Seòmar agus comataidhean

Scottish Government officials informed the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), Prospect and FDA unions on the morning of 12 June 2025 that a provider to operate the VQ nursery had not been secured and outlined the support being made available to the current nursery operator, North Edinburgh Childcare Enterprise Ltd, and parents. A further briefing on the nursery was made available to Trade Unions on the afternoon of 12 June 2025 which was attended by PCS. Subsequently, officials have been in regular communication with PCS representatives, including on the support available to Scottish Government staff.

The fostering a positive, inclusive and safe school environment guidance was developed with a range of key stakeholders, including headteachers and teaching unions.

Support staff views were captured through the Behaviour in Scottish Schools Research, which informed the development of the guidance. The guidance responds to a direct ask from school staff, including support staff, for clarity and support in responding to behaviour and reflects a range of evidence from teaching unions on this issue.

In addition, UNISON is represented on the Scottish Advisory Group on Relationships and Behaviour in Schools, which oversaw the development of the guidance. The Advisory Group also contains representation from a range of perspectives including EIS, NASUWT, Education and Parents organisations.

Scottish Government Officials and Ministers engage with a wide range of stakeholders to inform policy. This engagement has informed the production of the Building a new Scotland series (BANS). We are not aware of any representations from foreign investors expressing concerns about access to the UK Market in an independent Scotland.

The Scottish Government is committed to working with like-minded investors to increase investment in Scotland. EY's latest Annual Attractiveness Survey showed that Scotland has maintained its position as the top performing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) region or nation of the UK outside of London for the past 10 years and is ranked sixth among the top ten FDI locations in Europe.

With the full powers of independence, it would be possible to further strengthen our approach to attracting investment. The full range of fiscal and regulatory powers and incentive mechanisms could be aligned to match our policy ambitions and values.

The Scottish Government set out proposals in the paper A Stronger Economy with Independence for the two main trunk routes between Scotland and England in a scenario in which an independent Scotland was in the EU and the rest of the UK was not. It should be noted that the Common Travel Area means there would be no new passport or immigration checks at any of an independent Scotland’s land, sea or air border points with the UK and Ireland for those travelling within it.

The UK Government is currently negotiating an SPS Agreement with the EU. Precise border arrangements between the EU and the UK will not be known until the conclusion of those negotiations. The Scottish Government supports an ambitious agreement to minimise checks and delays. We also continue to press the UK Government to drop its red line on UK membership of the Customs Union and Single Market to mitigate some of the damage of Brexit and smooth trade between the UK and EU.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-38009 on 25 June 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-38001 on 25 June 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

Building a New Scotland: A stronger economy with independence (October 2022) provides details on trade with the rest of the UK following Independence.

The paper outlines that any actual physical checks on goods would likely only be undertaken on the main trunk routes between England and Scotland or at rail freight terminals.

It should also be noted that the nature of the border between an independent Scotland as an EU member state and the UK will depend on negotiations between the UK Government and the EU. For example, the UK and EU are currently negotiating an SPS Agreement which would reduce border checks.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-38005 on 25 June 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

Building a New Scotland: A stronger economy with independence (October 2022) provides details on trade with the rest of the UK following Independence.

The nature of the border between an independent Scotland as an EU member state and the UK will depend on negotiations between the UK Government and the EU. For example, the UK and EU are currently negotiating an SPS Agreement which would reduce border checks.

Ultimately trade with the rest of the UK would be based on the trade arrangements agreed between the EU and the UK at the time. Agreements between the EU and UK are subject to change and we welcome the renewed momentum to improve relations with the EU which may further reduce in the barriers to trade.

With Independence, Scotland, like all independent countries, would control its borders. Details of how this would impact on movement of people and trade were published in Building a New Scotland: A stronger economy with independence (October 2022).

There is a long-standing Common Travel Area (CTA) in these islands. This allows for free movement between the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man for citizens of those territories. The Scottish Government is committed to the protection of the CTA and the associated reciprocal rights for British, Irish and Scottish citizens after independence. Maintenance of the CTA would mean that there would be no new passport or immigration checks at any of an independent Scotland’s land, sea or air border points with the UK and Ireland and British, Irish and Scottish citizens would have the right to move freely within the CTA.

It should also be noted that the nature of the border between an independent Scotland as an EU member state and the UK will depend on negotiations between the UK Government and the EU. For example, the UK and EU are currently negotiating an SPS Agreement which would reduce border checks.

Building a new Scotland: Independence in the modern world. Wealthier, happier, fairer: why not Scotland (June 22) looks at the potential impact of Independence on GDP. The paper sets out that comparable European independent countries to Scotland have higher national income per head than the UK. Across the ten comparator countries GDP per person in 2021 was on average £14,000 higher than in Scotland. The case of Ireland is used as an illustration which shows greater trade diversity coincided with substantial growth in the Irish economy.

It should further be noted that the Office For Budget Responsibility estimates Brexit will reduce UK GDP by 4 per cent in the long-run compared with continuing EU membership.