David Mundell: Devolution settlement 'changed' by Brexit

David Mundell - PA

Scottish Secretary David Mundell has indicated Scotland may get new powers after the UK leaves the EU.

During Scottish Questions in the House of Commons, he said the devolution settlement would be changed in the wake of new powers being returned from Europe.

He also promised no existing powers would be taken back from the Scottish Parliament.

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"It's self-evident that, because the devolution settlements within the United Kingdom are predicated on the basis that the United Kingdom was a member of the European Union, then those devolution settlements will be changed by the United Kingdom leaving the EU and those will be matters which will be subject to debate and discussion," he said.

Later he added: "No powers which are currently exercised by the Scottish Parliament will be re-reserved to this parliament as a result of the United Kingdom leaving the EU."

A second referendum on Scottish independence shaould be "taken off the table" he said, as opposition parties warned the SNP not to use it for "constitutional posturing".

Scottish Labour's Jackie Baillie said; "Scotland is now lagging behind the rest of the UK and there will be increasing uncertainty for our economy thanks to the Tories’ reckless Brexit gamble. Both the SNP and Tory governments need to take action now.
 
“The contraction in the construction industry has held back Scottish growth; that’s why we need robust action from the SNP government. Labour published a Brexit Action Plan with a range of proposals to stimulate the economy. We need to front-load infrastructure investment to help our construction industry, and tackle the housing crisis."