, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
No, we don't, I'm afraid. With reserved judgments, I think, as probably Rhys will know, it's very much in the hands of the judges at the time. We would hope sooner rather than later, but we're probably talking about a matter of weeks.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Okay. Thank you for that. Yes, the appeal hearing did take place. I think it took place, if I'm right, on 18 January. I think it was a one-day hearing. There were submissions that were made, and we are awaiting judgment. So, there's probably very little I can…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Absolutely, yes.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
I think the point there, isn't it, is that it's very early days, but those are clearly issues that are on the radar, but they are very fundamental. This is a new body and how it is going to operate is going to be very important to the Governments and that…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Robert, can you expand on the oversight arrangements?
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Robert, if we go over to you, then, because I think you've been involved in the processes.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Yes, obviously, the issue of the establishment of the Office for the Internal Market—. It's important that it isn't becoming an arm of UK Government, that it is there for the other nations of the UK as well in terms of the operation of the internal market…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Well, I think the answer is that ultimately it would have to be. There is a process of escalation through from inter-ministerial to the meeting of First Ministers and so on. So, it would only be, I think, the most serious matters that you would want to go…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Well, 'disappointed', I suppose, would be to put it mildly. I certainly felt quite angry at the events, because of the amount of time that officials in Governments have invested in bringing together what is I think a positive reform of inter-governmental…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Starting with your first point, is it a rollercoaster? I don't know. At the moment, it seems more like dodgems than a rollercoaster, or maybe a bit of both of them. It has to be said it is not a good start. As I've said, the common response from Northern…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
I would certainly expect that. I remember you raised this point last time I gave evidence on this particular area. As I mentioned, there's going to be a review process and it will kick in also into the inter-governmental review that has taken place as well.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
I think that's absolutely right. It's important that all those who participated, whether it be at governmental level or in terms of participating in what the framework is about, will be engaged in this to see how it actually operates and to make sure it…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
It's a good point. I think the answer is probably 'yes', because part of the relationship, I think, in the inter-institution arrangement that's been agreed is actually in order to notify the committee of these sorts of developments. I would expect that to…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Yes.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
I would've thought that, once the scrutiny process has taken place and they're signed off, part of the ongoing inter-governmental review that will be there—that the issue of stakeholder engagement with how things are working and what the impacts are will be…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
I was just going to say, only because it's part of the consideration of the process, that part of the inter-governmental relations review—and I know, before this committee, I've referred to it, and, indeed, in the Senedd—in itself is going to involve the…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
I'm sure the Government will be able to meet its commitment to put the webpage up. In terms of the timescale on that—Paul.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
I will go over to Paul in a minute, but it's going to be very much to the committees, as well, in terms of their engagement process, depending upon the nature of the particular framework that is being scrutinised, and feedback. As I understand it, there is…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
It's fair to add to that as well, of course, that this is exactly the same process of scrutiny that's going to be going on now within Scotland and in Northern Ireland as well, and, indeed, at UK Government level. And as I made the point as well, there will be…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
I think the only thing we can do by way of mitigation in terms of risks is to ensure that there is ministerial availability in terms of the scrutiny process—there are, obviously, going to be significant demands there—and that the publication of the frameworks…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Well, I think it is very important that they are scrutinised, and I think there is recognition, really, of the actual demands the scrutiny process actually takes within such a short period of time. Of course, one of the difficulties all along the way has…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Paul.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
I think the starting point is really just a narrative as to the frameworks that we have and, of course, the environment within which those frameworks have been discussed and considered. First of all, the whole basis of the frameworks was to achieve consensual…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Clearly, there are aspects of retained EU law that relate to devolved areas, areas that were being talked about that we were informed of on Saturday that I haven't seen any details of yet in the report, relating to things like agriculture, relating to…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Scrutiny session with the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
I think it's been robust because we were called to a meeting, which was to discuss a number of items. It was a quadrilateral meeting, of course, between the representatives of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, with the Attorney-General, and it was to…
