Today the chairs of three Senedd Committees have written to the chairs of key Westminster Committees responsible for constitutional matters and scrutinising Brexit, outlining serious concerns about the UK Government’s Internal Market Bill and its potentially damaging impact on devolution.
Mick Antoniw MS, Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, Llyr Gruffydd MS, Chair of the Finance Committee and David Rees MS, Chair of the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee have sent a joint letter warning that the Bill, as drafted, would have long term constitutional impacts that should be given very serious consideration before the Bill proceeds further.
The UK Government’s Bill as it stands would place new limits on laws made in the Senedd, Scottish Parliament and Northern Ireland Assembly. The UK Government have acknowledged that its Bill will “create a new limit on the effect of legislation made in exercise of devolved legislative or executive competence”.
The letter from the Senedd Committee chairs says:
“We foresee that such limits would greatly impact the Senedd’s ability to make coherent and accessible laws that meet the needs and aspirations of Welsh citizens.”
Any UK legislation that affects areas of responsibility for the Senedd should by convention have the consent of the Senedd – however, this was disregarded by the UK Government in the case of the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill. The letter from the chairs states that there is no justification for this to happen again.
The Scottish Parliament and Northern Ireland Assembly have passed motions opposing the Bill and the Welsh Government has stated that it is not in a position to recommend to the Senedd that consent be given in Wales.
“The Internal Market Bill has been extensively debated in Westminster with concerns about it breaking international law. We must not let this overshadow the fact that this UK Government Bill, if passed as it is, would limit the Senedd’s ability to pass laws that meet the needs and aspirations of Welsh citizens.
“We’re calling on members of both Houses of Parliament at Westminster to press the UK Government to address the significant deficiencies as they relate to devolution.
“The Senedd, Scottish Parliament and Northern Ireland Assembly cannot be ignored in this process. If the devolved governments and legislatures are ignored then this could be profoundly damaging to the UK as a whole.” - Mick Antoniw MS, Llyr Gruffydd MS and David Rees MS