I thank the First Minister for his partial response. What is extraordinary is the number of people in this Chamber and beyond who look to and expect the European Union to intervene as if it were a supporter of democratic national self-determination, when the reality is it will no more welcome a vote on national independence in Catalonia than it did our vote on 23 June 2016.

I would associate myself with some of the remarks that the First Minister made initially, and I think it is the case that our constitutional arrangements have worked better in respect of Scotland and the referendum they held there, than Spain’s have in respect of Catalonia. Unfortunately, not all in the Scottish National Party agree with the legal and constitutional approach taken so far continuing. Some want an SNP Scottish Government not to bother with a second referendum and just declare independence; others think they should hold a second referendum without a second section 30 order from the UK Government. Ultimately, if a Scottish Government were to seek to hold such an illegal referendum, or perhaps a future Welsh Government, isn't prison for contempt ultimately our last line of constitutional defence?