MIKE Russell has warned David Davis that Scotland must be involved in the next stage of Brexit negotiations.
Scotland's Brexit Minister wrote to his UK counterpart to call for clarity on the drafting of the UK's white paper, which will set out detailed proposals for the future relationship with the EU.
READ: Mike Russell's full letter to David Davis on Scotland's say in Brexit negotiations
The white paper is to be published in June, and Russell said that his understanding was that talks would be held prior to the positions officially being set out.
In the letter, he writes: "I would therefore like confirmation of your intended path towards delivering this White Paper, the scope it will have, and how the Scottish Government – as well as the Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Civil Service – will be involved in its preparation.
"I would also be grateful for your views on how the preparation of this document will be consistent with the Terms of Reference of the JMC (EN), in particular to seek to agree a UK approach to and objectives for Article 50 negotiations, and to provide oversight of negotiations with the EU, to ensure, as far as possible, that outcomes agreed by all four governments are secured from these negotiations."
It comes amid an ongoing row over the UK's attempted power grab on Scotland's devolved powers.
Westminster has been urged to respect the will of the Scottish Parliament, which voted to refuse consent for the UK's EU Withdrawal Bill.
The Tories were the only party at Holyrood to vote in favour of the power grab, but Scotland Secretary David Mundell has confirmed that the UK Government plan to push ahead with the Bill despite this.
It marks the first time in the 20-year history of devolution that Westminster will proceed with a Bill which has been refused consent.
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