Interparliamentary Forum - 28 October 2022

On Friday 28 October 2022, the second meeting of the Interparliamentary Forum took place in the Senedd in Cardiff. Representatives of committees in Senedd Cymru, the Scottish Parliament, the House of Commons and the House of Lords were welcomed to the Senedd by the Llywydd, the Rt Hon Elin Jones MS. Discussions focused on the implications of the UK Government's Northern Ireland Protocol Bill and Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill. A joint statement was published following the meeting, as below.

The second meeting of the Interparliamentary Forum at the Senedd | Source: Senedd Cymru

Joint Statement

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