Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many times (1) the Secretary of State for Scotland, and (2) the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland, met the Scottish Fishermen's Federation specifically to discuss the proposed fishing and coastal growth fund, and on what dates.

Decisions over how the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund is spent in Scotland are devolved, granting the Scottish Government discretion to allocate funding in line with local priorities and the specific circumstances of Scotland’s fishing and coastal communities. As fisheries overall is devolved, the Scottish Government also has an important role in engaging with industry and stakeholders.

The funds awarded sit in addition to the baseline funding provided to the Scottish Government through their block grant. The Scottish Government has received the biggest funding settlement since devolution, with Scotland generally receiving around 20% more per capita. This funding can be allocated to other priorities, including fisheries.