Interparliamentary Forum Statement

28 October 2022

The Interparliamentary Forum met for the second time today, in the Senedd in Cardiff. This follows its establishment in February this year as the successor to the Interparliamentary Forum on Brexit.  

Attendees included representatives of committees in Senedd Cymru, the Scottish Parliament, the House of Commons and the House of Lords.  An official from the Northern Ireland Assembly also attended as an observer. Attendees were welcomed to the Senedd by the Llywydd, the Rt Hon Elin Jones MS.

Following updates from each legislature, the Forum discussed the implications of important UK Bills on the Northern Ireland Protocol and retained EU law, which are currently passing through the UK Parliament and are the subject of the legislative consent process in the devolved legislatures. In our discussion on these Bills, we noted the increasing concern across each of our legislatures and from independent commentators in relation to the scope of delegated powers in UK legislation related to EU exit. Attendees agreed to report back to scrutiny committees in their respective legislatures, including those in Westminster scrutinising the Bills during their passage through the Commons and Lords.  

The discussion also provided an opportunity to consider how the governments of the UK are working together in the interests of their citizens and from the perspectives of each parliament.

In the final session of the Forum, the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution, Mick Antoniw MS, answered questions about the Welsh Government’s views on these issues including its relationship with the UK Government.

Attendees

Karin Smyth MP, Committee member, Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, House of Commons

Rob Roberts MP, Committee member, Welsh Affairs Committee, House of Commons

Lord Kinnoull, Chair, European Affairs Committee, House of Lords

Baroness Drake, Chair, Constitution Committee, House of Lords

Clare Adamson MSP, Convener, Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee, Scottish Parliament

Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Chair, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, Senedd Cymru