Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to the Scottish Government's report entitled, Scotland's Place in Europe, published on 20 December 2016, whether he plans to accept any of the proposals of that report within his future negotiating framework.

The UK Government's White Paper sets out the basis for the Government's 12 negotiating objectives to build a global UK with a strong new partnership with the EU after our exit.

The third chapter of this White Paper sets out that as we leave the EU we strengthen the precious union between the four nations of the United Kingdom. To this end we are working to ensure we get the best possible deal for the whole of the UK.

The Scottish Government set out their position in their Brexit paper just before Christmas and it was formally presented to the Joint Ministerial Committee on EU negotiations in January. The Secretary of State has also met with Michael Russell, Scottish Government Minister on Scotland's Place in Europe, to discuss the report.

We continue to look closely at their proposals and the evidence underpinning their position - and there are a number of areas where we are in agreement - on ensuring access to the Single Market for goods and services, securing UK nationals' status in the EU, protecting workers rights, and ensuring that Scottish and other British universities should continue to have access to the best of European talent, and research collaboration. But our guiding principle must be to ensure that, as we leave the European Union, no new barriers to living and doing business within our own Union are created.

The White Paper also sets out that no decisions currently taken by the devolved administrations will be removed from them and we will use the opportunity of bringing decision making back to the UK to ensure that more decisions are devolved.

We will continue to engage all of the devolved administrations, including the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament, throughout the process. At the January plenary session of the Joint Ministerial Committee, ministers agreed to intensify their work ahead of the triggering of Article 50 and to continue at the same pace thereafter.