Chamber and committees

Good morning, and welcome to the ninth meeting in 2023 of the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee. Under agenda item 1, is the committee content to take item 3 in private?

Members indicated agreement.

Sorry about that.

Good morning, and a warm welcome to the eighth meeting in 2023 of the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee.

Agenda item 1 is a decision on taking business in private. Are members content to take item 3 in private?

Members indicated agreement.

I am conscious of time, so it would be really helpful if we could try to be a bit more concise.

I would like you to be really concise, Dr McCormick.

Indeed—scrutiny has been of concern to the committee as well.

Finally, we will hear from Mr Rycroft.

I want to ask a final question about the issues around intergovernmental relations. Something that happened recently but which had not happened previously in 20 years of devolution was use of a section 35 order by the UK Government.

I was saying something about the impact on the UK Equality Act 2010, which includes Northern Ireland. In his address to the House of Commons, Alister Jack said that it was about regulation across borders, but we have an open border between Northern Ireland and Ireland, and one of the principles of the market access that it has is free movement of workers. People could move who have a certificate that was gained in Ireland or, indeed, in Spain, once that legislation has been introduced. Keeping away from the subject matter of what has happened, do you have a reflection to offer on what the fact that a section 35 order has now been used means for devolution?

We have done considerable work on that in the committee and in conjunction with our colleagues in the other devolved legislatures who are equally affected by what has happened with the Sewel convention. Thank you for that.

Mr Cackette—am I pronouncing that properly?

We move to questions from other committee members.

Mr Rycroft might be having problems with his microphone.