Devolved powers at heart of Brexit storm revealed
THE UK Government has revealed the areas where it does not plan to allow the devolved administrations to make their own laws when powers are transferred from Brussels.
It insists that the “vast majority” of powers in devolved areas will go straight to the Assembly after Brexit, but details were published yesterday of 24 areas where it expects a “new UK approach” will be needed.
These include animal health and traceability; food and feed safety and hygiene law; food labelling; and chemical regulation.
The Scottish Government and Plaid Cymru condemned the proposals for temporary restrictions, but the Welsh Government took a more cautious approach and said discussions would continue. The First Ministers are due to meet with Theresa May next week.
The UK Government argues common legislative “frameworks” may be needed. It wants to ensure that differing regulations are not introduced that would make it harder to
trade between the UK’s nations.
It claims that a common approach on pesticides will ensure a Welsh farmer can sell wheat to a baker in England.
The UK proposals to hold onto powers once the UK leaves the EU next year have been the focus of intense controversy, with the Scottish and Welsh First Ministers accusing the Government of a “naked power-grab”.
If the stand-off between Whitehall and the devolved administrations cannot be resolved there is the potential for AMs and MSPs to refuse to grant consent to EU Withdrawal Bill.
Yesterday, Plaid Cymru AM Steffan Lewis responded to the publication of the list of areas where the UK Government may temporarily restrict the Assembly’s powers with alarm.
He said: “This list leaves no question that these are devolved Welsh powers that Westminster is grabbing back, without our consent. The Welsh Government mustn’t give them an inch.
“It is a blatant power-grab disguised as a Brexit necessity, and it must be opposed at all costs.”
Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney Labour AM Dawn Bowden said: “We have to resist this power grab and affront to democracy at all costs. The EU referendum was not about stripping Wales of its powers.”
Scottish Brexit Minister Michael Russell said: “This list simply confirms the UK Government’s plans for a power grab. Under the EU Withdrawal Bill the UK will have the right to take control of any of the powers on this list.
“However, the publication of the categories demonstrates the threat is most immediate in key devolved areas such as agriculture, GM crops, fishing, environmental policy, public procurement, food standards and a range of other areas.
“Unless the Bill is changed Westminster could soon be in control of these policies amounting to a major power grab and a re-writing of the devolution settlement the people of Scotland voted for so decisively.”
Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford, who has represented the Welsh Government in the talks so far, called for major changes to the EU Withdrawal Bill. The UK Government is expected to publish amendments to the Bill imminently.
Mr Drakeford said: “These are not ‘new powers’ – they are already devolved to Wales. This analysis shows that the UK Government want to exert control on 24 areas relevant to Wales out of a total of 64.
“The UK Government need to make significant changes to the Withdrawal Bill to fully respect devolution. We have put forward constructive proposals to reach agreement on the necessary changes. “Our discussions will continue.” But David Lidington, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster – who has been leading talks with the devolved administrations – said: “This is cast iron