About the Inquiry
During its inquiry into Common Frameworks the Committee heard that when the UK leaves the European Union (EU) then EU internal market and its principles (such as proportionality, fundamental rights, equality before the law and subsidiarity) will no longer apply. The UK and Devolved Governments have agreed that, post-Brexit, Common Frameworks are necessary "to enable the functioning of the UK internal market, while acknowledging policy divergence". Common frameworks are proposed in some policy areas to provide common policy and regulatory approaches between the UK and Devolved Governments, post-Brexit.
Whilst at EU level the internal market is defined through treaties and legislation it is not clear what the UK equivalent is. The Committee has therefore agreed to undertake an inquiry into the UK Internal Market to understand what it is and how it might operate, post-Brexit.
Evidence
Preliminary Evidence Session - 19 June 2019
The Committee held an initial discussion to explore aspects of the UK internal market on 19 June 2019. The written submissions provided by participating witness can be accessed via the links below;
Professor Aileen McHarg, Professor of Public Law, University of Strathclyde (204 KB PDF)
Professor Michael Keating, Chair in Scottish Politics, University of Aberdeen (180 KB PDF)
Dr Viviane Gravey, Lecturer, School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics, Queen's University Belfast (272 KB PDF)
Professor Michael Dougan, Professor of European Law and Jean Monnet Chair in EU Law, University of Liverpool (181 KB PDF)
A summary of key issues arising from the discussion is available here
The Official Report of the meeting is available here
An Additional written submission from Professor David Bell and Willem Sas, University of Stirling, can be accessed here
Comparative Research
The Committee has also commissioned comparative research on how internal markets operate in
Summary of comparative research (91KB PDF)
Call for views
The Committee has issued a call for views which closes on Friday 28 February 2020. You can read more here.