Think-tank predicts service exports could be cut by 60% if removed from Single Market.

New independent research published today has highlighted the risks a hard Brexit will have on exports.

The study by the NIESR economic think-tank says UK exports from the services sector could be cut by up to 60%. For Scotland this would be equivalent to a £2.3 billion hit.

The research also says trade in goods could decline by 35-44%. If Scottish goods exports were to fall by a similar amount, the cost would be around an additional £3 billion.

Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland’s Place in Europe, Michael Russell said:

“Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU and this is another report which shows the severe cost to jobs and exports if the UK Government removes Scotland from the Single Market against our will.

“Services exports from Scotland to Europe have been growing rapidly in recent years and to stop this growth would be a severe blow to our long-term economic prospects.

“That’s why the Scottish Government is exploring every option to protect our relationship with, and place in, Europe and in particular our membership of the Single Market.

“If the UK Government is giving assurances to private companies, as it’s been reported, then Scotland should be afforded the same level of respect and engagement on a deal to protect our democratic and economic interests.

“This report shows that even if the UK signed a free trade deal with the EU there will be significant economic damage compared with continuing Single Market membership.

“In the next few weeks the Scottish Government will be publishing detailed proposals for Scotland to remain inside the Single Market even if the rest of the UK leaves.”

ARTICLE SOURCE: http://news.gov.scot/news/hard-brexit-hit-for-scottish-exports

31/10/16: First Minister announces new rate that will benefit thousands of staff in Scotland.

The First Minister today welcomed the new Living Wage rate of £8.45 an hour and urged more Scottish organisations to sign up as Accredited Living Wage Employers.

The rise of 20 pence will benefit thousands of employees at Living Wage-accredited organisations in Scotland.

The Living Wage that meets the real costs of living is reviewed every year using the best evidence about living standards in the UK.

The First Minister today visited The Bell Group, a UK wide painting and decorating contractor headquartered in Airdrie and the latest Scottish business to become an accredited Living Wage employer.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:

“The new Living Wage of £8.45 will be a welcome pay rise for thousands of Scottish workers and ensures people’s basic wage continues to meet the real costs of living.

“Like the Bell Group, 630 employers in Scotland are now accredited Living Wage employers and I want to see all businesses implement the new Living Wage rates as soon as possible.

“For business, paying the Living Wage makes sense – it’s an investment in people and all the evidence shows it leads to increased productivity and reduced staff absence and turnover, while sending a strong signal to customers about fairness.

“Yet we also know around 20 per cent of Scotland’s workforce earn less than the Living Wage. With low pay one of the main drivers of in-work poverty, it’s vital that employers who can pay the real Living Wage do so.

“We’ll continue to work with the Living Wage Foundation and the Poverty Alliance to encourage more businesses to recognise the benefits of paying the real Living Wage.”

Megan Strachan, 21, has worked at Bell Group for three years and will receive the new Living Wage. Megan said:

“The difference the real Living Wage has made is that I’ve finally been able to buy and run a car, which has helped me be more independent. Before, I had to rely on family to get me to work or walk to work in the dark winter mornings. It takes the worry away – a financial problem isn’t just about finances, you think about it all the time.”

Peter Kelly, director of the Poverty Alliance said:

“Today’s announcement of the new, increased, Living Wage rates of £8.45 brings a welcome pay rise to thousands of workers across Scotland.

“430,000 people in Scotland still earn less than the wage they need to get by. This is an increase on the number of people struggling since last year’s figures. That’s why it’s more important than ever for leading employers to join the growing movement of businesses and organisations that are going further than the government minimum and making sure their employees earn enough to cover the real cost of living.”

Katherine Chapman, Director of the Living Wage Foundation said:

“As we kick off Living Wage Week today, we are celebrating the 600+ employers in Scotland and nearly 3,000 employers across the UK who lead the way on tackling low pay by paying the real Living Wage. The sheer growth of our movement shows that the Living Wage is good for people and good for business.”

Annette Bell, co-founder of The Bell Group said:

“We are delighted to mark becoming an accredited real Living Wage employer to celebrate our Company’s renowned commitment to the overall wellbeing of our employees with a visit from the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon today.

“Bell Group today is one of the largest dedicated painting and maintenance contractors in the UK both in terms of our directly employed workforce and geographical coverage. Whilst being market leader, we remain a family-owned and operated business with our foundations being built on a true family ethos.

