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Holyrood committee conveners quiz Nicola Sturgeon Nicola Sturgeon confirms 'Norway model' option
(about 3 hours later)
The conveners of each of the Scottish Parliament's committees have questioned First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on her plans for government. Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed that the Scottish government is considering a Norway-style model for keeping Scotland in the EU single market.
The SNP leader appeared before a special session of the parliament conveners' group at Holyrood. The first minister told MSPs that the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and European Economic Area (EEA) models were being looked at.
She took questions on topics including devolved social security benefits, health service reforms and Brexit. The Scottish government is examining possible ways of maintaining Scotland's links with the EU.
Deputy Presiding Officer Christine Grahame said the work of Holyrood's committees was increasingly important. BBC Scotland revealed on Tuesday that the EEA model had been floated.
This was the fourth such session of questions to a first minister by the conveners' group, and the first of the current parliamentary term. The EEA includes the existing EU states in addition to EFTA members Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
Group leader Ms Graham said: "With areas such as welfare and income tax now devolved to Holyrood, the role of committees in scrutinising the Scottish government has never been more important." Membership offers access to the single market but members must make a financial contribution and adopt most EU legislation as well as the free movement of people.
Asked about claims that devolution of benefits to Holyrood is being "delayed", the first minister dismissed this as "absolute, utter nonsense". Ms Sturgeon has said she will publish proposals in the coming weeks aimed at keeping Scotland in the single market even if the rest of the UK leaves.
She said setting up a Scottish social security system was "hugely complex", with the top priority making sure that the changes are delivered properly - pledging that the mistakes of the Universal Credit rollout would not be repeated in Scotland. Addressing a meeting of the Scottish Parliament's conveners' group, Ms Sturgeon reiterated that her priority was to "maintain and protect our place in the single market".
Ms Sturgeon was also asked about reports Scotland could seek a Norway-style place in the European Economic Area after the UK leaves the European Union. She explained that this meant "membership of the single market, not some vague access to the single market."
She said she wanted the UK as a whole to stay in the single market, but said "of course" models such as EEA membership were "being looked at". Ms Sturgeon added: "I've set out very clearly I want the UK as a whole to stay in the single market and so to the extent that we can wield any influence UK-wide we will try to help steer the UK government away from a hard Brexit towards staying in the single market.
Questioned by rural economy committee convener Edward Mountain on the issues surrounding common agricultural policy payments to farmers, Ms Sturgeon said she deeply regretted the problems around the CAP payments system and said her government was dedicated to resolving the issues. "But if the UK is intent on a hard Brexit and coming out of the single market, I want to look at how we could, and I'm not for a minute saying there wouldn't be challenges associated with this, but whether we could find a way of protecting Scotland's place in the single market.
However, she said there would be no further internal reviews of the issue. "And of course models like EFTA, Norway is in EFTA, EFTA countries apart from Switzerland are also in the single market through the European Economic Area.
"So, of course, these are models that we're looking at and we will, as I've said previously, publish some proposals and an option, or perhaps different options, about how this could be achieved hopefully before the end of the year."
'Non-starter'
Scottish Conservative finance spokesman Murdo Fraser said the possibility of Scotland pursuing a separate Norway-style deal was a "complete non-starter".
He added: "On Tuesday, (Economy Secretary) Keith Brown appeared to accept this was the case, but now the first minister says it's back on the table.
"Academics have warned again that this proposal would be the worst of all worlds, trapping Scotland in an EU-wide pact over which we would have no influence, and cutting us off from our biggest and nearest market in the rest of the UK.
"It is time the first minister got real. The best way forward for Scotland is to take part in UK-wide negotiations."
Meanwhile, Ms Sturgeon's predecessor as first minister, Alex Salmond, has said the SNP could vote with the UK government to trigger the Brexit process if key "red line" demands for Scotland are met.
Speaking on his weekly LBC radio show, Mr Salmond said these would include Prime Minister Theresa May finding a solution that would allow Scotland to stay in the single market.
He said: "SNP MPs will put forward what the first minister has articulated in terms of Scotland's red lines. If the government accommodates these within the bill we could end up supporting it.
"If the government doesn't accommodate these within the bill, then we will seek to amend it, and we will seek to make that process for the government as uncomfortable as possible.
"If the government does not respond to Scotland's wishes... then of course we wouldn't be supporting the government."
He added: "I think the UK position could accommodate Scotland's wishes."
Commenting on Mr Salmond's remarks, Scottish Labour's Europe spokesman Lewis Macdonald said they formed part of a "chaotic week for the SNP".
He added: "This is a complete U-turn in the space of just ten days, as the SNP Brexit Minister Michael Russell said he could not imagine any circumstances in which the party's MPs would vote to start the exit process.
"Scottish Labour is clear: we support maintaining our relationship with our European neighbours and our place in the UK single market."