Business for Scotland has called for genuine cooperation between Westminster and Holyrood to support Scotland’s key industries during the Brexit negotiations.
Commenting on today’s Queen’s Speech, Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp, Chief Executive of Business for Scotland said: “We would like to see genuine cooperation between the government in Westminster and the UK devolved administrations for Scotland’s key industries, including fishing and agriculture, and for the EU nationals Scotland wishes to retain as necessary contributors to our society.
“BfS has welcomed the commitment from the UK Government to focus on enhancing skills needed for the booming technology sector in the UK, with particular significance to Scotland to fill the 12,800 tech job opportunities Scotland is predicted to have annually, and the commitment to a Living Wage increase across the UK.
“However, we express concerns on comments made about the UK Government working with the devolved administrations across the UK to reach consensus on the best deal as the UK leaves the EU.
“While the Government claims to want to build a more united country, so far in the Brexit negotiations none of the devolved administrations has been consulted in the process; Scotland’s devolved parliament wasn’t even pre-warned about the triggering of Article 50.
“Scotland needs a seat at the negotiating table in order to protect our key industries, and the EU nationals living in and contributing to our country.”
