Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the First Delegated Legislation Committee of Wednesday 10 April 2019, Official Report, column 14, and the oral contribution of the member for Sefton Central, what involvement the CMA will have with local and regional government, industry bodies, trade unions and civil society.
Answer
The CMA will be responsible for approving notifications of new State aid and investigating potential breaches of the State aid rules by all levels of government, including local government. Industry bodies, trade unions and civil society will be able to submit a complaint or comments to the CMA about any aid which might affect their interests.
The CMA has committed to continuing to make its senior staff available to maintain and strengthen links with regional governments and devolved administrations. This includes building relationships with State aid teams in devolved governments across the UK.
The CMA has significantly expanded its Scotland office during the past year including appointing a dedicated State aid ‘point person’, based in their Edinburgh office, to liaise with the Scottish Government and wider Scottish stakeholders in relation to State aid. Recruitment is ongoing for similar liaison positions in Wales and Northern Ireland.