United Kingdom Internal Market Bill

David Duguid Excerpts

Tuesday 15th September 2020 Commons Chamber

[Drew Hendry]

I could not agree more. This simply does not have to happen. Scotland does not need it, and Scotland does not want it.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (David Duguid)]

So you say.

[Drew Hendry]

Yes, I am saying that, but that is also what the National Farmers Union is saying. It is also what the Institute for Government has pointed out. A number of other bodies have pointed out that this is just not necessary. We have something that we could work with, with co-operation, but of course, the UK Government do not want co-operation, consultation and working together. They just want to impose their will, and that is what they are trying to do again.

This Bill not only undermines the basic foundations of devolution but goes further, hitting all existing mechanisms for co-operation and the development of common frameworks. It is not this abomination that is required; it is the establishment of the common frameworks mutually agreed, developed and implemented through consent, with effective governance and processes for regulatory impact.