EU withdrawal must not see reduction in devolved competence.

(Article on www.gov.scot)

The UK Government must provide greater clarity on its Brexit plans, Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland’s Place in Europe Michael Russell has said, following the publication of the Queen’s Speech.

Mr Russell added that Brexit must not see the UK Government attempt to reduce devolved competence or attempt to avoid the need for legislative consent from Holyrood. The UK Government has indicated that it intends EU withdrawal would see all repatriated EU competences initially being exercised solely by Westminster, as part of a “transitional arrangement” ahead of discussions with devolved administrations on where powers should lie.

Commenting on today’s Queen’s Speech, Mr Russell said:

“The bulk of the Queen’s speech concerns the legislation necessary for the UK to withdraw from the European Union, demonstrating that as well as being harmful to the country, Brexit is set to take up all the UK government’s resources, forcing other important issues to be sidelined.

“The Scottish Government expects to be closely involved with the UK Government on proposed legislation that affects Scotland and it is time for far more transparency and openness from the UK Government and a joint co-operative approach.

“We expect that the Repeal Bill will require a Legislative Consent Motion, meaning that the Scottish Parliament will be able to express its view on Brexit. However, despite the imminent introduction of the Repeal Bill, the Scottish Government has not seen any of its draft provisions nor do we know the detail of the UK Government’s proposals. I urge the UK Government to share the bill with the Scottish Government as soon as possible”

Mr Russell added:

“The Scottish Government has been consistently clear that repatriated EU competences must return to the Scottish Parliament in areas where it is wholly or partly responsible, such as agriculture, fisheries environmental policy and justice.

“There can be absolutely no question of the UK Government attempting to reserve powers in devolved areas and the Scottish Government would not recommend the Scottish Parliament consents to such proposals. Where it is sensible or desirable to introduce a common UK framework to replace that provided by EU law, this must be achieved through agreement and negotiation.

“It is deeply concerning that the UK Government seems to intend that repatriated powers in devolved areas like agriculture should go by default to Westminster, with no clear recognition of the need for the consent of the Scottish Parliament under the Sewel Convention for such changes. This is clearly unacceptable.”

Article Source: https://news.gov.scot/news/queens-speech-more-brexit-clarity-needed