Skip to main content

Secretary of State for Scotland questioned on work of Scotland Office

24 October 2017

The Scottish Affairs Committee questions the Secretary of State and Advocate General on the work of the Scotland Office and its role in the on-going Brexit negotiations.

Witnesses

Tuesday 24 October 2017, Committee Room 6, Palace of Westminster

At 1:40pm

Brexit and Scottish interests

The UK Government has introduced the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill to keep European Union (EU) law after Brexit. The Government has stated that this will provide "certainty, continuity and control". The Bill does however make changes to Scotland's devolution settlement. The Advocate General Lord Elie QC has stated this "will lead to a fundamental change in our constitutional arrangements".

The Bill is the subject of ongoing discussion between the Government and the devolved administrations. The Committee hears from the Secretary of State David Mundell on its implications for Scotland. Areas of interest include the approach to Scotland's devolution settlement, the possibility of a sunset clause to restrictions on the Scottish Parliament, and the protection of the UK single market and common frameworks.

Further, the Committee questions the Secretary of State on how the UK will represent Scottish interests in the Brexit negotiations. Joint Ministerial Committees and Joint Ministerial Working Groups have been established, and the Committee seeks Mundell's views on current arrangements as well as future priorities and possible challenges.

Finally, the Government's confidence and supply agreement with the DUP has led the Scottish and Welsh governments to argue that their budgets should increase in line with the extra funding for Northern Ireland. The Committee questions the Secretary of State on the Government's response to these calls and the status of the formal dispute raised by the Scottish and Welsh Governments in July 2017.

Further information

Image: Parliamentary copyright