MSPs to set out concerns at House of Lords talks on EU Withdrawal Bill

The MSPs will set out significant cross-party concerns over clause 11 of the bill and what they regard as a lack of progress from the UK government on amending the bill during its Commons passage.

In a unanimous report last week from the Finance & Constitution Committee, MSPs made clear that legislative consent to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill will not be forthcoming from Holyrood unless clause 11 is replaced or removed.

The talks are intended to give MPs, MSPs, AMs and peers the opportunity to discuss key issues in the bill ahead of it beginning its House of Lords stages.

Finance & Constitution Committee convener Bruce Crawford MSP said: “All members of Holyrood’s Finance and Constitution Committee agreed unanimously that Clause 11 of the EU (Withdrawal) Bill is incompatible with the devolution settlement.

“It is hard to vverstate our concern, indeed dismay, that the UK government did not amend the bill during its Commons passage, despite a clear commitment to do so from UK ministers towards the end of 2017.

“If a constitutional crisis is to be averted, it is vital that the UK government brings forward changes to the bill that properly respect the devolution settlement.

“All three of our committees welcome this chance to share our concerns with the Lords and appreciate their willingness to engage on issues that potentially endanger the devolution settlement.”