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Government responds to Brexit: devolution report

20 September 2017

The Government has responded to the report of the European Union Committee on Brexit: devolution.

The Committee received the response on Thursday 14 September.

Background

The report highlights the complex 'overlapping and shared competences' within the devolution settlements. The report also considers the impact of Brexit on Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland.

Northern Ireland

  • The Committee restated its previous conclusion that the unique circumstances of Northern Ireland will require unique, 'flexible and imaginative solutions'.

Wales

  • The Committee noted that the Welsh economy is heavily dependent on exports to the EU, and that Welsh manufacturing would be hard hit by a failure to agree a comprehensive trade deal with the EU.

Scotland

  • The Committee concluded that any Brexit deal should accommodate Scotland's particular needs, including its reliance upon EU migration to meet both labour market and demographic needs.

The report will be debated in the House of Lords, alongside two reports by the Constitution Committee, on Monday 9 October.

Further information

Image: Creative Commons: Dave Kellam