Committees

Devolution and agricultural law after Brexit examined

24 October 2017

The Welsh Affairs Committee continues its examination of the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill and its impact on Welsh agriculture, trade and devolution. 

The Welsh Affairs Committee meets for the second session of its inquiry into the implications of the European Union (EU) referendum result. The session will focus on the EU (Withdrawal) Bill and its impact on the Welsh devolution settlement.

The EU (Withdrawal) Bill states that, after Brexit, powers in devolved areas currently held by Brussels will return to Westminster instead of the devolved nations. The UK Government justifies this as a way of continuing existing restrictions until decisions are made on where common policy approaches are needed. The Committee will examine the implications of the Bill for the Welsh devolution settlement.

Witnesses

Tuesday 24 October, Committee Room 8, Palace of Westminster

At 4:15pm

  • Dr Jo Hunt (Cardiff University). Dr Hunt is a Senior Fellow under the Economic and Social Research Council's UK in a Changing Europe initiative, with a project looking at devolution and the EU referendum.
  • Dr Vivane Gravey (Queen's University Belfast). Since Brexit, Dr Gravey has investigated potential policy and governance changes linked to the re-patriation of EU law in the UK and the devolved regions.
  • Dr Nerys Llewelyn Jones (Agri Adviser LLP). Dr Jones is an experienced agricultural solicitor with a PhD in sustainable agriculture at international, European and regional levels.

Chair's comments

Ahead of Tuesday's evidence session, Committee Chair David T.C. Davies said:

"Following our session on the constitutional implications of the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, and the latest meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee on European Negotiations, the Committee will now focus on how the Bill would affect the governance of Welsh agriculture and trade.

We are looking forward to hearing from our witnesses on issues such as retaining EU law, establishing common frameworks and possible amendments to the Bill as drafted."

Purpose of the inquiry

The inquiry seeks to address the following points:

  • The implications for the Welsh devolution settlement of the EU (Withdrawal) Bill as drafted.
  • UK-wide policy making: which EU competencies should be transferred to the National Assembly for Wales after Brexit? How should UK-wide common policy frameworks be structured, and what inter-parliamentary mechanisms would be needed to scrutinise such frameworks?
  • How should agricultural funding be allocated in Wales post-Brexit? Should Wales develop its own policy or be part of a wider UK policy?
  • What are the current mechanisms for engagement between the devolved administrations and the UK Government on trading matters?
  • What are the challenges facing agricultural trade in Wales when the UK leaves the EU? How should the level of trade and export of Welsh food and drink be protected and maintained? 

Call for written submissions

If you are interested in contributing to the inquiry please limit responses to 3,000 words. Submissions should focus on key areas that the Committee is investigating during its inquiry.

The deadline for written submissions is 31 October 2017.

Further information

Image: iStockphoto