Scottish Parliament – Feb. 19, 2025 – 1

S6M-16511.2: As an amendment to motion S6M-16511 in the name of Kate Forbes (Protecting the Powers of the Scottish Parliament), leave out from “, which sets” to end and insert “;

recognises the fundamental importance of the UK internal market to Scotland’s businesses, investment and jobs, given that trade with the rest of the UK accounts for over 60% of Scotland’s total exports, worth over £52 billion annually;

believes that the integrity of the UK internal market is essential to economic stability, consumer confidence and business certainty across Scotland;

notes that the Scottish Government has consistently failed to make effective use of the extensive powers already devolved to the Scottish Parliament by presiding over declining public service performance and failing to roll out devolved benefits on time;

further notes that, rather than constructively engaging with the opportunities afforded by devolution, the Scottish National Party administration has prioritised constitutional grievance over delivering for the people of Scotland, and condemns the Scottish Government for its attacks on the powers of the Scottish Parliament through its leaking of crucial policies to the press before being announced to the Parliament, passing legislation that bypasses proper parliamentary scrutiny and failing to answer questions from parliamentarians about important topics that are in the public interest.”

Original motion(S6M-16511): That the Parliament notes the publication of the UK Government’s consultation and review of the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020, which sets out that it will “not consider whether to repeal the UK Internal Market Act or any part of it”;

recalls that both the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Senedd refused to give the Act legislative consent;

notes the position of the Welsh Government, which opposes the Act, believing it to be “an unwarranted attack on devolution”;

reaffirms its decision regarding the Act on 3 October 2023, and calls for it to be repealed.