UK Supreme Court ruling hailed as ‘landmark moment’ for public health

(Article via: www.gov.scot 18/11/17)

The UK Supreme Court has today ruled that minimum unit pricing for alcohol, which was passed overwhelmingly by the Scottish Parliament in 2012, can now proceed.

Health Secretary Shona Robison welcomed the decision and confirmed she intends to make a statement to Parliament shortly, setting out the Scottish Government’s next steps.

Following the unequivocal backing of the highest court in Scotland – and a referral to the European Court of Justice – the UK Supreme Court has now dismissed an appeal by the Scotch Whisky Association and others, ruling that the proposed minimum unit pricing policy is appropriately targeted, lawful and proportionate.

Prior to implementing the policy, Ministers will now conduct a consultation on the proposed 50 pence per unit price and refresh the Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) that is required by Parliament. The Scottish Government anticipates setting the minimum unit price at 50 pence per unit, subject to the outcome of the consultation and the refreshed BRIA.

Ms Robison said:

“This is a historic and far-reaching judgment and a landmark moment in our ambition to turn around Scotland’s troubled relationship with alcohol.

“In a ruling of global significance, the UK Supreme Court has unanimously backed our pioneering and life-saving alcohol pricing policy.

“This has been a long journey and in the five years since the Act was passed, alcohol related deaths in Scotland have increased. With alcohol available for sale at just 18 pence a unit, that death toll remains unacceptably high.

“Given the clear and proven link between consumption and harm, minimum pricing is the most effective and efficient way to tackle the cheap, high strength alcohol that causes so much damage to so many families.

“So we will proceed with plans to introduce minimum unit pricing as quickly as possible. I intend to make a statement to Parliament shortly setting out our next steps, including our preferred implementation timetable and how we will engage with retailers and industry to make this a success.

“The Scotch Whisky Association were within their rights to make this case. I am pleased that the case has now been settled decisively by the courts and I know the Scotch Whisky Association will accept the decision.

“The Scottish Government has always supported whisky as a key part of our economy and an icon of Scottish food and drink, and we will continue to work closely with the sector to ensure its economic success. We will also work closely on the promotion of safe and responsible alcohol consumption and the smooth implementation of the policy.”

Article Source: https://news.gov.scot/news/alcohol-minimum-unit-pricing-to-go-ahead

• The latest report on Scotland’s economic performance has shown a strong first half of 2017.

(Article via www.gov.scot 10/11/17)

The State of the Economy paper has been published by Scotland’s Chief Economist, Dr Gary Gillespie.

It sets out the key trends in the economy in the first half of 2017 and the outlook for the coming year. The report highlights:

• Economic performance has strengthened in 2017 with growth picking-up over the first half of the year
• The labour market has continued to perform strongly, with the employment rate close to its record high and unemployment rate close to its record low;
• The composition of the labour market shows full-time employment has risen by 55,000 over the past year, whilst part-time employment has fallen by 15,000
• Sectors linked to the oil and gas supply chain have grown over the first half of the year as confidence gradually returns to the sector
• Growth forecasts remain positive, projecting growth of around 1% in 2017 and 2018
• Brexit remains the key risk to Scotland’s economy with on-going uncertainty risking business investment and the depreciation in Sterling already feeding through to higher inflation

Economy Secretary Keith Brown said:

“It is encouraging to see further evidence that the foundations of Scotland’s economy remain strong, with positive forecasts on growth.

“However, growth is slower than we would like to see and the UK Government’s stance on Brexit continues to present a huge threat to jobs and prosperity in Scotland.

“We will continue to do all we can to support growth in our economy.”

Article Source: https://news.gov.scot/news/state-of-economy-report

The UK Government is keeping devolved administrations ‘substantially in the dark’ over EU withdrawal negotiations, according to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

)Article via www.gov.scot 10/11/17)

On the first day of the 29th British Irish Council in Jersey the FM said the UK Government had not honoured its repeated assurances to share information on the progress of the negotiations.

In particular, clarity was urgently needed on transition arrangements for wholly devolved issues such as agriculture and fisheries.

The FM said:

“In less than 18 months’ time, the UK will be leaving the EU – but despite reassurances that all devolved administrations will be consulted on the withdrawal negotiations, we remain substantially in the dark.

