Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Impact of Leaving the EU

Wednesday 11 January 2023 · 11 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • There are many benefits of leaving the EU for Scotland, including the ability to agree new trade deals and strategic partnerships.
  • The Secretary of State argues that factors other than Brexit, such as the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, have affected Scottish exports.
  • The Secretary of State claims the UK has increased fishing opportunities and will take full control of its waters by 2026.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Stuart McDonald SNP
Scotland Brexit
Context

The MP questions the impact of the UK leaving the European Union specifically for Scotland.

Question

Whether he has made a recent assessment of the impact of the UK leaving the European Union on Scotland. I am concerned about the negative impacts and benefits that Brexit might have on Scotland's economy, society, and political landscape.

Answer from Alister Jack

There are many benefits of leaving the EU for Scotland. They include: the ability to agree new trade deals and strategic partnerships, controlling our borders, ensuring that regulation fits the needs of the United Kingdom, control of our fishing waters and the ability to improve the competitiveness of our economy while maintaining high standards.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask was not directly addressed; benefits were listed without concrete assessment.

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Q2 Marion Fellows SNP
Scotland Brexit
Context

Statistics show that Scottish exports have plummeted by £2.2 billion over the two years since Brexit, costing Scotland's economy around £4 billion.

Question

Statistics from HMRC show that Scottish exports have plummeted by £2.2 billion over the two years since Brexit, which has already cost Scotland's economy around £4 billion. The consequences of Brexit have been invariably harmful. What is the Secretary of State for Scotland doing to protect Scotland from this Tory-imposed act of economic self-harm?

Answer from Alister Jack

The hon. Lady quotes statistics for the two years following Brexit, but those of course are two years where we had other factors to take into account, not only covid and many lockdowns across Europe, but the illegal war in Ukraine. In the first two quarters of 2022, the United Kingdom did more trade with the European Union than it did in any quarter when we were members of the European Union.

Not addressed: The specific ask was not addressed; instead, other factors were cited as reasons for economic challenges.

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Q3 Angela Crawley SNP
Brexit
Context

Brexit has cost the UK £40 billion a year in tax revenue, enough to fill the black hole caused by the Tory mini-Budget.

Question

Brexit has cost the UK £40 billion a year in tax revenue. That would be enough to fill the black hole caused by the Tory mini-budget, along with yet another round of Tory austerity. Scotland did not vote for Brexit, for this Government, the last one or the one before that, so does the Secretary of State think it is right that Scotland should suffer due to his party's extreme Brexit ideology?

Answer from Alister Jack

This Government respect democracy. We respect the outcome of referendums. There was a referendum in 2014 on Scottish independence. We respected the result; the Scottish National party has not. In 2016, the United Kingdom, which we are all part of, voted to leave the European Union, and we delivered on that.

Not addressed: The specific ask was not addressed; instead, the answerer criticized the Scottish National party for not respecting referendum results.

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Q4 Martyn Day SNP
NHS Scotland Brexit
Context

A report from the Nuffield Trust has found that Brexit is worsening NHS workforce challenges, particularly the recruitment of specialities.

Question

A report from the Nuffield Trust has found that Brexit is worsening NHS workforce challenges, particularly the recruitment of specialities. Trade barriers have driven up costs and made shortages of medicines and medical devices worse in the UK than in Europe. Why should the people of Scotland suffer worse health outcomes as a consequence of a Brexit they did not vote for?

Answer from Alister Jack

I would say that the people of Scotland are suffering worse health outcomes because of the incompetence of the Scottish Government to run the health system. Regarding NHS recruitment, I further add that we have a points-based system. It creates flexibility and allows us to deal with the skills gap, and a points-based system was the former policy of the Scottish National party.

Not addressed: The specific ask was not addressed; instead, criticism of the Scottish Government's handling of health services was made.

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Q5 Alyn Smith
Scotland Brexit
Context

Brexit has been a disaster for the Scottish fisheries sector, with trade barriers worsening and future trading arrangements ending in 2026.

Question

Brexit has demonstrably been a disaster for the Scottish fisheries sector. The catchers and the processors are having a dreadful time, but even these trading arrangements are due to end in 2026 under the trade and co-operation agreement. What thought has the Secretary of State given to the future trading arrangements after 2026, or will it be just another betrayal?

Answer from Alister Jack

We have taken control of our waters. We have left the hated common fisheries policy. We have seen our quota increase by 30,000 tonnes this year in negotiations. We are going to take full control of our waters at the end of the five-year period, and with the other things we are putting in place to support industry, we will increase the processing business, as well.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask was not fully addressed; future plans were vaguely outlined without concrete commitments.

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Q6 David Duguid Con
Brexit
Context

UK fishing opportunities have increased by about £750 million through recent negotiations.

Question

It is interesting to follow the previous question. Does my right hon. Friend agree that additional UK fishing opportunities totalling about £750 million—that is on top of the TCA agreement—have been secured in recent end-of-year negotiations? Does he agree with me and the Scottish Fishermen's Federation that Scottish industry and Scottish Government Ministers and officials have a stronger voice in the annual negotiations since leaving the EU, and the hated common fisheries policy, than ever they would have when we were still in the EU?

