Question reference: S6W-05305
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
- Date lodged: 13 January 2022
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Current status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 27 January 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what date (a) its officials first identified and (b) the Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise, or his predecessor, was first informed of (i) the existence of the liability in relation to the facilitation of the sale of the Dalzell steelworks and (ii) issues with this potentially breaking state aid rules.
Answer
There is no liability in relation to the facilitation of the sale of the Dalzell steelwork.
Initial advice was provided to Ministers of concern on the grounds of potentially non-compliant State aid on 17 August 2021 and Officials were asked to undertake further investigation including obtaining additional specialist advice.
I was provided with a further update on a potential issue concerning non-compliant State aid on 25 October 2021 following further investigation.
Final advice was provided to Ministers on 8 December 2021.