Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh MP, the SNP’s spokesperson for Trade and Industry at Westminster, led a debate in the House of Commons on the potential impact of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership on public services.

Speaking prior to the debate on Friday, Ms Ahmed-Sheikh said: “While there is great potential in opening up US markets to Scottish firms, the SNP remains deeply concerned about some key aspects of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, or TTIP.

“I hope to hear today what progress is being made in delivering the kind of deal that Scottish MPs and the Scottish Government can support.

“In particular, we believe that the Conservative Government must make it clear to our European partners and to the US that there must be an explicit exemption for the NHS and Scottish Water, to ensure that the Scottish Government could not be sued by private firms because of their policies or actions relating to public healthcare.

“Governments in Scotland, the UK and beyond must be able to manage these services for the greater good without fear that their democratic mandate is overruled in the courts.”