Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

United Kingdom Internal Market Bill: Strength of Union

Thursday 17 December 2020 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The United Kingdom Internal Market Bill aims to maintain free trade across the UK.
  • The bill is intended to support the integrated market for goods and services in the UK.
  • Neil Gray attributes growing Scottish independence support to how Scotland has been treated post-Brexit referendum.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Neil Gray SNP
Economy Brexit Parliamentary Procedure
Context

The United Kingdom Internal Market Bill has been the subject of significant controversy, particularly in Scotland where polls indicate growing support for independence.

Question

What assessment he has made of the effect on the strength of the Union of the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill?

Answer from Michael Gove (Minister for Implementation)

For centuries, the ability to trade freely without barriers across the United Kingdom has been the cornerstone of our shared prosperity, and the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill will help to maintain this integrated market to ensure the free flow of goods and services throughout the UK.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not directly address how the bill impacts the strength of the Union between the nations of the UK. It focuses on economic benefits rather than political unity.

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Q2 Neil Gray SNP
Scotland
Context

Polls indicate majority support for Scottish independence, in part due to how Scotland has been treated by the UK Government since the Brexit referendum. The United Kingdom Internal Market Bill is seen as dictatorial and breaches devolution.

Question

The majority support for independence in the last 17 polls in a row—58% this morning—is in part due to how Scotland has been treated by the Minister and his colleagues since the Brexit referendum. It is exemplified by the dictatorial United Kingdom Internal Market Bill, which rips the devolution settlement apart and is now the subject of legal challenge. Why are the UK Government unilaterally legislating without legislative consent with the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill when the required common frameworks could have been negotiated with the devolved nations, as they are still at the table?

Answer from Michael Gove (Minister for Implementation)

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his question. As he knows, I am a great admirer of him and of his colleague Alex Neil. One of the things about the approach that we are taking is that common frameworks work alongside the internal market Bill. Indeed, the House of Lords confirmed that approach just this week.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not directly address why the UK government is proceeding with the bill without legislative consent and legal challenges. It mentions common frameworks but does not provide specifics on legislative process or legal disputes.

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