Theresa May has refused to confirm if powers over agriculture and fishing, which are currently held by the EU, will be handed to Holyrood when the UK leaves.
SNP Westminster Leader, Angus Robertson, pressed her on the issue during Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday, pointing to claims made during the referendum campaign.
Last April, fishing minister, George Eustice, who campaigned for Vote Leave, claimed that “important powers” – including most of those the EU had over fishing – would be “automatically” devolved to the Scottish Parliament.
However, he later appeared to backtrack, signalling at the Tory party conference in October, that some kind of UK-wide framework would be required when agriculture and fishing responsibilities are repatriated from Brussels.
Moray MP, Mr Robertson, asked yesterday: “With Brexit ending the role of Brussels in those areas, will all decisions about agriculture and fisheries be made at Holyrood – yes or no?”
Mrs May responded the UK Government was discussing this issue with the devolved administrations, adding: “The overriding aim for everything that we do when we make those decisions is to ensure we do not damage the important single market of the UK.”
Mr Robertson called her response “interesting”, given people in Scotland were told during the campaign “that farming and fisheries powers would be exercised fully by the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament”.
He added: “Judging by the prime minister’s answer, however, it seems that will not be true.
“Will you confirm – you have the opportunity – that it is your intention to ensure UK ministers will negotiate and regulate over large areas that impact on Scottish fisheries and agriculture post-Brexit?”
Mrs May replied: “We are in the process of discussing with the devolved administrations the whole question of which of the powers that currently reside in Brussels will be returned and will remain at a UK level for decisions and which powers will be further devolved.”
Mr Robertson made similar points at Scottish Questions, held in the Commons immediately before the prime minister’s weekly duel.
Scottish Secretary, David Mundell, offered an “absolute guarantee” that, after Brexit, Holyrood and Scottish ministers would have more powers than they do at the moment.
He said the UK Government’s plan was not to “go out and tell the people of Scotland that the devolved settlement is being undermined by Brexit, which will lead to more powers being exercised by the Scottish Parliament”.
