Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, with reference to the Government's policy paper, Collaboration on Science and Innovation: A Future Partnership Paper, published on 6 September 2017, what discussions he has had with Scottish universities and the Royal Society of Edinburgh on the devolution of powers over research and innovation to Scotland.

I regularly meet with stakeholders across Scotland to listen, exchange views and address concerns and will continue to do so to ensure that all sectors can take full advantage of the new opportunities that Brexit will bring. The government has been clear that leaving the EU will result in a significant increase in the decision-making powers of the devolved administrations.