Chamber and committees

Under agenda item 2, we are considering three instruments, on which no points have been raised.

Under agenda item 3, we are considering four instruments, on which no points have been raised.

Under agenda item 4, we are considering two instruments, on which no points have been raised.

Is the committee content with the instruments?

Members indicated agreement.

Is the committee content with the instruments?

Members indicated agreement.

Is the committee content with the instruments?

Members indicated agreement.

Good morning, and welcome to the 34th meeting in 2022 of the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee. I remind everyone present to switch mobile phones to silent.

The first item of business is to decide whether to take items 5 to 8 in private. Is the committee content to take those items in private?

Members indicated agreement.

Under item 2, we are taking evidence on the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill.?

I welcome Sir Jonathan Jones, senior consultant, Linklaters LLP, and Dr Adam Tucker, constitutional lawyer, University of Liverpool; they are both joining us virtually. I also welcome to the meeting Morag Ross KC, member of the Faculty of Advocates, who is joining us in person.

Morag, do not worry about turning on your microphone during the session, as it is controlled by broadcasting. If you would like to come in on a question, please raise your hand. Sir Jonathan and Dr Tucker, if you want to come in, please raise your hand or, as you are online, enter an R in the BlueJeans chat function.?

I will open the questions from the committee. What is your view on the scope of the power to preserve retained European Union law? My question is for all three of you. Do you want to start, Morag?

As we have already touched on, the bill sets the date by which retained EU law will be automatically removed from the statute book—Dr Tucker just spoke about the cliff edge. What is your understanding of the number of pieces of legislation that will potentially be affected? Do you have any further comment to make on that? We and other committees have heard various figures bandied about—perhaps 2,400 pieces of legislation, potentially another 1,400 and then, potentially, others. We have also picked up on a figure of 5,000 that was used at one point. Do you have any clarity on how many pieces of legislation should be included in the figure?

Does Morag Ross want to come in?