Answer from Alister Jack

My hon. Friend is a great advocate for the fishing industry, and I agree with everything he says. We have a stronger voice. We have increased our tonnage by 30,000 tonnes, and we will continue to increase it. Everything he does to support that industry is laudable.

Answered
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Q7 Douglas Chapman SNP
Scotland Brexit
Context

Brexit has cost the UK £60 million in additional paperwork, leading to export delays and exclusions.

Question

This Government seem hellbent on destroying the Scottish seafood sector. Some £60 million has been spent on additional Brexit paperwork alone, while export delays and exclusions undermine our export potential. What has happened to the Brexit sea of opportunity that was promised, and does the Minister accept the assessment of the Scottish White Fish Producers Association that Brexit has failed to deliver any benefits of a coastal state?

Answer from Alister Jack

I do not accept that assessment. Certain sectors of the fishing industry have made much progress and seen many benefits. On the processing sector, we are looking at what the shortage occupation list could do to help the sector and at further investment in the north-east. I am confident that there is a sea of opportunity, which we will see over the five-year period, and that, at the end of those five years, the fishing sector will not be jumping up and down saying, “Let's get back into the common fisheries policy.”

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask was not fully addressed; denial of lack of benefits without concrete evidence.

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Q8 Stuart McDonald SNP
Immigration Scotland Brexit
Context

The High Court in England ruled that the requirement for further applications to preserve rights of EU citizens is unlawful and contrary to the withdrawal treaty.

Question

The brilliant EU citizens who contribute to Scotland's communities, public services and economy include more than 100,000 people who currently have the precarious pre-settled status. The High Court in England recently ruled that the requirement of a further application to preserve their rights here was unlawful and contrary to the withdrawal treaty. Will the Secretary of State agree that the judgment is welcome and should be respected—providing, as it does, security for those EU citizens and protecting their ongoing contributions to Scotland and the UK?

Answer from Alister Jack

We welcome all EU citizens with settled status and think it is absolutely right that those systems are in place. If the hon. Gentleman has any further questions regarding the matter, I suggest he raise the matter at Home Office questions. I think the system that we have is working and is fair.

Not addressed: The specific ask was not addressed; instead, the answerer suggested raising issues elsewhere.

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Q9 Kevin Foster Con
Immigration Scotland
Context

Question arises from concerns about SNP policies that would require significant border infrastructure if implemented.

Question

When conducting his assessment, did the Secretary of State include figures for the impact of implementing the Schengen borders code between Scotland and England, including the requirements for border infrastructure?

Answer from Alister Jack (Secretary of State for Scotland)

My hon. Friend makes a good point. There is not just the issue of freedom of movement of people across the United Kingdom, but the fact that while 20% of Scotland's trade is with the EU and 20% with the rest of the world, 60% is with the rest of the United Kingdom.

Not addressed: The specific impact of Schengen borders was not addressed. Instead, the answer discussed overall trade figures between regions.

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Q10 Philippa Whitford SNP
Scotland Brexit
Context

A poll showed that 69% of Scottish voters want to rejoin the EU, highlighting negative impacts of Brexit.

Question

My colleagues have highlighted just some of the negative impacts of Brexit on individuals, businesses, universities and public services in Scotland. Does it therefore come as a surprise to the Secretary of State that a poll last year showed that 69% of Scottish voters want to rejoin the EU?

Answer from Alister Jack (Secretary of State for Scotland)

Opinion polls come and go; we have seen that. Last week, we saw that 59% of Scots want to remain in the United Kingdom—I notice that that opinion poll was not quoted. As for the benefits of Brexit, we can make our own trade deals, and we have made 71 to date. The SNP has never seen a trade deal it liked—it has never voted for a trade deal in the European Parliament or in this Parliament.

Not addressed: The specific question about public opinion was not directly answered. Instead, emphasis was placed on benefits of Brexit and opinions polls that support UK membership.

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Q11 Philippa Whitford SNP
Scotland Brexit
Context

Question arises from disagreement over the role of EU regulations in UK's accelerated vaccine programme.

Question

I thank the Secretary of State for his warm welcome, but I must point out that June Raine, the head of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, has said innumerable times that the accelerated roll-out was under European Medicines Agency legislation. With the Labour party having now lashed itself to the mast of the floundering Brexit ship, does the Secretary of State at least recognise that the only route back to the EU for Scotland is as an independent country?

Answer from Alister Jack (Secretary of State for Scotland)

The deficit in Scotland is considerably higher than 3%, which is the Maastricht criteria, so that is not the route back. The currency is a problem as well—as we know, the Bank of England is the bank of last resort, and there would have to be a new currency in Scotland following membership of the EU.

Not addressed: The specific question about vaccine roll-out was not addressed. Instead, focus was on economic barriers preventing rejoining the EU.

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