Chamber and committees

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Legislative Consent Memorandum on the UK Subsidy Control Bill

Background

The Subsidy Control Bill is a UK Government Bill introduced in the House of Commons on 30 June 2021. The Bill will create a domestic subsidy control regime for the UK, following exit from the EU. The provisions in the Bill cover the whole of the UK.

The UK Parliament does not usually legislate on matters devolved to the Scottish Parliament without its consent. This is often referred to as "the Sewel Convention". Chapter 9B of the Parliament’s Standing Orders sets out the rules and procedures for seeking consent under the convention.

Annex A to the Bill’s Explanatory Notes lists the chapters and clauses where consent is being sought by the UK Government.

On 25 October, Kate Forbes, Cabinet Secretary for the Finance and the Economy lodged a legislative consent memorandum (LCM). On 10 November the LCM was referred to this Committee to consider and report.

The Committee launched a call for views on the LCM in November 2021 and held two evidence sessions on Wednesday 12 January with relevant stakeholder and on Wednesday 19 January with the Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise. The report was published on Wednesday 9 February.