Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if the Government will match EU funding levels for the Scotch whisky industry to fund the promotion of food and drink geographical indications or protected designations of origin and rural development after the UK leaves the EU.

Scotch whisky producers are currently eligible to apply for EU funding under the Scottish Rural Development Programme.

The UK government has provided guarantees for rural development and agri-environment schemes that are signed before the UK leaves the EU. We are offering the devolved administrations the same level of reassurance as we are offering to UK government departments in relation to programmes they administer but for which they expected to rely on EU funding.

In the longer term, decisions on funding will be taken in light of wider UK strategic priorities and other domestic spending decisions.