“The UK Government assured us that the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) would seek to agree UK positions and discuss issues stemming from the negotiations, respecting the devolved competencies– but the UK Government then allowed that process to fall short of what is required, with only one meeting of the JMC EN in October since EU negotiations began on 19 June.

“We remain cut out of decisions on key issues and the impact the UK Government believe Brexit will have on Scotland and our economy.

“This is not an abstract debate about process. Leaving the EU will have an enormous impact on Scottish jobs, our economy and our relationship with the world – indeed, Brexit’s effects are already being felt. We know from businesses in Scotland that a hard Brexit will cause serious and long term economic damage and it is crucial we stay in the Single Market and Customs Union.

“As has previously been said, the clock is ticking on Brexit and it is essential that the UK Government live up to its promises to give devolved administrations a genuine role on what is by far the most important issue facing every corner of these islands.”

Article Source: https://news.gov.scot/news/brexit-negotiations

Start-ups sector is “thriving”

(Article via www.gov.scot 08/11/17)

The number of businesses in Scotland is at the highest level since records began.

Official statistics show there were 365,600 private sector businesses (registered & unregistered) operating in Scotland as at March 2017 – up by more than 50% since 2000 – providing more than 2 million jobs in Scotland.

The figure represents an increase of 11,110 (3.1%) over the year, taking the number of businesses in Scotland to its highest level in the 17 years since the figures were first recorded.

The number of these firms which are VAT/PAYE registered is up for the sixth year in a row, by 2,405 (1.4%) from 173,995 in 2016 to 176,400 in 2017 – and is also at a record high.

And the estimated number of unregistered businesses (the smallest firms with an annual turnover below the VAT threshold of £83,000 and do not have employees) rose from 180,500 in 2016 to 189,200 in 2017 – an increase of 8,700 (4.8%).

Scottish Government Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy, Paul Wheelhouse, said: “These figures show Scotland’s business scene is thriving, and the rise has been driven in particular by the success of our small business start-ups. But it is very encouraging to see the growth in the number of VAT registered businesses too.

“We’re committed to helping businesses to start-up and grow, and our Small Business Bonus Scheme is benefitting the occupiers of more than 100,000 properties this year by either eliminating or substantially reducing their business rates bill. The scheme has been significantly expanded this year, with half of all rateable properties across Scotland now paying no rates.

“Business Gateway supports new start-ups, as well as existing and growing businesses. It assists around 10,000 people to start their own business every year. Last year that was estimated to have created more than 11,000 jobs. The support also helped 12,669 existing businesses, and more than 5,000 businesses with help to grow but clearly we want to see as wide a number of businesses engage with enterprise agencies to further enhance Scotland’s economic growth.”

The number of businesses operating in Scotland is up by 52.4% since 2000.

While the number of medium-sized (50 to 249 employees) enterprises decreased between 2016 and 2017 to 3,855 – down 65 businesses – there has been an increase of 505 medium-sized enterprises since the records began.

And the number of large businesses (with 250 or more employees) remained at 2,365 from the year before, albeit this is an increase of 120 since 2000.

The Business in Scotland 2017 report shows that the two largest industry sectors were ‘Professional, Scientific & Technical Activities’ (52,985 enterprises) and Construction (45,940 enterprises). Together, these two sectors make up 27% of all private sector enterprises in Scotland.

Article Source: https://news.gov.scot/news/scottish-businesses-at-record-high

Commenting on the Brexit negotiations on the issue of the Irish border, First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon said:

“Despite the fact that no deal on the Irish border issue has been reached today, and while full details of any such deal are still to become clear, I welcome the fact that there now appears to be the outline of an agreement which would ensure that there is no return to a hard border on the island of Ireland.

“The potential for a hard border has been one of the most concerning aspects of Brexit, and the UK Government’s position to date on protecting the terms of the Good Friday Agreement has left much to be desired.

“While I welcome the proposed commitment for Ireland and Northern Ireland – and while the particular circumstances in Scotland are distinct and separate from those in Ireland – today’s developments show very clearly that if one part of UK can retain regulatory alignment with the EU and effectively stay in the single market, there is no good practical reason why others cannot do the same.

“Indeed, any special status for Northern Ireland would make a similar solution for Scotland even more vital. For Scotland to find itself outside the single market, while Northern Ireland effectively stays in would place us at a double disadvantage when it comes to jobs and investment.

