Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee
Meeting date: Wednesday, December 12, 2018
Official Report 718KB pdf
Contents
- Attendance
- South of Scotland Enterprise Bill: Stage 1
- European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018
- Petition
European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018
Common Fisheries Policy (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018
Rural Development (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2018
Rural Development (Implementing and Delegated Acts) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018
Common Provisions (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2018
Common Agricultural Policy (Direct Payments to Farmers) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018
Common Agricultural Policy (Rules for Direct Payments) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018
Trade in Animals and Related Products (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018
The next item is on consent notifications under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. The committee has received consent notifications in relation to seven UK statutory instruments, which are detailed on the agenda. They relate to the common fisheries policy, the common agricultural policy and trade in animals and related products.
All the instruments are being laid in the UK Parliament in relation to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 and they have all been categorised by the Scottish Government as category A, which is to say that they will make minor or technical amendments. Six of the proposed SIs on the common agricultural policy could also be considered as being in category B, to the extent that the transition from the European Union to the UK framework would be a major significant development. Do members have any comments before I suggest possible outcomes?
The phrase “minor or technical” is dotted throughout the statutory instrument documents. Although on one level that is correct, as changes are often just replacement of “EU” with “UK”, many of the amendments have far-reaching implications. I know that we will come on to options, but I certainly want us to maintain a watching brief—in particular, on things like common agricultural policy payments and trade in animals and related products.
I have just a brief comment to make. The committee will note that two of the SIs are England-only instruments. I would like to ask the Scottish Government whether it will produce Scottish statutory instruments to reflect similar changes.
As I am going to pass comment, I declare an interest as a partner in a farming enterprise in Scotland.
Based on what John Finnie and Jamie Greene have said, my only comment is that it is appropriate for the committee to write to the Scottish Government to confirm that it is content for consent to be given for the UK SIs that are referred to in the notifications, but to request a response on the wider policy matters that have been identified. Does the committee agree to take that approach?
Members indicated agreement.
Next
Petition