Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the process will be for discussions with the Scottish Government on the scope of the independent report into the Scottish Fiscal Framework; and if he will make a statement.

The published Scottish Government Fiscal Framework agreement sets out the arrangements for an independent report to inform the review. Namely that the UK and Scottish governments will jointly commission an independent report on the Block Grant Adjustment arrangements, which is to be presented to both governments by the end of 2021. This independent report on the Block Grant Adjustment arrangements will then inform the UK and Scottish governments review of the Fiscal Framework.

The scope and authorship for the independent report, as well as the arrangements for the subsequent review, are to be finalised by the Joint Exchequer Committee. For transparency, a communiqué is typically published after meetings of the Joint Exchequer Committee to outline agreements reached between the UK and Scottish governments.

The UK Government is committed to following the arrangements for the report and the review as set out in the Fiscal Framework agreement. I look forward to continuing the engagement the UK Government has had with the Scottish Government on preparations for the review.