Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions officials in his Department has had with representatives of the Scottish Government on implementation of the Fisheries Bill in Scotland.

The UK Government has worked closely with the Devolved Administrations in developing the Fisheries Bill.

The Fisheries Bill respects the devolution settlements and in many ways incorporates specific asks for new decision-making powers the Devolved Administrations, including the Scottish Government, had put forward.

Implementation of the Fisheries Act is then a matter for each Devolved Administration. In some areas, however, we will continue to closely cooperate, for example, on foreign vessel licencing or in the development of a Joint Fisheries Statement.