Consultation

The Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee carried out an inquiry into common UK frameworks required in the absence of EU law when we leave the EU.

On 9 March, the UK Government published its provisional assessment of where common UK frameworks might be required after Brexit in areas of EU law within devolved competence. Many of the policy areas fall within the Committee’s remit. The document describes its purpose as follows:

This is a working document, designed to inform engagement between officials in the UK, Scottish and Welsh Governments and the civil service in Northern Ireland. It sets out the UK Government’s provisional assessment of areas of EU law that intersect with devolved competence in each devolved administration. It is possible that the policy positions set out in this document will change following further analysis, including on the UK internal market, and as conversations between the UK and devolved governments continue. As the devolution settlements are asymmetrical, a different range of powers is relevant to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The assessment puts 155 powers into 3 categories: those which may require legislative frameworks; non-legislative frameworks; or no further action.

We explored:

• In which policy areas, within the remit of the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee, are legislative and non-legislative common frameworks needed? Does the provisional assessment published by the UK Government set out an appropriate approach and is it complete? Do you have any specific concerns about the proposed categorisation?
• How should both the legislative and non-legislative frameworks be developed and implemented?
• How prescriptive should the common frameworks be and how much discretion should each administration have within the frameworks?

Note: The Committee’s remit includes: climate change; energy; natural resources management; planning; animal welfare and agriculture.

Disclosure of information

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