Shadow Minister for Social Justice and Shadow Counsel General, Mark Isherwood MS, has emphasised the need for the Welsh Government to engage positively with the proposed UK Brexit Freedoms Bill, “to ensure synergy with devolved powers, maximising the strengths of both Government to a common end”.
Last week, the UK Government announced that it will be bringing forward a Brexit Freedoms Bill to end the special status of EU Law, to make our businesses more competitive and our people more prosperous.
Questioning the Counsel General in this afternoon’s meeting of the Welsh Parliament, Mr Isherwood asked how the Welsh Government will engage positively with the Bill.
He said:
“The Bill will allow EU Law to be more easily amended or removed in the future. The UK Government also published a ‘Benefits of Brexit’ White Paper, setting out how regulations will be reviewed to for example, create a fit-for-purpose regulatory framework for Artificial Intelligence, and to deliver cleaner air, create new habitats and reduce waste.
“Responding, you stated that you want to engage with the UK Government constructively regarding the Bill, but expressed concern that it ‘might lead to reductions in Farming and Fishing Standards, as well as environmental protections’. However, at the time of the EU Withdrawal Bill, the UK Government agreed that UK-wide Frameworks, to replace the EU rule book, would be freely negotiated between the four UK Governments in areas such as food, animal welfare and the environment, setting standards below which none can fall, with the existing common arrangements maintained until these are agreed – and a number of these Frameworks are being considered by Senedd Committees currently.
“How will you therefore engage positively with the proposed UK Bill to ensure synergy with devolved powers, maximising the strengths of both Government to a common end?”
In his response, the Counsel General said they “will engage as a responsible Government on the basis of the principles that are being agreed between us.”
