I WELCOME the publication of the Scottish government’s eagerly anticipated Global Affairs Framework. This sets out the key principles that will guide and focus Scotland’s international engagement as we move out of a post-Brexit and post-Covid context.

Since the Britain left the EU the world has endured significant shocks and international crises as a result of the Covid pandemic. We are only just beginning to come out of this now.

In Scotland, as we move forward, we have the opportunity to re-evaluate our international engagement and priorities. The committee on external affairs set about to do this and yesterday’s publication of the Global Affairs Framework addresses the calls for clarity of strategy and principles from the Scottish government in the post-Brexit international climate.