Lords to question Minister for the Constitution and Devolution on common frameworks
Monday 22 February 2021
The House of Lords Common Frameworks Scrutiny Committee will tomorrow question Chloe Smith MP, Minister for the Constitution and Devolution, as part of the final evidence session into its inquiry on the common frameworks programme.
The Committee will explore the progress made on the common frameworks programme to date, parliamentary scrutiny, and how the frameworks relate to the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), the Northern Ireland Protocol and the UK Internal Market Act.
The session will take place virtually on Tuesday 23 February at 10.30am and can be followed on Parliament TV.
Giving evidence will be:
- Chloe Smith MP, Minister for the Constitution and Devolution, Cabinet Office
- Bruno Williams, Deputy Director, UK Frameworks Division, Cabinet Office
Questions the Committee is likely to ask include:
Why has there been such a delay in publishing the Provisional Frameworks and when are they expected?
- How would you respond to criticisms that there has been insufficient transparency or stakeholder consultation?
- Will the frameworks need to be updated in light of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA)?
- How will the powers under the UK Internal Market Act be used to exempt common frameworks from the market access principles?
- How will new rules introduced in Northern Ireland through the Protocol be addressed by the common frameworks?
- How do you envisage future parliamentary scrutiny of common frameworks after they have been implemented?
The Committee last spoke with the Minister in December 2020, on the successes, challenges and future of the common frameworks programme. The session is available on Parliament TV.
The Committee will now begin preparation of its report on the common frameworks programme, which will be published in due course.
