Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, November 23, 2021

Official Report 734KB pdf

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UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021

Item 5 is consideration of the Scottish Government’s draft policy statement and draft annual report on the use of the keeping-pace power that is conferred on the Scottish Government by the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021. The Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee has shared the documents with subject committees for comment, and it has invited us to submit comments to the Scottish Government. Do members have comments on the draft policy statement and the draft annual report?

In relation to paragraph 11 of the clerk’s paper, it might also be worth asking the Scottish Government to outline to us the benefits of aligning Scots law with European law and to give us a regular update on progress with that—perhaps annually, if that is appropriate. That is all that I would suggest that we do in addition to the bullet points that are in the paper.

I have no comments to add, convener.

If we are to write to the Scottish Government as Willie Coffey has outlined, I would like to include a request that it ensure that local government be included in the common frameworks. We should make sure that that is outlined, from the committee’s perspective.

Thank you very much for that addition.

Do we agree to write to the Scottish Government, highlighting those comments and points of clarification?

Members indicated agreement.

Thank you. As agreed earlier in the meeting, we will consider item 6 in private.

12:45 Meeting continued in private until 13:00.