Mr Jack says: "We're going to be a sovereign nation."

We're leaving home and we're not asking to be helped out by the "bank of mummy and daddy anymore," he adds.

Ms Baker says the timetable set by the UK government is extremely challenging and presents problems, not least the threat of walking away in June with no deal.

The Scottish secretary accepts the timetable is challenging and 31 December is challenging.

"You do need to have deadlines to get deals done."

Labour MSP Claire Baker says to secure a trade deal with the EU there is an expectation of alignment, but the UK government has said it does not want this.

Alister Jack says the UK government will not trade off fishing for any other priority, nor be ruled by the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

You can still trade successfully without aligning he insists.

Mr Jack adds if the UK was ruled by the ECJ we would not be properly outside the EU.

Ms Baker says these changed circumstances wouldn't mean we would carry on as normal.

"Why can't we carry on trading as normal?" he interrupts.

The EU will not entertain the UK having the same deal as Canada says Ms Baker.

I've heard them make that remark but that's just a negotiating position, Mr Jack insists.

Ms McAlpine asks why the UK government is consulting people after it has decided its negotiating mandate.

Mr Leake replies the consultation will look at the economic implications.

There are many forecasts, you've chosen one, says Mr Jack.

"Which is yours," intervenes Ms McAlpine.

Mr Jack says that was years ago and he points out much has changed since then.

It is in the EU's interest to secure a free trade deal with the UK Mr Jack says, pointing to the fact we are the biggest importers of German cars except China.

Gillian McGregor highlights negotiations are in the early stages and she expects the Treasury to model various outcomes as this goes forward.

Ms McAlpine says the UK government has done modelling on the trade deal with the US and such a deal could increase GDP from between 0.07% to 0.16% in the long run.

The committee convener asks if Alister Jack has more confidence in that modelling.

Modelling is modelling, he replies and adds the uplift will be based on the quality of the deal struck.

I'm not standing by forecasts, Mr Jack adds, stressing the UK government will work hard to get the best outcomes.

Nick Leake from the Scotland Office says he has done forecasts in the Treasury and "to be fair you make the best guest".

"No forecast that I have ever been involved in has turned out to be 100% accurate."

The convener highlights Treasury research indicating a Canada style deal would result in GDP being 6.2% lower after 15 years compared to remaining a member of the EU.

Is that an acceptable price to pay, she asks.

I do not accept that, replies Mr Jack, adding many analyses around Brexit have been "completely wrong".

There is no point in looking backwards, we have left the EU and we must now look at the opportunities in front of us, the Scottish secretary insists.

All the things that were predicted to happen in 2016 didn't happen he reiterates, to which Ms McAlpine highlights the UK is still in the transition period.

"As the fifth strongest economy in the world I am absolutely confident we will prosper."

Ms McAlpine asks what the UK government's current estimates are for the economic impact of a Canada style deal or no deal scenario.

Mr Jack believes the best outcome is a Canada style agreement and he points out being out of the Common Fisheries Policy will bring huge benefits.

The Scottish secretary says: "We believe with the change that has come, Canada is the best way forward."

The convener presses Mr Jack for the economic impact of that style of agreement.

Mr Jack replies: "For trade think Canada, for fisheries think Norway."

Ms McAlpine again asks about the cost or economic impact of this.

The Scottish secretary says his government will be optimistic.

Mr Jack refutes suggestions that the choice now is deal or no deal, insisting the UK government seeks to secure the best possible trade deal.

Turning to immigration, he argues the points-based system proposed will ensure the Scottish economy will have access to the skills it requires.

It will make it easier for companies to recruit outside the EU he says, though accepts it will be harder to recruit from within EU countries than currently.

However, he insists the salary threshold is "reasonable" and the UK government will not lower it further as it is already below the Scottish living wage.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack says this is his first visit to the Scottish Parliament and apologises for the postponement of the last meeting due to an unexpected cabinet meeting.

Mr Jack pivots to Brexit and says we are now free to determine our own future.

The devolved administrations should be involved in the Brexit negotiations, although they will be led by the UK government, he says.

There will be no change to GB and Northern Ireland trade and there is no need to accept EU rules for a trade deal, he says.

We want a comprehensive trade deal similar to Canada, he says.

