Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will decline to lay any orders devolving the management of British Transport Police to the Scottish Government.

Legislative competence for railway policing in Scotland has already been devolved, and the UK Government remains fully committed to supporting an effective and orderly transfer of the functions of the British Transport Police (BTP) in Scotland to Police Scotland. The planned transfer has been delayed and will not now take place on 1 April 2019. The delay, which was announced by Scottish Ministers last month, will provide further time for the Scottish Government to ensure that all of the necessary actions have been completed to deliver a seamless transition which ensures the safety and security of rail passengers and staff.

The Orders necessary to facilitate the transfer of BTP officers and staff to Police Scotland will therefore not now be brought before Parliament in the Autumn as originally planned, but will be brought forward in due course, once a new delivery date for the transfer has been established following a re-planning process.