The UK Government should withdraw the Retained EU Law (Revocation
and Reform) Bill after MSPs voted to withhold the consent of the
Scottish Parliament, according to the Constitution Secretary
.
Speaking during a debate in the Scottish Parliament, Mr Robertson
said the Bill, which is currently in the House of Lords,
threatens vital regulations in the environment, food
standards and employment sectors and must now be withdrawn.
With MSPs refusing to provide legislative consent, Mr Robertson
said the reaction of UK Ministers would be a key test of whether
or not it plans to continue to ignore or override the views of
the Scottish Parliament.
If the Bill is not withdrawn, the Scottish Government has
published updated amendments to lessen the impact of the Bill.
Constitution Secretary said:
“The Scottish Government and a number of key organisations across
a range of sectors have many concerns about the Bill and we have
repeatedly called on the UK Government to withdraw it.
“Firstly, it risks deregulation and threatens the high standards
the people of Scotland experienced and benefited from as an EU
member state for over 47 years. Secondly, the Bill includes
powers for UK Ministers to act in areas of devolved
responsibility without the consent of Scottish Ministers or this
Parliament. This is clearly unacceptable and how the UK
Government reacts will be a key test of whether or not they
intend to continue to ride roughshod over devolution. Thirdly,
the Bill includes a ‘cliff-edge’ sunset provision, which could
see thousands of laws wiped overnight.
“I am pleased colleagues across the Scottish Parliament have
voted to withhold consent for the Bill and I urge the UK
Government to scrap it entirely. If the UK Government are intent
on a race to the bottom that will impact standards across the UK,
we have published a series of updated amendments to the Bill to
mitigate the worst of its impacts.”
Background
The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill seeks to revoke
thousands of pieces of EU legislation that were included in the
UK statute book at the end of the Brexit transition period.
Scottish Ministers have repeatedly highlighted their concerns
that the Bill puts standards at risk, including regulations
protecting rights for pregnant women at work, environmental
standards and requirements to label food for allergens.
Read the letter to the UK
Government with updated amendments
Retained EU Law Bill
should be ‘withdrawn completely’