“The majority of our staff are already paid well above the Living Wage, however becoming accredited meant that we could renew our commitment to ensure that all our staff have a decent quality of life. Furthermore, this accreditation allows us to persuade other companies within our supply chain to look and follow suit, driving the Living Wage ethos throughout the industry.”

ARTICLE SOURCE: >> news.gov.scot/news/living-wage-set-at-gbp-845
RELATED LINKS:
SCOT GOV WEBSITE >> www.scotland.gov.uk
SNP WEBSITE: >> www.snp.org

Campaigning for positive change – your SNP MPs at Westminster (By Grant Costello)

In 2015 we pledged that our MPs would make Scotland’s voice stronger at Westminster and to use our influence to help deliver positive change for the benefit of people in Scotland, and across the UK.

Working with campaigners and other parties, that is exactly what SNP MPs have been doing since the election.

Here are just some examples, amongst many, of SNP MPs campaigning for positive change at Westminster.

Fighting for a fairer immigration policy

Gregg Brain speaks at #SNP16 from theSNP on Vimeo.

SNP MPs, Ian Blackford MP and Alex Salmond MP, working alongside Kate Forbes MSP, have successfully lobbied on behalf of the Brain family for their right to live in Scotland.

Gregg and Kathryn Brain and their son Lachlan moved to the Highlands in 2011 from Australia on a student visa. They had intended to move to the post-study work visa after Kathryn graduated but the UK government scrapped the policy over the objections of the Scottish Government.

SNP MPs, MSPs and the SNP Scottish Government have consistently argued for the reintroduction of the post-study work visa by the UK government, to ensure we can attract and retain the skills and talent Scotland needs.

The Brain family’s situation was raised in the House of Commons by SNP MPs, including by Angus Robertson at PMQs. Ian Blackford worked to secure multiple extensions to the Brain’s visa, despite the constant threat of deportation by the Home Office, until they were able to secure employment and, finally, receive leave to remain in the UK.

Calling for an end to the Tories draconian Rape Clause

Alison Thewliss MP has campaigned against Tory plans to make some women prove they have been raped in order to claim Child Tax Credits, forcing the UK Government to back down and hold public consultation on the issue.

The Tories plan to restrict the child element of tax credits and Universal Credit to families’ first two children. The rape clause would mean that women who have a third child as a result of rape would have to prove that this was the case in order to receive Tax Credits. SNP MPs will continue to fight against these barbaric proposals to ensure they never become law.

Read more on the campaign here.

http://www.snp.org/scrap_the_rape_clause_alison_thewliss

Standing against pension injustice

Mhairi Black MP has been working with the women of the WASPI campaign and led calls at Westminster for women born in the 1950s to receive the pensions they are rightfully due.

Changes made in the 1995 Pensions Act, and accelerated by the Coalition Government in the 2011 Act, will mean that 2.6 million women born in the 1950s will receive their pension years later than originally promised.

The SNP has commissioned research showing that for the cost of £8 billion the UK Government can reverse the 2011 changes and give WASPI women more time to prepare – significantly less than the £30 billion touted by the UK Government.

Read more on our support for the WASPI campaign here.
http://www.snp.org/tories_must_take_responsibility_for_injustice_of_waspi

Pressing the Tory government to accept more unaccompanied child refugees

Angus – Child Refugees from theSNP on Vimeo.

SNP Leader at Westminster Angus Robertson MP and Joanna Cherry QC MP continue to press the UK government to accept a greater share of the unaccompanied child refugees in Europe.

Following questions at PMQs and an opposition day debate on the issue, the UK Government eventually caved in and agreed to accept 3,000 more child refugees. While this was a step forward it is not enough. Angus Robertson and the SNP will continue to press the UK Government to step up to its moral obligation.

Defeating Tory plans to cut Tax Credits for the poorest in society

Eilidh Whiteford MP was at the forefront of opposing Tax Credit cuts proposed by George Osborne in 2015; something that would have cost families £1,000 per year on average.

Working on a cross party basis, we successfully forced the UK Government to abandon its regressive cuts to Tax Credits.

Securing the best deal for Scotland on Heathrow expansion

Drew Hendry MP, working with the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, Keith Brown, has campaigned tirelessly since being elected to secure the best deal for Scotland on airport expansion.

The Heathrow expansion plans will create up to 16,000 jobs across Scotland, see over £200 million in construction-related spend here in Scotland, and an incentive to introduce new services between Heathrow and Scottish airports.

