Key Facts

• Amendments aim to ensure financial assistance under the Act is consistent with climate goals.
• Proposes that financial assistance can take various forms such as investment in funds.
• Suggests powers over financial assistance administration should be fully devolved to Senedd Cymru, Scottish Parliament, and Northern Ireland Assembly based on GDP per capita.
• Financial assistance allocation must respect current devolved matters in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
• Amendment 33 is tabled as a probing amendment.
• Projects like Queensferry crossing were delivered without UK Government funding.
• £90 million in EU funds have transformed transportation in the Outer Hebrides over 25 years.
• Growth deals in Scotland are underfunded by the UK Government.
• Alison Thewliss critiques the £83 million shortfall in Inverness compared to Scottish Government spending.
• Clause 46 allows Ministers of the Crown to provide financial assistance to any person, potentially undermining local control over economic development and infrastructure decisions.
• The MP mentions HS2 delays, Crossrail's half-billion pound bail-out, and safety concerns with smart motorways.
• £186 million spent on two carbon capture and storage competitions without any facilities built.
• Planning permission used to block UK Government's fracking licences in Scotland.
• No confirmation yet from the UK Government about continued membership of Erasmus+, a project beneficial for education and youth development.
• The Bill is seen as an attack on the Scotland Act 1998.
• Clause 47 grants sweeping authority to Ministers to spend money in devolved areas.
• The speaker references the Skye bridge PFI project and its tolls.
• The SNP opposes the Bill due to concerns about democratic consent.
• Clauses 46 and 47 aim to replace funding for projects previously supported by the European Union.
• Every penny taxpayers pay in the UK for these purposes will come straight back without additional levies.
• John Redwood acknowledges devolution but believes it is appropriate for the UK Government to define essential Scottish projects.
• John Redwood argues against the notion that the legislation violates international law.
• The bill seeks to uphold the single market and customs union across the UK, including Northern Ireland.
• Redwood emphasizes the importance of a clear state aid policy compliant with WTO rules.
• The north Wales main line and the valleys line are still not electrified despite promises.
• Wales received only 1.5% of rail improvement funding from the UK Government despite having about 11% of the railway track.
• DEFRA failed to submit an application for Welsh beef to be listed as a negligible bovine spongiform encephalopathy risk, delaying potential export benefits until May 2022 at the earliest.
• The Bill threatens a hard border in Ireland.
• Clauses 46 and 47 allow a Minister to make decisions over the heads of locally elected representatives in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland.
• Amendment 19 is proposed to give consent to legislative Assemblies and Parliaments.
• Eleanor Laing is chairing the Committee stage of the Bill.
• John Hayes discusses the importance of delivering Brexit according to the will of the British people.
• The speech touches on the amendments proposed by opposition parties and their implications.
• It is not about changing the devolution settlement but rather ensuring flexibility in negotiations with the European Union.
• The UK government should be united and strong in supporting the Prime Minister during negotiations.
• The Bill includes enabling clauses allowing a Minister to make unilateral regulations.
• Clause 46 allows pork barrelling by ministerial diktat over devolved bodies.
• The Coronavirus Act 2020 gave similar powers to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.
• The Bill respects borders within the United Kingdom while avoiding them becoming barriers to trade.
• Labour's position is criticized for finding reasons not to support the Bill despite claiming to favour a successful Brexit and Union.
• Crabb supports expenditure powers that recognize UK Government authority in all parts of the UK.
• The Chair of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee believes clause 46 creates new reservations, disrespecting devolution settlement.
• LCMs are preferred for respecting devolved Administrations' views but look unlikely due to Brexit issues.
• The Welsh Affairs Committee is taking evidence on shared prosperity fund progress.
• Amendment 20 aims to ensure financial assistance is consistent with environmental goals.
• The UK will host a UN climate change conference this year.
• A report by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds highlights failures in meeting biodiversity targets.
• Caroline Lucas supports other amendments protecting devolution and fair funding.
• Andrew Bowie has been in the House of Commons for three years.
• The amendments proposed by the SNP would prevent more money from being spent on projects in Scotland.
• Donald Dewar, a founding father of devolution, described it as a journey rather than a one-way street.
• Andrew Bowie urges his colleagues in Edinburgh to give legislative consent to the Bill.
• Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council are two of the lowest funded local authorities in the UK despite contributing more revenue than most other councils.
• The SNP's opposition to the Bill is seen as a threat to the union, as it promotes Scottish independence over economic and social benefits.
• The current legislative framework is described as confusing and could end up in courts.
• Land reclamation is a devolved function under Welsh Government responsibility despite being an agency of the UK Government.
• Flooding responsibilities are managed by the Welsh Government, limiting direct support from the UK Government.
• The devolved Administrations receive funding through the Barnett formula.
• The Welsh Government receives £120 for every £100 spent in England.
• Large infrastructure projects are difficult to justify within the current funding constraints.
