Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Retained EU Law: Devolved Administrations

Thursday 10 February 2022 · 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 Brexit freedoms Bill will end the special status of retained EU law.
  • The devolved Administrations have been kept informed of the Bill's progress.
  • Ministers of the three devolved Administrations were called to a meeting with the Attorney General at short notice.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Allan Dorans
Brexit
Context

Discussions are ongoing regarding the proposed Brexit freedoms Bill which aims to amend or remove retained EU law. The devolved Administrations have been involved in these discussions but specific details and timelines remain unclear.

Question

What recent discussions has she had with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) the devolved Administrations on proposed legislation to make it easier to amend or remove retained EU law?

Answer from Suella Braverman

The Brexit freedoms Bill will once and for all take back control of the UK legal system, ending the special status of retained EU law and making it easier for the democratically elected UK Government to amend or remove it. The devolved Administrations have been kept informed of the progress of the reviews into retained EU law that will inform the Bill.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not provide specific details on recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues and devolved Administrations, but rather stated general intentions regarding the Brexit freedoms Bill.

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Q2 Allan Dorans
Brexit Parliamentary Procedure Local Government
Context

The devolved Administrations were called to a meeting with the Attorney General at very short notice on Friday 28 January regarding the so-called Brexit freedoms Bill. The meeting was described as rushed and lacking proper consultation.

Question

On Friday 28 January, Ministers of the three devolved Administrations were called to a meeting with the Attorney General at very short notice—the next day in fact—to discuss the so-called Brexit freedom Bill, which will have significant impact on hundreds of areas controlled by the devolved Governments. The meeting has been described as 'a rushed exercise…with nothing more than a vague verbal briefing', with no effort by the UK government to properly consult devolved governments on the details of the plans nor seek their views on their impacts on devolved areas of policy and law. Will the Attorney General make an unequivocal commitment today that the devolved Administrations will be consulted extensively before any further decisions are taken that would affect their existing policies, and specifically in relation to retained EU law?

Answer from Suella Braverman

Of course there will be continued and meaningful engagement with all the devolved Administrations in this process. It is an important opportunity and an important moment for our whole United Kingdom, and I very much look forward to the input of all the DAs.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not provide a clear commitment or specific timeline for extensive consultation with devolved Administrations before further decisions are made. Instead, it reiterated a general intent towards meaningful engagement.

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