Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee

Meeting date: Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Official Report 594KB pdf

European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018

Connecting Europe Facility (Revocation) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019

Item 2 is consideration of a consent notification for a UK statutory instrument on the connecting Europe facility. The instrument, which is being laid in the UK Parliament in relation to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, has been categorised as category A, which means that the transition from the European Union to a UK framework would involve no policy change, just a simple revocation.

Does anyone have any comments?

I would just make the obvious comment that this has to be decided by tomorrow, which, as far as timing is concerned, is not a very satisfactory place to be. I understand perfectly the logistical issues around this whole business and I know that civil servants are having to work extremely long hours on this, but I think that we should formally note the point.

It is also important to note the committee’s extremely heavy workload in achieving all that we are trying to achieve with transport bills and other bills that we are being asked to consider.

Does the committee agree to write to the Scottish Government to confirm that it is content for the consent for the UK SI referred to in the notification to be given; to note and request a response from the Scottish Government on the wider policy matters identified; and to note the short timescale involved and the committee’s own heavy commitments?

Members indicated agreement.

Thank you. We now move into private session.