Question reference: S5W-30005
- Asked by: Claudia Beamish, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 19 June 2020
-
Current status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 8 July 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it had with the UK Government regarding the risk of any part of Scottish Water being sold off to US corporations under a US-UK trade deal.
Answer
Water policy in Scotland is fully devolved to the Scottish Parliament and there is no risk of any part of the business being privatised. Scottish Water will remain in the public sector and continue to operate in the interests of its customers, the people of Scotland.
The Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament's devolved responsibility for public services must be protected. Representation has been made repeatedly by Scottish Government Ministers to the UK Government to underline that this must remain the case throughout the negotiation and agreement of trade deals.