, Counsel General and Minister for European
Transition: The Welsh Government is determined to do
everything we can to protect the Senedd in the face of the
outrageous attack on its legislative competence made by the UK
Government through the UK Internal Market Bill, to which the Senedd
has rightly refused consent.
The Bill will today complete the process of Commons Consideration
of Lords Amendments. If the Bill is enacted in its present form,
this would leave the ambit of the devolution settlement in Wales
uncertain and undermined.
Regulation-making powers in the Bill would open the Government of
Wales Act 2006 (GoWA) to very wide substantive future amendment,
and the powers of the Senedd and Welsh Government to serious
diminution, at the hands of the UK Government.
The provisions in the Bill are also so wide and deep in operation
that they risk constraining the legislative space for the Senedd
in areas which are currently devolved.
We have therefore today formally notified the UK Government that
should the UK Parliament enact the Bill in its present form, I
intend to take immediate action to seek a declaration from the
Administrative Court that the ambit of constitutional legislation
cannot lawfully be cut down in this way and that the ensuing Act
cannot be interpreted so as to have that effect.
We have asked for a response from the UK Government within 14
days.
I will keep Members fully informed of developments.
