Brexit and devolution- Lords to investigate what Brexit means for the future of the UK
The House of Lords EU Committee has today launched a short inquiry into the impact of Brexit on the devolution settlement in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The Committee will consider the political and economic implications of Brexit for the devolved jurisdictions, and how the UK Government should reflect their interests in its negotiations with the EU. The inquiry will also look at which powers currently exercised at EU level should be transferred to the devolved institutions.
Commenting Lord Boswell, Chairman of the House of Lords EU Committee, said:
“We've been told that Brexit means Brexit but what does that mean for the constituent parts of the UK?
“The UK's overall vote to leave included voters in two devolved jurisdictions expressing a preference to remain. This presents challenges for the forthcoming Brexit negotiations. We want to get to the bottom of the effect of Brexit on the devolution settlement, and how the different views across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can all be fairly represented in the forthcoming negotiations.
“We will explore issues including which powers returning to the UK from Brussels should be devolved, and the resources that the devolved institutions will need to take on these responsibilities.
“We will begin this inquiry by taking evidence in Edinburgh next week and we would invite anyone with views on these issues to get in touch.”
The Committee are inviting anyone with an interest in these issues to submit their views to euclords@parliament.uk, no later than 3 March 2017.
