Letter to the Convener from the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, Mairi Gougeon, 11 November 2021
Dear Finlay,
I am writing in relation to the protocol on obtaining the approval of the Scottish Parliament to proposals by the Scottish Ministers to consent to the making of UK secondary legislation affecting devolved areas arising from EU Exit.
That protocol, as agreed between the Scottish Government and then Parliament, accompanied the letter from the then Cabinet Secretary for Government Business and Constitutional Relations, Michael Russell MSP, to the Conveners of the Finance & Constitution and Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committees on 4 November 2020 and replaced the previous protocol that was put in place in 2018.
I attach a Type 1 notification which sets out the details of the SI which the UK Government propose to make and the reasons why I am content that Scottish devolved matters are to be included in this SI. Please note, the final SIs are not available in the public domain at this stage. We will, in accordance with the protocol, advise you when the final SI is laid and advise you as to whether the final SI is in keeping with the terms of this notification.
The planned for laying date for the SI is 23 November 2021. This does not give the Parliament 28 days to consider the notification but we have asked Defra if it would be possible to push back the laying date or at least agree not to debate the SI until the Parliament has had a chance to consider the notification. We will provide an update when Defra respond.
I am copying this letter to the Convener of the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee.
Yours sincerely,
MAIRI GOUGEON
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