Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Official Report 740KB pdf

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European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018

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Provision of Services (Amendment etc) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018

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CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018

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INSPIRE (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018

Agenda item 3 is consideration of three proposals by the Scottish Government to consent to the UK Government legislating using the powers under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 in relation to proposed UK statutory instruments.

On the first instrument, the Provision of Services (Amendment etc) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018, I should by way of explanation tell you that the Provision of Services Regulations 2009 established the legal framework for the UK’s membership of the European Union single market in services. The proposed statutory instrument would amend those regulations to reduce the scope of their application in the event of no deal with the European Union.

Secondly, the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 provide for a UK-wide scheme to incentivise energy efficiency. The proposed United Kingdom statutory instrument would ensure that exemptions that are defined in EU law continue to be available between exit day on 29 March and the closure of the scheme on 31 March.

Thirdly, the INSPIRE (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 relate to an EU directive establishing a European spatial data infrastructure with the aim of improving environmental policy making. The proposed statutory instrument will correct deficiencies that will arise from the UK’s exit from the European Union.

The notification for the regulations indicates that they are all category A proposals, which is to say that they are technical with minimum policy choice or only one obvious policy solution. Is the committee content for those matters to be dealt with by statutory instruments at Westminster?

Members indicated agreement.

As the committee is content, I will write to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work and the relevant ministers to notify them of our decision. We now move into private session.

11:20 Meeting continued in private until 11:45.