Slater calls for respect for devolution in green policies
Lorna Slater has called for the UK government to “manage divergence” between nations bringing forward environmental policies “in a manner that respects devolution”.
The Greens co-leader has hit back at criticism thrown her way by the Scottish Conservatives over ensuring her Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill does not get halted due to the UK Internal Market Act (IMA).
The IMA requires a level playing field and prevents any trade barriers across the UK nations.
Msslater,thescottishgovernment’scirculareconomyminister,wascriticisedfornotyethaving “a specific discussion” with independentadvisers,theoffice for the Internal Market (OIM).
But Ms Slater has stressed the framework legislation she is bringing forward “does not contain any provision which wouldtrigger”theima,andsaid the OIM had “no formal role in approving legislation”.
Her legislation would give MSPS the powers to introduce a rangeofpolicies,likerestricting or banning of single-use items, butthatwouldrequireseparate secondary legislation.
In a letter to Tory MSP Maurice Golden, seen by The Scotsman, Ms Slater has warned the IMA “has the potential to radicallyunderminelawspassedby Scotland’sdemocraticallyelected Parliament”.
She said: “Further consideration will, of course, need to be given to the IMA when and where powers under the Bill are exercised. At the point powers may be exercised under the Bill, any potential impact on the operation of the UK’S internal market can and will be addressed through the common framework process. We havealreadyhighlightedthecircular Economy Bill to the other Ukadministrationsthroughthe relevant common framework.
“Having reached agreement on policy divergence though the common framework process, an exclusion to the IMA should be given effect, in line with the assurances offered in both Houses of Parliament in December 2020.”
She said “we hope that all parties to the common framework will seek to manage divergence by agreement and in a manner that respects devolution, and that we will not see a repeat of the deposit return scheme (DRS) experience where the work of the common framework was largely ignored by the UK government”.