Mark Drakeford, Cabinet Secretary for Finance
This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government
The European Union (Withdrawal) Act requires the UK Government to report to Parliament periodically on matters relating to common frameworks and the use made by the UK Government of powers under section 12 of the Act (the so-called ‘freezing powers’) temporarily to maintain existing EU law limits on devolved competence. The Assembly’s Standing Orders require that any such report is laid before the Assembly within one day of having been laid in Parliament.
The first such report was laid in Parliament on 13 November.
I draw Members’ attention in particular to the concluding paragraph in the Ministerial Foreword:
“On the basis of the significant joint progress on future frameworks, and the continued collaboration to ensure the statute book is ready for exit day, the UK Government has concluded that it does not need to bring forward any section 12 regulations at this juncture. On this basis, the Scottish and Welsh Governments continue to commit to not diverging in ways that would cut across future frameworks, where it has been agreed that they are necessary or where discussions continue”.