Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the First Delegated Legislation Committee of Wednesday 10 April 2019 and the oral contribution of the member for Sefton Central, whether the Scottish government made representations in response to a request by him on the draft state aid regulations.

The Scottish Government wrote to my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 21 November 2018 and 28 January 2019. Whilst expressing broad agreement with the policy position of reflecting the current EU State aid regime, the letter queried the position on reservation and the fact that the draft State aid regulations provided a limited role for Scottish ministers.

The Secretary of State recognised these queries, but explained that the administrations are closely aligned on policy and that the UK Government will work closely with the Scottish Government (and other devolved administrations) on the development of State aid policy.