Question for the devolved administrations and Brexitpublished at 13:45 British Summer Time 18 April 2018
Brexit and the devolved administrations urgent question
House of Commons
Parliament
The SNP's Joanna Cherry is asking an urgent question about the Brexit bills passed by two devolved Parliaments - the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly.
The Attorney General, Jeremy Wright, says the Scotland Act and Wales Act allow the law officers to refer legislation to the Supreme Court in cases where legislation falls from legislative competence.
He says the view of the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament was not within the legislative competence of the Parliament.
He says the Scottish and Welsh continuity bills will frustrate the ability of the government on day one to allow legal certainty for the government on leaving the European Union.
The SNP's Joanna Cherry says this matter is unprecedented and is the first time it has ever happened in Scotland. She says the Scottish government believes it is within their legislative competence and the most senior law officer in Scotland believes so, too.
Mr Wright says it is an unprecedented situation, he adds it is also the first time the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament has advised that it is not within their legislative competence.
He adds that a substantial portion of the bill going through the Scottish Parliament is actually amendments which the SNP failed in adding to the Westminster Bill on Brexit.