Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to enable UK Government support of local authorities in Scotland under the provisions of the UK internal market Bill.

The UK Internal Market Bill includes a power that will enable the UK Government to spend on infrastructure, economic development, culture, sport, and to support educational and training activities and exchanges both within the UK and internationally. Much of this was previously done at EU level.

The power means that we can provide funding to organisations to deliver investments for these purposes, including local authorities. But responsibilities for delivering public services in areas of devolved competence remain with devolved administrations.