• The last major infrastructure project in Wales was in 1987 with the Cardiff Bay Development Corporation.
• Battery Valley, a proposed development akin to Silicon Valley, could attract investment between £1 billion and £2 billion.
• The German federal Government offered close to €2 billion for a similar battery manufacturing investment.
• West Wales and the valleys have seen EU spend approach £5 billion since 2000.
• The amendments aim to protect the Sewel convention.
• Scottish Governments have a record of ambitious infrastructure investment, such as the Queensferry crossing and Aberdeen rail improvements.
• The amendment would prevent UK Ministers from making policy or allocating resources in devolved areas without agreement.
• The Scottish Government's investment in Aberdeen city region deal out-funds Westminster by a factor of 3:1.
• General fund net revenue expenditure in Aberdeenshire is £1,970 per head, just below the Scottish average.
• The Tory party first promised the Dalry bypass in North Ayrshire in 1938.
• The clauses ensure no one misses out on the shared prosperity fund regardless of home nation.
• Longhi supports Brexit's rectification of EU's prescription on how funds are spent in the UK.
• Clauses 46 and 47 allow for payments to promote economic development, infrastructure provision, cultural and sporting support, and educational exchanges.
• Andrew Lewer outlines the importance of a unified internal market for the UK's constitutional foundations.
• The Bill aims to ensure unfettered access and prevent businesses from being disadvantaged post-transition period.
• The amendments seek to invest in infrastructure and projects encouraging development across all parts of the UK.
• Clause 46 gives the Government power to spend money in infrastructure, economic development, culture, sport, education, training, and international exchanges.
• Largan voted for the Bill on Second Reading due to its necessity for safeguarding the Union.
• The Bill aims to ensure businesses can continue trading seamlessly across the UK after leaving the transition period.
• The SNP voted in favor of a Scottish Parliament with 74.3% support in 1997.
• Devolution has allowed for differences in decision-making across the UK without hindering trade.
• Clause 46 is seen as an attempt to replace EU structural funds but could alter how funding priorities are set.
• The bill gives Parliament power over spending priorities in areas already under Scottish devolution.
• The Conservative party has only six MPs in Scotland, with one serving more than three years.
• There will be a referendum on Scottish independence due to the current political climate.
• Article 6 of the Union with Ireland Act 1800 states all UK subjects should be treated equally.
• The Bill aims to prevent a supranational entity from exercising power over part of the UK.
• £2.5 billion is allocated for city and growth deals across the whole UK.
• Wilson expresses doubt about the number of people watching the debate on TV.
• He defends government spending powers across England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales.
• The Government will spend money centrally but will give cognisance to national interest and local priorities set by devolved Administrations under the Barnett formula.
• Wilson is concerned about state aid provisions applying differently across the UK.
• The Bill seeks to exempt England, Scotland, and Wales but not Northern Ireland from EU state aid rules.
• Without the amendment, Northern Irish firms may be at a disadvantage compared to other parts of the UK.
• Twenty-seven per cent of final goods produced in Wales are exported to the rest of the UK.
• Brecon and Radnorshire ranks 648th out of 650 constituencies for broadband speed according to the House of Commons Library.
• The Bill restores powers that were ceded to Brussels as part of EU membership.
• Amendment 19 seeks to protect discretion for tailored needs.
• Shared Prosperity Fund lacks defined role for devolved institutions.
• A third of Northern Ireland’s exports are in agrifoods.
• The people of Scotland had the political freedom to choose whether to remain part of the Union.
• The British public chose to leave the EU and appointed a Government to 'get Brexit done'.
• Clause 46 allows the UK Government to spend taxpayers' money previously administered by the EU.
• The statement highlights the impending end of negotiations between the UK and EU within weeks.
• Clause 46 is described as vital for maintaining freedom and reclaiming sovereignty.
• Davison calls on Members to vote in favor of the Government's position to support the voice of British people.
• The Scotland Act 1998 underpins 21 years of devolution to the Scottish Parliament.
• Donald Dewar is recognized as the father of devolution for crafting the enduring Scotland Act.
• The Bill blurs and confuses what powers are reserved and which are devolved.
• The UK Government is attempting to take back powers from the Scottish Parliament.
• Support for Scottish independence is rising due to the government's actions.
• The speaker believes that the current approach of aggressive Unionism will lead to the demise of the Union.
• The amendments would prevent the Government from achieving their levelling-up agenda for the whole UK.
• Wales will not lose a single penny of EU funding when the transition period ends.
• Over 70 new policy areas previously held at EU level are now coming direct to the devolved nations.
• In 2013, Flint hospital in Delyn constituency was closed by the Welsh Government.
• Funding for schools in Wales is still at the same level as it was in 2006 despite increases in the Welsh block grant.
• Tipton is ranked in the lowest 20th percentile of deprivation in the UK.
• The EU has provided funding that the Government commits to replace with the shared prosperity fund.
