Mr. Angus Robertson:

Clearly, we look to Northern Ireland and its remaining in the European Single Market as having a competitive advantage to Great Britain. When it was not certain after the initial Brexit referendum result what form of Brexit the UK Government was pursuing, we were making the case for that ourselves. We had voted to remain and if it was possible for one part of the United Kingdom to remain within the Single Market, why would it not be possible for another part of the United Kingdom to remain within the Single Market? Unfortunately, that train left and we are left where we are. We very much look to the advantages that Northern Ireland has being in the Single Market and us not being in the Single Market.

On timelines, I am sorry to disappoint the Deputy who asked the question on this. If I can make a process point about the stage at which we are at, we have begun the work of preparing, in every manner of means, for both the referendum and also the case that will be made as part of that referendum process. This is to ensure the public is properly informed about the choice they will be able to make, part of which will relate to the European Union and accession to the European Union. We are in a different circumstance from 2014 where we were talking about becoming an independent member state of the European Union while being in the European Union. We now find ourselves outside, which is a significantly different position to be in.

Having said that, we would be in the unique position of having been in Europe for 47 years. We would be a known quantity. We have, for 47 years, maintained the acquis communautairein Scotland and, as I have already told the committee, we are working to remain aligned with European legislation. There are differences from 2014 but as part of the process in the run-up to the referendum date in 2013, we will be publishing a range of documents as part of the prospectus that will inform people's choice. That will include much of the information the Deputy is asking me to give him a sneak preview of. I would be in big trouble with colleagues in the Scottish Parliament committee that I regularly appear before if I were to divulge such interesting information.