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Ministerial Discussions: Scottish Government

Volume 617: debated on Thursday 1 December 2016

15. What recent discussions he has had with Ministers of the Scottish Government on the Government’s plans for the UK leaving the EU. (907605)

The Government are absolutely committed to working with the Scottish Government, alongside the other devolved Administrations, as we formulate plans for the United Kingdom to leave the EU. That includes working through the new Joint Ministerial Committee on EU negotiations, which had its first meeting last month and is due to meet again on 7 December.

Can the Minister outline the benefits of Scotland securing full membership of the single market post-Brexit?

I find it extremely difficult to see how one part of the United Kingdom could remain part of the single market while the rest did not. I refer the hon. Gentleman to what the First Minister of Wales said only the other day:

“I don’t see how there can be separate market access arrangements for the different nations within the UK that share the same land mass.”