not currently held by the Scottish Government but are held by the UK which is not able to make any trade agreements whilst it remains a member of the European Union. The Scottish Government’s priority at present is to pro…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the Minister for the UK Negotiations on Scotland’s Place in Europe has had with the UK Government regarding people from Scotland who live elsewhere in the EU having the right to remain in the country that they are living in post-Brexit.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is firm in its belief that the rights of Scots living in the EU should be maintained. I have raised this issue in my discussions with the UK Government, both through bi-lateral meetings with David Davis, Secretary of State for Exiting …

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis of a bespoke, bilateral free trade deal with the EU and its impact on Scotland it has commissioned since the EU referendum result.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government is exploring all options to secure Scotland’s interests, and to protect its relationship with the EU and our place in the single market. As part of this, the Scottish Government is currently undertaking a range of analyses to understa…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis of a customs union with the EU and its impact on Scotland it has commissioned since the EU referendum result.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is exploring all options to secure Scotland’s interests, and to protect its relationship with the EU and our place in the single market. As part of this, the Scottish Government is currently undertaking a range of analyses to understa…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for the UK Negotiations on Scotland’s Place in Europe has sought or is seeking guarantees about Japanese investment in Scotland and, if so, what these are.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is working with its enterprise agencies to ensure that Scotland remains an attractive place for inward investment. Following his statement to the UK Parliament on 31 October, I have written to the Secretary of State for Business, Ener…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information the Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe has sought from the UK Government regarding the impact of each product tariff on manufacturers under World Trade Organization rules, and whether it plans its own assessment of this.

Answer · Michael Russell: The manufacturing sector remains a vital part of the Scottish economy. The Scottish Government is well aware of its importance and the implications that Brexit will have on the sector, its associated industries and their supply chains. Our priority is to prot…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of what engagement it has had or plans with the (a) Norwegian, (b) Swiss, (c) Canadian and (d) US Government since the EU referendum result regarding future trade arrangements with Scotland.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Powers to make trade agreements are not currently held by the Scottish Government but are held by the UK which is not able to make any trade agreements whilst it remains a member of the European Union. The Scottish Government’s priority at present is to prote…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had or plans with the Japanese Government regarding the impact on Scotland of the findings of the report, Japan’s Message to the United Kingdom and the European Union.

Answer · Keith Brown: On 28 September, along with Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe, I met with the Japanese Consul General and a range of Japanese businesses based in Scotland to discuss the impact of the EU Referendum.

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the likely impact of Brexit on Scotland’s food and drink exports (a) to the EU and (b) through EU free trade agreements.

Answer · Michael Russell: Food and Drink Exports from Scotland were valued at £4.9 billion in 2015, with 40% going to the EU. We are working closely with stakeholders across the food and drink industry, including the industry leadership body, Scotland Food and Drink, to establish the …

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis of reverting to World Trade Organization rules and its impact on Scotland it has commissioned since the EU referendum result.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is exploring all options to secure Scotland’s interests, and to protect its relationship with the EU and our place in the single market. As part of this, the Scottish Government is currently undertaking a range of analyses to understa…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis of a unilateral free trade policy and its impact on Scotland it has commissioned since the EU referendum result.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is exploring all options to secure Scotland’s interests, and to protect its relationship with the EU and our place in the single market. As part of this, the Scottish Government is currently undertaking a range of analyses to understa…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis of the European Free Trade Agreement (EFTA) and its impact on Scotland it has commissioned since the EU referendum result.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is exploring all options to secure Scotland’s interests, and to protect its relationship with the EU and our place in the single market. As part of this, the Scottish Government is currently undertaking a range of analyses to understa…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that there is cross-party representation on the Joint Ministerial Sub-Committee to ensure represention from across the Parliament.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Joint Ministerial Committee on EU Negotiations (JMC(EN)) is part of the formal inter-governmental machinery between the four Administrations of the United Kingdom. The Scottish Government represents Scotland’s interests in that forum. The Scottish Gover…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government further to the answer to question S5W-02182 by Michael Matheson on 14 September 2016, which other public bodies are formally considering the implications of the EU referendum result.

Answer · Michael Russell: 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 Execut…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the EU referendum result on the sectors that are most heavily dependent on EU migrant workers.

Answer · Michael Russell: 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 S5…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe has defined Scotland's negotiating position; whether this will be provided to the Parliament and how it will do so.

Answer · Michael Russell: 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 Scotti…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information the Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe has published.

Answer · Michael Russell: No information has been published by the Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland’s Place in Europe. However, a number of reports have been published by the Scottish Government following the EU referendum, including: ‘Potential Implications of the UK Leavin…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many staff have been allocated to the Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Staff across the Scottish Government Directorates are working in support of Ministers and Cabinet Secretaries on Scotland’s place in Europe. In addition to Private Office staff, there are currently 58 staff working in the Directorate for External Affairs in …

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has commissioned a risk register considering the impact of the EU referendum result on Scotland's (a) employment, (b) value of goods and services, (c) businesses, (d) public services, (e) imports and (f) exports.

Answer · Michael Russell: 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…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a dedicated website recording the work undertaken in relation to Scotland’s place in Europe including (a) meeting notes, (b) correspondence, (c) details of ministerial meetings and (d) and other information that it deems to be publishable.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government website has a dedicated section on Europe, including information on the implications of the EU Referendum, which can be found at http://www.gov.scot/Topics/International/Europe. We have published information here, including the First M…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial resource will be allocated to the Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe for 2016-17 to support his work.

Answer · Michael Russell: 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 id…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis the Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe has commissioned.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is currently undertaking an extensive analysis to understand the potential implications of the UK exiting the EU, and the impact on Scotland. In all its work the Scottish Government is exploring ways to protect Scotland’s national inte…

31 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a summary report of the work undertaken by the Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe, which it decided not to publish in full, and for what reason it did so.

Answer · Michael Russell: I and other Scottish Ministers have given regular updates to the Scottish Parliament on the work the Scottish Government is undertaking in response to the result of the EU referendum.