Read more about Scotland’s deal here. http://news.scotland.gov.uk/news/heathrow-expansion

ARTICLE SOURCE: http://www.snp.org/campaigning_for_positive_change_at_westminster

Dedicated JMC sub-committee to meet for first time next month.

(Article by Scot Govt. 26/10/16)

The Scottish Government will continue to seek answers from the UK Government and fight for the best outcome for Scotland and those who choose to live here, Minister for UK Negotiations for Scotland’s Place in Europe Michael Russell told Parliament today.

With only 18 weeks to go until Article 50 is triggered by the UK Government, Mr Russell updated Parliament on recent Scottish Government activity aiming to bring forward solutions to the problems created by the Brexit vote.

This included:

Meetings with devolved and EU administrations
Public Q&A held in Scotland House, Brussels
Publication of the draft Referendum Bill
Agreement with the UK Government to a sub-committee of the JMC on EU Negotiations

Statement text as follows:

This is our third statement updating Parliament on our actions following the EU referendum and the overwhelming vote in Scotland to remain.

The First Minister last updated Parliament on 7 September. Today I would like give you more information about developments since that statement.

Reassuring our fellow EU citizens about their future right to continue living and working here remains of vital importance. Present UK Government rhetoric balances their future against that of UK citizens living in Europe – who are equally uncertain about their prospects, however using human beings as bargaining chips cannot be justified. The UK should take the lead and end this uncertainty now.

The impact on EU nationals living in the UK is just one of many problems the Brexit vote has created, all of which have been compounded by the reaction, inaction and confusion of the UK Government at Westminster.

Our approach in contrast has been to seek consensus, to establish clear priorities and to propose solutions to those problems in keeping with the democratic mandate which we have – a triple mandate arising from the election in 2016, the vote on the June 23rd and the vote of this Parliament on 28th June.

Since my appointment I have pursued that mandate at every opportunity. I have met twice with the UK Brexit Secretary David Davis, most recently on Friday along with the Secretary of State and colleagues have met with Treasury Ministers and the Trade Secretary.

I have been to Cardiff to identify common ground with Mark Drakeworth, my Welsh counterpart, met with representatives of the London Mayor’s office and our officials have been engaged with the Northern Ireland Executive. I have begun a series of meetings with party leaders – with Willie Rennie and Patrick Harvie and I look forward to meeting Kezia Dugdale and Ruth Davidson.

We have above all been pressing hard for a mechanism to deliver the full involvement promised by the Prime Minister.

The Joint Ministerial Committee finally met on Monday. The First Minister and I, along with our counterparts from the devolved administrations, attended the meeting in Downing St chaired by the Prime Minister.

The meeting considered the means by which the devolved administrations’ could and should engage with the UK Government on the development of a negotiating position for our future relationship with the European Union.

This was a long overdue meeting but unfortunately it was, in large part, hugely frustrating.

In line with the wishes of this Parliament, as expressed during recent debates, the First Minister set out Scotland’s key interests in protecting our place in the single market, securing continued freedom of movement and protecting social and employment rights. She also pressed, along with colleagues, for more information on the high level negotiating stance of the UK Government and some indication of how it would take forward engagement with the 27 remaining EU Members.

However we know no more about the UK Government’s approach now than we did when we went into Downing Street.

We do not know whether the UK Government is in favour of membership of the Single Market, or the Customs Union or what type of relationship it envisages between the UK and the EU after Brexit or indeed how and when these decisions will be made.

We did secure agreement that the JMC in plenary session will meet more frequently with another meeting promised for the New Year, before the triggering of Article 50. To put that in context, the last meeting of the JMC Plenary before this week was in 2014.

It was also agreed that a sub-committee be established to discuss the issues raised by Brexit.

That sub-committee – the JMC (EU Negotiations) – will meet for the first time early next month.

Following a proposal from the First Minister agreement was reached that a detailed work programme must be established ahead of the first meeting which must be linked to the timetable for, and key points anticipated in, the overall Brexit negotiating process. This timetable must ensure that issues are discussed in sufficient time to inform the UK Government’s European Sub-Committee’s decision making process. The Scottish Government will take part in as many meetings as necessary in order to ensure that this is the case. And I shall be speaking with David Davis later today about these issues.

Let me make clear to Parliament. The Scottish Government, Scottish Parliament and indeed people of Scotland are and must be equal partners in this multi-national United Kingdom. The Scottish Government will not be and is not simply consultee or a stakeholder. That is not what this parliament asked us to do.

