Summary

  • The Europe Committee takes evidence from International Trade Minister Greg Hands and Scottish Secretary David Mundell on Brexit.

  • Portfolio questions: rural economy and connectivity ministers followed by environment, climate change and land reform brief

  • Ministerial Statement: Scottish government responds to the social security consultation

  • Health Secretary Shona Robison will lead a debate in tribute to the late MND campaigner Gordon Aikman

  • SNP MSP Colin Beattie leads this evenings member's debate entitled: Industrial Strategy for a More Prosperous, Fairer Britain

  1. Postpublished at 10:32 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

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  2. Scotland's Place in Europe being 'studied closely' by UK governmentpublished at 10:31 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    Scotland's Place in EuropeImage source, Scottish government
    Image caption,

    Scotland's Place in Europe

    SNP MSP Richard Lochhead says the next Scottish independence referendum has not been launched yet,  adding Mr Hands's opening remarks sounded like the beginning of the No campaign.

    Mr Lochhead says 62% of Scots voted to remain in the EU and the Scottish government is seeking a bespoke solution.

    Mr Hands says the involvement of the Scottish government is important and the Scottish government's white paper (Scotland's Place in Europe, external) is being studied closely.

    The minister again says the UK decided as a United Kingdom to leave by 1.3m votes.

    He says: "The best thing now to do is to work together."

  3. 'The EU won't want to do anything that damages their trade with the UK'published at 10:26 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald asks what the UK government's position is on the Customs Union.

    International Trade Minister Greg Hands says the prime minister has been clear that we should not be tied to tarrifs.

    International Trade Minister Greg Hands and Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald
    Image caption,

    International Trade Minister Greg Hands and Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald

    Mr Hands says the UK do not want to remain members of the Customs Union.

    Mr Macdonald says he is struggling with the assumption that tariff-free customs arrangements are a given.

    Mr Hands says the UK government are confident that "the EU won't want to do anything that damages their trade with the UK."

    He says this is the starting point because hundreds of thousands of people in the UK work for European companies.

  4. Postpublished at 10:26 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

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  5. Postpublished at 10:24 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

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  6. Postpublished at 10:23 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

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  7. SNP MSP asks for one policy change from the JMCpublished at 10:22 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    SNP MSP Joan McAlpineImage source, bbc

    Committee convener Joan McAlpine asks if there is one policy area around Brexit that has been changed due to the joint ministerial committee meetings with Scottish ministers.

    Mr Hands says he is not a member of the JMC.

    SNP MSP Joan McAlpine again asks for a policy area that has changed due to meetings with Scottish ministers.

    The UK minister says the prime minister has outlined that strong respect for the Scottish government will be part of the Brexit negotiations when they start.

  8. In the EU's interest not to have trade barriers says Mr Handspublished at 10:17 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    Greg Hands

    Mr Hands says it would be strongly in the European Union's interests not to have trade barriers.

    Committee convener Joan McAlpine asks for more details as to what will appear in the letter.

    The international trade minister says he cannot divulge what will be in the letter but the interactions between the UK and Scottish government has been, and will remain, strong.

  9. Postpublished at 10:15 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

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  10. Postpublished at 10:15 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

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  11. Postpublished at 10:14 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

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  12. 'The most successful single market in the world is the UK single market' - Greg Handspublished at 10:14 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    Mr Hands says it is important to get a good deal.

    He says "the most successful single market in the world is the UK single market."

    The UK's international trade minister says the UK and EU will remain friends and partners and it is very important that the relationship is maintained. 

  13. The UK government is "trying to achieve the fullest possible access to the single market"published at 10:12 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    UK government's International Trade Minister Greg HandsImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    UK government's International Trade Minister Greg Hands

    Committee convener Joan McAlpine says Scotland voted by 62% to remain and the parliament has voted on a number of times to remain in the single market.

    UK government's International Trade Minister Greg Hands says his constituency voted even more to remain than Scotland did at approximately 70%.

    He says it was a UK wide referendum.

    On the single market, he says the UK government is seeking a more ambitious trade deal with the EU than has been achieved to date.

    He says he wants to see zero tariffs on good and the government is trying to achieve the fullest possible access to the single market. 

  14. 'By working together we can ensure we build a global Britain which works for all'published at 10:11 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    Saltire and UK flags

    International Trade Minister Greg Hands says trade with the UK single market supports 27,000 Scottish jobs.

    Mr Hands says it is clear that the United Kingdom is the most important partnership for Scotland.

    He says "by working together over the coming years we can ensure we build a global Britain which works for all."

  15. 'Our fortunes are inextricably linked'published at 10:08 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    Mr Hands says UK government's International Trade Minister Greg Hands says: "Our fortunes are inextricably linked."

    The UK minister says he campaigned on the remain side but this was a democratic referendum.

    He says Scottish exports to the EU were worth £12.3bn compared to £49.8bn to the rest of the UK.

  16. Minister says says a unified voice is essential for Brexitpublished at 10:07 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    The UK government's International Trade Minister Greg Hands says he hopes the technology is going to work.

    Mr Hands says apologies come from his secretary of state Dr Liam Fox, who he says is travelling in Asia.

    Greg Hands
    Image caption,

    International Trade Minister Greg Hands gives evidence to the committee via video link

    The minister says the prime minister set out her strong view that the UK should be the most passionate advocate for free trade in the world.

    He says a unified voice is essential for Brexit, which is why the joint ministerial committee has been set up.

  17. Europe Committee beginspublished at 10:02 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    Greg Hands
    Image caption,

    Greg Hands

    During the first evidence session the Europe Committee will take evidence from the UK government's International Trade Minister Greg Hands via video link.

  18. No circumstances in which Scotland can remain in the EU when the UK leavespublished at 09:58 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    David MundellImage source, Reuters

    There are no circumstances in which Scotland can remain in the EU when the UK leaves, Scottish Secretary David Mundell will tell MSPs later this morning.

    Mr Mundell will confirm to the Europe Committee that Scotland will leave the EU with the UK as a whole at the end of the Brexit process.

  19. Here's the letter from the Scottish secretary to the committeepublished at 09:55 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

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  20. Nicola Sturgeon: Indyref 2 'more likely' given hard Brexitpublished at 09:52 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2017

    Media caption,

    Nicola Sturgeon: Indyref 2 'more likely' given hard Brexit

    Nicola Sturgeon says a second independence referendum is more likely given Theresa May's plan for a hard Brexit.