PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Business: Scotland (11 December 2018)

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Scotland on businesses in Scotland deploying no-deal contingency plans as a result of the Government deferring the meaningful vote on the Withdrawal Agreement.

Asked by:
Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party)

Ministers in BEIS regularly speak to Scottish ministers about a wide range of issues including contingency planning.

We do not want or expect a no deal scenario. We have agreed in principle the terms of the UK’s smooth and orderly exit from the EU, as set out in the Withdrawal Agreement. However, it is the duty of a responsible government to prepare business for a range of potential outcomes, and, as such, Government published 106 technical notices over the summer. Businesses have told us they will continue with no-deal contingency planning in light of these, and further guidance, until the agreement is finalised.

Answered by:
Kelly Tolhurst (Conservative)
20 December 2018