“While the simplest answer to the Brexit problem is for the whole UK to stay in the single market, the Scottish Government has already put forward very detailed compromise proposals for how Scotland’s place in the single market could be maintained if the rest of the UK insists on leaving – proposals which were previously rejected by the UK Government as unworkable. Indeed, if Northern Ireland is effectively kept in the single market it makes it all the more vital for Scotland’s national and economic interests that we are too.

“Today’s developments also demonstrate in the clearest possible way, through the role played by the Irish Government at the top table in Europe, the importance of being independent when it comes to defending your vital national interests.

“Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU, and the Scottish Government will continue to make the case, as strongly as ever, for that democratic choice by the people of Scotland to be respected and for our place in Europe to be protected.”

Article Source: https://news.gov.scot/news/brexit-talks-2

Devolved administrations should see economic impact reports

(Article via: www.gov.scot 01/11/17)

Michael Russell, The Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland’s Place in Europe, has today written to David Davis, the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, to ask for the UK Government’s analysis of the economic impact of Brexit across a range of industrial sectors to be shared with the Scottish Government and other devolved administrations.

The full text of the letter is set out below.

I have seen your letter this week to Baroness Verma in response to the House of Lords EU External Affairs Sub-Committee’s report Brexit: Trade in Goods. In that you indicate that the UK Government is undertaking analytical work on EU exit across 58 industrial sectors.

As you and David Mundell have noted in recent public comments, we agreed at the recent Joint Ministerial Committee on EU Negotiations that officials of the UK Government and the devolved administrations should hold further discussions on analysis of sectoral issues in each part of the United Kingdom.

It would be positive step to have that engagement under way before the next meeting of the JMC (EN). To that end I am writing to ask you to share with the devolved administrations the analysis you have undertaken to date and your plans for taking it forward so that we have a collective understanding of the analysis available to support negotiations and decisions about the UK position for those negotiations.

I am copying this letter to Damian Green, First Secretary of State, Mark Drakeford, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government in the Welsh Government, and David Sterling, Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service.

MICHAEL RUSSELL

Article Source: https://news.gov.scot/news/brexit-analysis-must-be-shared

Urgent clarity sought on transition arrangements

(Article via www.gov.scot 27/10/17)

The First Minister has written to the Prime Minister to seek clarity on plans for a transition arrangement as the United Kingdom leaves the EU. The full text of the letter is set out below.

As you know the people of Scotland did not vote to leave the European Union and the Scottish Parliament has made clear on a number of occasions our cross party opposition to your proposals to leave the single market and to end freedom of movement.

Despite our position I welcomed the indication in your Florence speech that you would be seeking urgent agreement on a transition period of two years as a sensible step forward in Brexit negotiations. I have been of the view for some time that in the event of Brexit a transition period is essential in order to allow businesses and governments across the UK and beyond to manage the profound uncertainties of the Brexit process.

However since then, and particularly as a result of your comments in the House of Commons on Monday, the clarity of your intentions, and thus the confidence of business that there will be a sensible transition period agreed quickly, has been seriously undermined. This relates in particular to your comments suggesting no transition can be agreed, or formalised, until there is agreement on the future relationship.

I am therefore urgently seeking your assurances that you are committed to rapidly putting in place transition arrangements that will meet the needs of business.

Given the differences in recent statements both from you and from those ministers with responsibility for Brexit I believe absolute clarity of the UK Government’s aims in this regard is required and would be welcomed.

Can you confirm that:

• You are urgently seeking agreement on a transition arrangement of at least 2 years, with the aim of securing that agreement by the end of this year;
• this will be based on the current structure of EU rules – a steady state transition;
• that you are not making your agreement to such a transition conditional on agreement before March 2019 on the detailed terms of the future relationship between the UK and EU?

I am increasingly concerned by the possibility that your negotiations may result in a “no deal” scenario. The Scottish Parliament gave a clear view this week that a no deal situation would not be acceptable and I believe that if the UK finds itself in that position, that no Brexit would be preferable to no deal – or indeed a bad deal – and that each of the Parliaments in the UK must have the opportunity to take a view on that.

I look forward to your urgent response and clear assurances you can provide to business that you will deliver the certainty promised in Florence.

NICOLA STURGEON

Article Source: https://news.gov.scot/news/first-minister-letter-to-prime-minister-on-eu-withdrawal