Katya Adler
Europe Editor

Image source, Reuters

So this is it. After three messy years negotiating the UK's exit from the EU, Monday was the day that trade talks finally begin between the two sides.

David Frost, the UK's chief negotiator, arrives in Brussels in the afternoon, armed with 100 advisers and civil servants, preparing to spread themselves across 10 working groups, focusing on everything from fishing to financial services to truck drivers' cross-border access.

Negotiations are to take place once every two or three weeks from now until the summer at least, alternating between Brussels and London - with the prime minister insisting a deal must be struck by the year's end.

On the edge of your seat with excitement, are you?

Read more.

Image source, bbc

The committee will now continue its inquiry into the EU withdrawal agreement and negotiations.

The convener welcomes:

• Scottish Secretary Alister Jack
• Gillian McGregor from the Scotland Office
• Nick Leake from the Scotland Office

Kenneth Gibson says he has heard a lot of deep frustration from the panel, despite the highlighting of progress at the start of this evidence session.

The SNP MSP points out Scotland is delivering less than 2% of the film and TV production of the UK.

He asks if Screen Scotland's plan to double the production by £130m within three years is realistic.

Mr Last replies it is possible, but reiterates his point that the industry is facing global disruption.

There are enormous amounts of money being spent and if Scotland can secure some of that it is possible, he says.

If you can get Netflix shows you can bring in a lot of money adds Mr Coulter.

Bob Last says the British producer pool is largely privately wealthy.

Economic diversity is really important and that must not be left off the training agenda, he argues.

Arabella Page-Croft points to research indicating the 75% of producers who made one or two feature films earn less than £6,000 in a year.

Eric Coulter warns against putting the onus on production companies to train staff because each will only have a small number of permanent staff and the rest will be freelance.

SNP MSP Annabelle Ewing pivots to the skills strategy from Creative Scotland and asks where it is.

Barbara Orton of True TV and Film replies there is an overall training strategy that has not been published yet.

"The collective absence of a good answer is the answer," adds Mr Last.

Ms Orton calls for integrated skills training, helping people get in and get on in the sector.

Arabella Page-Croft says we should look to Irish Screen who have a scheme to fully finance first films for female directors.

Eric Coulter says there is virtually no commissioning power in Scotland.

We need two or three companies based in Scotland, he argues, adding that having productions here can be great but there is no legacy once these companies head back to London afterwards.

Arabella Page-Croft highlights the difficulties producers face in getting the investment, saying she has been told companies will invest once she had created a six-part series - but she cannot create a series without investment first.

She says she has recently headed two productions but was only paid about £20,000 which meant she was unable to pay crew the living wage.

The BBC backed the creation of more dramas, comedies and factual content in Scotland as part of a new deal signed in February 2019.

It signed an agreement with Screen Scotland to create more programmes for UK and international audiences.

The move means the BBC will commit to delivering three dramas, three comedies and three "high-impact" factual series from Scotland every year.

Read more.

Mr Last says there are unhelpful key performance indicators for Screen Scotland based on very dubious starting points numerically.

He says for it to deliver on its remit it has to bring in high end productions which is great for Scotland, but they need the KPIs that allow them to focus on indigenous productions.

Ms Orton says inward investment is great if there are terms and conditions that lead to the hiring of local crew and the creation of production partnerships.

Arabella Page-Croft from Black Camel Pictures asks how many female-directed projects have Screen Scotland supported.

Image source, AIMEE SPINKS

Last March the BBC reported figures indicated a 66% increase in the number of film and video companies based in Scotland over the decade.

The statistics, compiled by the SNP, suggest the number of enterprises in the sector has gone from 240 in 2008, to 400 in 2018.

Although scenes for film and television are often shot in Scotland, major productions are often based elsewhere.

The exception is television series Outlander, which is filmed at the Wardpark Studios in Cumbernauld.

Read more.

Is Screen Scotland getting the balance right between attracting large scale international productions and support the indigenous sector, asks Ross Greer.

Barbara Orton says elsewhere in Europe there are training schemes to increase market opportunities based on the potential of creators.

My worry is the Brexit will end this, pointing to the recent announcement the UK government was not going to pursue continued membership of European creative programmes.

We need these types of training schemes she argues, warning in Scotland there is no integrated scheme to match what is available within the EU.