There is a huge amount of work to do to satisfy the Prime Minister’s own requirement for “a UK approach and objectives for negotiations” before she triggers Article 50. As the Welsh First Minister said after Monday’s meeting “time is against us”, given that there are only 18 weeks between the first meeting of the JMC (EN) and the UK Government’s self-imposed March deadline for triggering the Article 50 process.

18 weeks: 126 days. We cannot afford to lose a single one of them given the vital importance of this task. A task that includes ensuring that the UK – and Scotland – does not drive straight off a hard Brexit cliff.

Monday made it clearer than ever that there is at present no coherent UK plan. But there has to be a Scottish plan, and ideally that should be one that is good for the UK too. Alongside our efforts to influence the United Kingdom to adopt a soft Brexit with continued membership of the single market the Scottish Government will bring forward our own detailed proposals to protect Scotland’s interests by the end of this year.

A key part of these proposals will be ways in which we can maintain membership of the Single Market for Scotland, even if the rest of the UK leaves.

I have noted recent comments by Alex Rowley, and by David Watt of the Institute of Directors in Scotland which suggest a consensus position on the key issue of immigration, may be possible. We will continue to seek advice from the Standing Council, to seek agreement on this and other key issues and I remain open to proposals from other parties.

This Parliament also gave Ministers a mandate to engage with other European nations and institutions to ensure Scotland’s position is heard.

Since our last statement to Parliament the First Minister attended the Arctic Circle Assembly where she met with the President, Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary of Iceland and the Deputy Prime Minister of Finland. The Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs has met with the Taoiseach and the Irish Foreign Secretary as well as with ministers from the French, Italian and Maltese governments. In addition along with continued engagement with the diplomatic community in Scotland we have also met with the Chief and Deputy Chief Ministers for Gibraltar.

Fiona Hyslop and I also visited Brussels last week. We spent time with Scottish MEPs, as well as with Guy Verhofstadt, who forms part of the European Parliament’s negotiating team and with Danuta Hubner, the chair of the Parliament’s Constitutional Affairs Committee which will take forward scrutiny of Brexit.

And of course, the views of this Parliament remain crucial to establishing the principles behind our approach.

My cabinet colleagues and I have taken part in very useful debates on the implications of EU referendum. This series will continue with a debate on the environment tomorrow.

Members will also know that this Scottish Government was elected with a clear mandate that the Scottish Parliament should have the right to hold an independence referendum if there was “a significant and material change in the circumstances that prevailed in 2014, such as Scotland being taken out of the EU against our will.”

That is a direct quote from the manifesto on which we stood and won.

We are now faced with that specific scenario.

As a result in the immediate aftermath of the EU referendum we said we would prepare the required legislation to enable a new independence referendum to be held if it became clear that was the only or best way of protecting those interests.

We repeated that commitment to Parliament in our Programme for Government.

Last Thursday we published the Consultation on a Draft Referendum Bill. This consultation invites views on the draft legislation and technical arrangements for a referendum. This will ensure that the draft referendum bill is to be ready for introduction should it be, in the opinion of the Government, the right way to proceed.

The people of Scotland, in every local authority area, voted to remain in the EU. That is an inescapable fact, and is recognised by every party in this chamber.

We have, therefore, sought, and will continue to seek, to work with every party to ensure that the democratic, economic and social advantages of our engagement with and connection to Europe continue to benefit us as a nation.

There is much we can do together.

We can continue to seek answers from the UK government on the most basic of questions.

We can continue to bring forward solutions to the problems created by the Brexit vote.

We can continue to assert our right to be treated as an equal partner.

We can, as the FM said this morning, and we must come together to form an all Scotland coalition to protect our place in the single market, regardless of our views on the constitution.

And we can resolve to ensure the best outcome for Scotland and all the people who live here – all of them, including those who have come from elsewhere.

ARTICLE SOURCE: http://news.scotland.gov.uk/news/russell-no-ukg-brexit-plan

Calls come in light of recent independent report criticising industry performance

(Article by Scot Govt.)

“Scotland must have full devolution of rail powers to reverse the current unacceptable industry performance.”

Transport Minister Humza Yousaf made the calls during an appearance at the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee in Edinburgh today where he also outlined the findings of an independent review undertaken into Network Rail’s corporate governance of major rail infrastructure projects.

The EY review has exposed fundamental weaknesses in Network Rail’s project governance, controls and performance reporting, as well as weak and inconsistent cost forecasting and significantly higher costs to comply with national standards.

