Mick Antoniw MS, Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
The European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 requires the UK Government to report to Parliament periodically on matters relating to Common Frameworks and the UK Government’s use, if any, of powers under section 12 of the Act (the so-called ‘freezing powers’) temporarily to maintain existing EU law limits on devolved competence. I am notifying Members that the eleventh such report was laid in Parliament on 20 May 2021, covering the period 26 December 2020 to 25 March 2021.
The report outlines continued positive work on Common Frameworks, and confirms that the UK Government has not used the ‘freezing powers’. During this reporting period, the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and the Northern Ireland Protocol came into force. Work to address the issues arising from the interactions between these agreements and UK Common Frameworks is underway.
The UK Internal Market Act was also enacted shortly before the reporting period began. The Welsh Government remains deeply concerned about the potential of this Act to undermine the collaborative Common Frameworks programme.