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.
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Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 23 May 2024
Clare Adamson
That is an interesting thought, given where we are with exemptions in Scotland.
I thank the witnesses for attending. That was interesting evidence. I also thank them for the report. We all received a copy of it before the meeting and it was interesting reading.
We move into private.
10:44 Meeting continued in private until 11:09.Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 23 May 2024
Clare Adamson
Our second agenda item is to continue to take evidence on the committee’s inquiry into the review of the European Union-United Kingdom trade and co-operation agreement—the TCA.
We are joined remotely by Mike Buckley, director of the Independent Commission on UK-EU Relations; Peter Holmes, emeritus fellow of the UK Trade Policy Observatory at the University of Sussex; and David Hamilton, student in bioeconomy, innovation and governance at the University of Edinburgh. We are also hoping to be joined by Anna Jerzewska, who is the director of Trade and Borders. Everyone on the panel is a member of the Independent Commission on UK-EU Relations think tank. I extend a warm welcome to you all.
I will ask a question to start us off. In your report, “Brexit and Goods: trade strategy for unlocking UK-EU growth and opportunities”, you said:
“An effective way to ensure a smooth and affordable flow of goods trade would be via mutual recognition schemes, although it is likely that the UK would have to make standards concessions to achieve this.”
You also suggested that “regulatory divergence” would present challenges for exporting businesses. Will you elaborate on those thoughts, and on what is meant by “standards concessions”, so that we are absolutely clear on that?
I will go to Mike Buckley first.
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 23 May 2024
Clare Adamson
I will go to Mr Holmes.
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 23 May 2024
Clare Adamson
I will just mention that, in Scotland, in October, BSI will also host the International Electrotechnical Commission conference, which will give us an opportunity to engage. As a former International Organization for Standardization 9001 standard auditor for my company, I am quite excited about that, but I hope that other politicians will be interested in engaging with the international organisations that will be in attendance.
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 23 May 2024
Clare Adamson
I am conscious that we have run over our expected finish time, but I have one final question, to which I am looking for succinct answers. It is actually two questions rolled into one, just to make it easier.
There has been a lot of talk about engagement and being in the right room. What rooms are EFTA countries in, or are they achieving access to the free market purely through dynamic alignment?
On the point about the room that the Scottish Parliament is in, my deputy convener and I represent the Scottish Parliament as observers at the UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly, although we also have the opportunity to take part. It was through the work of the PPA that the willingness that Peter Holmes mentioned in relation to youth mobility became a priority and something that we would work on. Of course, the European Commission made an approach on that to the UK Government on 18 April, but my understanding is that the UK Government rejected it. I also understand that the leader of the possible incoming new Administration has also rejected that. Does that lead to further engagement and negotiation fatigue in Europe in terms of the UK’s priorities going forward? I know that those are big questions, but I ask for succinct answers.
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 23 May 2024
Clare Adamson
Are there any further questions from members? In invite Keith Brown to come in.
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 23 May 2024
Clare Adamson
You are very welcome at our committee, albeit virtually.
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 23 May 2024
Clare Adamson
That is okay.
Mike Buckley, do you want to comment?
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 23 May 2024
Clare Adamson
Good morning, and a warm welcome to the 13th meeting in 2024 of the Constitution, Europe and External Affairs Committee.
Our first agenda item is a decision on taking business in private. Are members content to take items 3 and 4 in private?
Members indicated agreement.
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 16 May 2024
Clare Adamson
Could you dive more deeply into your comments on measuring progress and what gaps you think that there are in the current framework? I go back to Dr Long initially.