Scottish Secretary outlines future of EU relationship
The Scottish Secretary, Alister Jack attended the Culture, Tourism, Europe & External Affairs Committee at Holyrood this week [5 March 2020].
Speaking at the Committee he said:
鈥淥n 31 January, we delivered on the promise made to the British people nearly four years ago by finally leaving the EU.
鈥淲e have now left the EU as one United Kingdom and are free to determine our own future and form relationships with old allies and new friends around the world.
鈥淭he UK Government will negotiate these relationships on behalf of the United Kingdom, but we are clear that the devolved administrations should be closely involved in the process, both at Ministerial level for example via the Joint Ministerial Committee on European Negotiations, and via ongoing and constructive engagement between officials.
鈥淎s the Government has been clear, we want a relationship with the EU which is based on friendly cooperation between sovereign equals, and centred on free trade.
鈥淲e are not asking for a special, bespoke, or unique deal.
鈥淲e want a comprehensive free trade agreement similar to Canada鈥檚, and in the very unlikely event the we do not succeed, our trade will be based on our existing Withdrawal Agreement deal with the EU.
On immigration he said:
鈥淥ur new points based immigration system will ensure the Scottish economy continues to gain access to the labour it requires, and will treat everybody based on their skills and contribution, not where they come from.
鈥淭his means it will get a lot easier for Scottish companies to recruit the labour they need from outside the EU/EEA, and a bit harder to recruit from within the EU/EEA.
鈥淒ouglas Ross and I have been talking to key Scottish stakeholders to understand and help those that might have genuine difficulties.
鈥淭he new system provides an opportunity for employers in Scotland to make the case for the inclusion of a range of roles, which up to now have been out of the scope of the visa regime.鈥