‘Power surge’ is promised to devolved governments after Brexit

EXTRA powers are being promised for Holyrood, Cardiff Bay and Stormont under the UK Government’s plans for dealing with Brexit.

Measures that were previously regulated by the EU will return to the UK at the end of the year when the transition period expires.

Responsibilities in 160 policy areas – including animal welfare, public procurement rules and environmental regulations – will now go to one or more of the devolved administrations.

The proposed changes – set out in a white paper published today for a four-week consultation – will see Northern Ireland receive responsibility in 157 of the 160 areas, Scotland in 111 and Wales in 70. As this could lead to different regulatory regimes in the UK, the Government has drawn up plans for the “internal market” to ensure seamless trade between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

At the heart of the plans are the principles of mutual recognition – so regulations in one part of the UK are recognised in all the other nations – and non-discrimination, providing a “level playing field” for companies across the UK.

Officials said that without these actions a Welsh lamb producer could end up unable to sell their meat in Scotland, or Scotch whisky producers could lose access to supply from English barley farmers.

Business Secretary Alok Sharma said: “Without these necessary reforms, the way we trade goods and services between the home nations could be seriously impacted, harming the way we do business within our own borders.”

The UK Government highlighted the importance of the measures to jobs – Scottish sales of produce to the rest of the UK are worth £52.1bn a year and account for 60% of exports, 50% of Northern Ireland’s sales are to Great Britain and 75% of Welsh exports are to other parts of the UK.

An independent body could monitor legislation in the various administrations, but officials stressed it would not have the same level of influence as the European Commission, which currently oversees the measures which will return to the UK.

At Prime Minister’s Questions, the SNP’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford told Boris Johnson: “Westminster’s plan to impose an unelected, unaccountable body to rule on decisions made by the Scottish Parliament will not be accepted.”

But Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove said the plan was a “power surge” to the devolved administrations.

He promised to work with the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish administrations “on a new structure for how we can co-operate better and share ideas”.