The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 466 contributions
Meeting of the Parliament [Draft]
Meeting date: 3 December 2024
Neil Bibby
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I would have voted no.
Meeting of the Parliament
Meeting date: 20 November 2024
Neil Bibby
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I would have voted no.
Meeting of the Parliament [Draft]
Meeting date: 14 November 2024
Neil Bibby
I will give way to Mr Robertson.
Meeting of the Parliament [Draft]
Meeting date: 14 November 2024
Neil Bibby
I absolutely accept that—it would be significantly beneficial. That is why the new UK Labour Government is committed to seeking the veterinary agreement. It would be beneficial to consumers and businesses in the UK as well as in the EU. We certainly want to see progress in that area.
These are still early days. Not only is the UK Government new in office; so, too, are members of the European Parliament and the EU commissioners who are taking up their posts. Fourteen years of our relationship with the European Union being undermined cannot be undone overnight.
The report is timely and welcome. However, it is clear that the UK Government is moving quickly in the right direction to reset relationships with the European Union and the devolved Governments. That is to be welcomed, for our businesses, our citizens and the country as a whole.
Meeting of the Parliament [Draft]
Meeting date: 14 November 2024
Neil Bibby
I thank the cabinet secretary for advance sight of his statement. Ministers and shadow ministers have always attended sports events to support our national teams and to meet governing bodies. The attendance of ministers, where appropriate, should be supported by the Government. That is not in question. The key question is whether the correct protocols and rules were followed. Engagements to discuss Government business should be attended by a civil servant and be fully minuted.
Neil Gray has today apologised for his error, and he said that he is happy to provide further information. The Aberdeen v Livingston match at Pittodrie in particular has raised eyebrows. Can the cabinet secretary confirm that all the engagements were by official invitation? Will he publish details of who he met on each occasion and the minutes showing what issues were discussed for all, and not just the majority, of the matches? Will he confirm whether a civil servant was in attendance at each of them?
Meeting of the Parliament [Draft]
Meeting date: 14 November 2024
Neil Bibby
I have already taken two interventions. I am sorry, but I would like to make some progress.
As I said, we should seek a veterinary agreement with the EU to significantly reduce border checks and the administrative burden on exports of agrifoods to the EU. I am pleased that the new UK Labour Government is committed to doing so in order to make it easier for Scottish businesses to export.
The reduction in costs from a reduction in unnecessary trade barriers is not just a potential benefit to businesses; it can be beneficial to consumers with the cost of living.
Meeting of the Parliament [Draft]
Meeting date: 14 November 2024
Neil Bibby
I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate on behalf of Scottish Labour. I, too, welcome the publication of the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee’s important report on the UK-EU trade and co-operation agreement, which is due to be reviewed by 2026. I join the committee convener, the cabinet secretary and Stephen Kerr in thanking the clerks and those stakeholders who gave evidence to the inquiry.
The committee report makes clear and identifies many areas in which non-tariff barriers from Boris Johnson’s trade and co-operation agreement have caused significant problems and led to costs for Scottish businesses post-Brexit. We have already heard differing views from Mr Kerr on the context of that agreement. He also accused other parties of being anti-business, so let us hear what Scottish businesses have said about Mr Johnson’s agreement. The committee heard extensive evidence, including testimony from the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers, which told the committee about the additional time and cost burden of having to produce export health certificates for individual products.
Quality Meat Scotland told us about the physical inspections that result in significant delays to shipments, which reduce the value of fresh products on arrival. Macsween told the committee that, on one occasion, regulation changes as its products arrived at the border meant a four-month delay and £5,000 in extra costs. We also heard similar evidence on delays from Seafood Scotland and Salmon Scotland. The freshness of their products is key.
Meeting of the Parliament [Draft]
Meeting date: 14 November 2024
Neil Bibby
We have said that we will uphold the international agreements that we have signed up to. A negotiation will take place and a number of issues will need to be discussed. We have said that we want to reduce unnecessary border checks to help businesses and consumers and that we want to work to reset the relationship with our European neighbours.
Meeting of the Parliament [Draft]
Meeting date: 14 November 2024
Neil Bibby
I will come on to Labour’s position. However, the Labour Government is committed to upholding our international agreements that we sign up to.
If that was not enough and did not illustrate the point, the committee also heard from Innovative Food Ltd, which referenced its goods, including chilli cheese nuggets, which were held up at the border for six weeks, meaning that the products melted and were lost. As a fan and consumer of chilli cheese nuggets, I have to say that any loss of such products is to be deeply regretted.
I jest, Presiding Officer, but, in all seriousness, the supplier lost considerable sums of money and has not tried to ship to Europe since that incident. Those are serious issues and many small businesses in Scotland have not even tried to export to the EU.
From increased paperwork for our exporters to the rising cost of importing goods, the challenges are evident. The needs of our farmers, fishers and small businesses are not being met under the agreement as it stands. I welcome that the committee, on a cross-party basis, the new UK Labour Government and the Scottish Government all recognise that.
For me, one of the most important aspects of the report is, as the cabinet secretary said, that it points to ways forward. It is also clear that we must work together to try to resolve those issues for the benefit of Scottish businesses, consumers and, indeed, for those across the whole of the UK—and I believe that we can.
The first step to achieving potential solutions to those issues has to be resetting our relationship with the European Union. Part of that must be to recognise the significant job that has to be done to repair damage to our international relationships that were brought about by 14 years of isolationism under the previous UK Conservative Government. The new UK Labour Government, which was elected just four months ago, is already at work repairing our international relationships, having scrapped the Rwanda scheme, and is working to reset the relationship that we have with the European Union, as well as resetting the relationship that it has with the devolved Governments.
Although a formal review of the trade and co-operation agreement is on the horizon, the new Government is not waiting before acting. I know that some members are keen to know what that reset in relations means. It can be seen by the immediate action to rebuild our global reputation through credible and respectful diplomacy.
As we have already heard, the commitment was underlined by the meeting on 2 October between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and EU President Ursula von der Leyen, when they agreed to strengthen co-operation in key areas such as the economy, energy, security and resilience. Just this week, the Prime Minister was again in Europe, attending the armistice day service in France, with President Macron. He is the first British Prime Minister to do so since Winston Churchill.
The reset is well under way. Do not just take my word for it: the new era of constructive engagement in an attempt to build new positive relations has been welcomed by leaders in capitals across Europe. The committee also heard that from everyone whom we met on our recent visit to Brussels. It represents a fresh, practical commitment to work together in the best interests of both the UK and the EU and sets the stage for more comprehensive agreements in the future.
Meeting of the Parliament [Draft]
Meeting date: 14 November 2024
Neil Bibby
I will tell George Adam now, but we also told him in July, through our manifesto. We said that we
“will work to improve the UK’s trade and investment relationship with the EU, by tearing down unnecessary barriers to trade. We will seek to negotiate a veterinary agreement to prevent unnecessary border checks and help tackle the cost of food”,
and it continues.
The question of what we do now is important and has to be our focus, with the pragmatic and forward-looking approach that Scotland needs. That practical approach should include, as the committee heard, advice and support for Scottish businesses from the Scottish Government to help them to be informed and to navigate the current situation. I welcome what the cabinet secretary said in that regard, because there is more that can be done.
Fundamentally, as the committee recognises, we must make trade with the EU more smooth and efficient. As the committee recognises, we should seek a veterinary agreement with the EU—