• Clause 46 provides an opportunity for proactive engagement and investment across the UK.
• The Bill is seen as a political power grab by the UK Government.
• There is no proof of additional money coming from the UK Government for Wales.
• The Bill threatens devolved Governments' decision-making powers over food, medicines, and other areas.
• Examples are given of potential impacts on PPE procurement during a health crisis.
• Tom Hunt is a Member of Parliament representing his constituency.
• The Bill provides more influence over how funds are spent compared to when the UK was part of the EU.
• Scotland had six MEPs and Wales four MEPs out of 751 during EU membership.
• The UK has divorced itself from the EU.
• Clauses 46 and 47 will cut away the dead hand of the EU from British sovereignty.
• These clauses allow the UK Government to provide financial assistance for economic development anywhere in the UK.
• The powers brought back under the Bill enable more money to assist in flood-hit areas like Derbyshire Dales.
• The Labour party voted against the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill.
• Residents in the MP's constituency feel a strong sense of patriotism and pride, leading to distrust of the Labour party on issues like UK sovereignty and border control.
• The Prime Minister has the support of constituents who voted 71% to leave the EU in 2016.
• The UK Government did not consult the Welsh Government on the Bill until 8 pm the day before publication.
• The Bill could prevent the Welsh Government from legislating on climate issues such as single-use plastic bans.
• Devolution settlements are vital for local communities to have a voice in issues that matter most to them.
• The debate has been ongoing for four hours and 45 minutes.
• Amendment 22 would allow Northern Irish businesses to benefit from financial assistance without violating EU state aid rules under Article 10 of the Northern Ireland protocol.
• There is no clarity on how GB-to-NI trade will be regulated post-transition period.
• Ruth Cadbury is supporting amendments to clause 47 standing in the name of Edward Miliband.
• Clause 46 grants a Minister of the Crown the power to provide financial assistance out of money provided by Parliament, which the speaker argues takes power away from devolved Governments.
• The Government's White Paper claims they will legislate in a way that 'respects the devolution settlement', but many argue it does the opposite.
• The Bill gives Ministers power over issues like culture, sport, economic development which fall within wholly or partly devolved areas.
• The Welsh Government describes the Bill as an attack on democracy and an affront to people in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
• France spent almost twice as much as the UK on state aid in 2017, while Germany spent four times as much.
• The Bill undermines the devolution settlement established in 1997.
• It denies Scotland the choice to use her Parliament to do things differently according to Scottish values and beliefs.
• Clause 46 and 47 are seen as footnotes on the journey to Scottish independence.
• The Prime Minister negotiated and signed an agreement with the EU, but now claims it contains serious problems.
• The Bill grants UK Ministers power to provide funding across economic development, infrastructure, culture, sports, and international education.
• Three former Conservative Prime Ministers and two former Labour ones express concerns over the Bill.
• 60% of Scottish exports go to other parts of the United Kingdom.
• These exports are worth more than £50 billion per year.
• The Bill includes provisions for a shared prosperity fund to replace EU structural funds.
• Chris Bryant represents one of the poorest constituencies in Wales.
• The Rhondda experienced one-quarter of all floods in the UK this year, with £140 million needed for repairs.
• A culvert repair will cost £300,000.
• The Coal Authority needs to invest to make coal tips safe, with a tip collapse in Tylorstown moving 60,000 tonnes of material.
• Clause 46 is seen as unnecessary and impotent by Bryant.
• The debate focuses on part 6 of the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill.
• The Government will match EU structural funds through a new shared prosperity fund.
• There is emphasis on restoring powers previously held by Westminster before joining the EU.
• Clause 46 grants Ministers extensive powers for disbursing funds.
• EU structural funds provided over £13 billion to the UK over seven years.
• The Conservative manifesto promised control of money channelled via Structural Funds but lacks detail on distribution methods.
• The Bill grants the UK Government new powers for infrastructure, economic development, culture and sport, education, training activities.
• Previously, these areas were funded based on priorities set by 28 different countries within the EU.
• The power will allow direct scrutiny in the House of Commons by MPs from Scotland, Wales, England, and Northern Ireland.
• Amendment 14 proposes both Houses of Parliament agree by resolution on how the power should operate.
• Amendments 15, 16, and 12 suggest devolved Administrations should be funded for financial assistance under the legislation.
• Smith states that funding arising from the power will continue to be allocated through the spending review process.
• The power enables support for the cultural sector, including world heritage sites and museums.
• It allows sports policy interventions across the UK.
• The Bill aims to level up the country, strengthen the Union, and use taxpayers' money effectively post-Brexit.
• Amendments 23, 24, and 25 modify clause 47 to allow financial assistance in various forms.
• Amendment 14 was selected by the Chairman of Ways and Means.
• The amendment proposes that financial assistance under section 46 must be subject to a framework agreement agreed by resolution of each House of Parliament.
• The Committee divided, with Ayes 208 and Noes 330.