I thank my right hon. Friend for that intervention. I will touch on that issue in a moment.
Let us be clear that this is not just an SNP argument. The National Farmers Union of Scotland has made it absolutely clear that any move to impose what it describes as “DEFRA-centric policy” is completely unacceptable to Scotland. I agree wholeheartedly with the union when it states:
“The Scottish Government must retain the ability to manage, support and implement schemes, policies and regulations as it currently does”.
If the UK Government are serious about protecting Scottish agriculture, I suggest they listen to the president of the NFUS, Andrew McCornick, who has made it clear that the union’s priorities include securing friction-free trade, access to skilled labour and a support package specifically designed for Scotland. He was absolutely spot-on when he said that maintaining access to the single market and the customs union were essential for Scotland’s farmers. On today of all days, if a deal can be found for one part of the United Kingdom to remain in
the single market, there can be no other reason than political pig-headedness that such a deal cannot be found for Scotland.