Mr Yousaf said:

“Scottish Ministers and indeed passengers up and down the country quite rightly have high expectations of our railway. At the heart of our £5bn programme of improvements is an underlying need to provide best value for the public purse while delivering a first class service.

“This service has clearly not been delivered and that is why the Scottish Government rejected initial projected cost increases and schedule revisions from Network Rail. Instead, we instigated a full and urgent review into all of our major rail projects to fully understand the implications of the ORR report.

“The Scottish Government has warned repeatedly that there needs to be fundamental changes in how our railways are run. Time and time again we have set out a full and compelling case to the UK Government for the full devolution of Network Rail to Scotland. Time and time again these requests have been rejected, most recently in March this year yet this review adds weight to our calls for transformation.

“We know passengers are already frustrated, not least as this review comes hot on the heels of the need for ScotRail to implement a Performance Improvement Plan – something we are closely monitoring. While we are doing what we can to address the issues at hand, our powers are limited.

“That is why I have made clear to Network Rail’s Chair, Sir Peter Hendy, and Chief Executive Mark Carne, my expectation that they will increase the scale and pace of their decentralisation agenda. As a minimum I expect this to include the full transfer of responsibilities for the development, design and delivery of infrastructure projects to their Scotland route.

“I have also raised the matter of full devolution of rail powers with the UK Railways Minister Paul Maynard and I will continue to press the issue as only with full powers can the Scottish Ministers consider the full range of options for structuring our railways in order to meet Scotland’s needs. Until we achieve that I am constrained to working within the limited powers at my disposal but I can confirm we will continue to deliver our full committed portfolio of rail infrastructure improvements.

“In acknowledging performance is not where it should be, we also appreciate the efforts of front line staff across the railway who are committed to delivering services for all their customers. It is important their efforts ensuring rail in Scotland continues to enjoy its current popularity are recognised”

ARTICLE SOURCE: http://news.scotland.gov.uk/news/transport-minister-demands-full-devolution-of-network-rail

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will today say the Scottish Government will work constructively to build an all-Scotland coalition to protect the country’s place in the European Single Market.

(Article by Scot Govt.)

The First Minister will open the annual National Economic Forum in Edinburgh later today (Wednesday, 26 October), which will discuss the impact of Brexit on Scottish businesses.

She will set out to 150 business and public sector leaders the Scottish Government’s next steps to protect the economy in the face of an impending UK exit from the European Union.

The First Minister is expected to say:

“Creating jobs, expanding the economy and growing tax revenues – these priorities are at the centre of everything we do.

“But economists have estimated a hard Brexit will cost Scotland 80,000 jobs within a decade.

“I believe a coalition can be built to keep the UK as a whole in the Single Market. That outcome is in the best interests of everyone in these islands. So we will work with other organisations and parties, not just in Scotland but across the UK, to achieve that outcome.

“And in Scotland, regardless of the positions people take on the constitutional future of Scotland, on this central issue of Single Market membership there is widespread agreement. Rarely has there been such unity on an issue.

“So today let’s resolve to present to the UK Government a unified Scottish position: an all-Scotland coalition of support for the Single Market. An all-Scotland coalition – of politicians, business, universities and others – to resist a hard Brexit.

“We will work constructively with all relevant parties to achieve the goal of retaining our place in Europe and Single Market membership.”

ARTICLE SOURCE: http://news.scotland.gov.uk/news/strong-support-for-single-market

The Boundary Commission for Scotland is to outline its plans to reduce the number of Scottish MPs from 59 to 53 on Thursday.

Here, BBC Scotland’s Andrew Kerr looks at the reasons for the changes – and what they could mean for Scottish MPs.

This is a story as old as our parliaments, as old as representative democracy. Where do we get our officials from to represent us and how many should there be?

Remember from the days of school history – the stories of the “rotten” or “pocket” boroughs”. Just a few voters or the landowner could send someone to parliament. Old Sarum, near Salisbury in Wiltshire, was perhaps the most notorious.

The practice was swept away in the 1832 Reform Act.

There are now new plans afoot for Scottish MPs – the 59 people who fly down to Westminster every week to represent our views.

It is possible that SNP MPs could have to fight each other to stand in the next general election and that pro-union MPs will face a struggle to get back into parliament.

READ MORE & FULL STORY BELOW

ARTICLE SOURCE: >> http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-37667282