Scottish Government: Discussions Debate

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Department: Scotland Office

Scottish Government: Discussions

Lord Wallace of Tankerness Excerpts
Thursday 2nd May 2019

(5 years, 7 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Wallace of Tankerness Portrait Lord Wallace of Tankerness (LD)
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My Lords, this time last year, during the final stages of the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill, never a day seemed to go by when we did not discuss common UK frameworks. Can the Minister perhaps update us on what is happening? It seems to have gone quiet. How will he ensure that in areas of shared responsibility there is parity of esteem and there will not be direction from Westminster?

Lord Duncan of Springbank Portrait Lord Duncan of Springbank
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The noble and learned Lord is correct. There needs to be parity of esteem in all these discussions. The intergovernmental review should look at the functioning of the frameworks. The existing joint ministerial committees can be improved, and I suspect that the improvements will emerge from the intergovernmental review.