European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill — Consent of Devolved Legislatures in Scotland and Wales for UK Legislation on Devolved Matters — 22 Jan 2020 at 14:05

The majority of MPs voted against highlighting the principle that the United Kingdom Parliament will not normally legislate in areas of devolved competence without the consent of the relevant devolved legislatures in Scotland and Wales.

MPs were considering the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill.^[1]

The motion supported by a majority of MPs in this vote was:

• That this House disagrees with Lords amendment 5.

Lords amendment 5^[2] stated:

• Page 37, line 27, after “Kingdom” insert “, acting in accordance with the conventions relating to devolved power set out in—
• (a) section 28(8) of the Scotland Act 1998, and
• (b) section 107(6) of the Government of Wales Act 2006,”

The provisions referred to state:

• "it is recognised that the Parliament of the United Kingdom will not normally legislate with regard to devolved matters without the consent of the Scottish Parliament / [Welsh] Assembly."

Had the amendment not been rejected the additional text would have been inserted into clause 37 of the Bill^[3] titled: ''Parliamentary sovereignty', subclause (1) which would have been extended stated:

• It is recognised that the Parliament of the United Kingdom is sovereign

The rejected amendment sought to merely introduce a pointer to a principle already set out in law.

• [1] Parliament's webpage on the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill. Parliament.uk website
• [2] Lords amendments to the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill, Parliament.uk website
• [3] Version of the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill as introduced to the House of Lords, 9 January 2020, Parliament.uk website
• [4] Explanatory notes to Lords amendment 5, Parliament.uk website

Debate in Parliament |