Scotland Bill — House of Commons, 2015-06-15
Topic: Government Operations
David Anthony Crausby (Labour, Centre-left): With this it will be convenient to discuss the following: Amendment 56, page 2, line 2, leave out "not normally" and insert "never" The Amendment would require the Sewel Convention, requiring the legislative consent of the Scottish Parliament, to be observed in all legislation of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Amendment 4, page 2, line 3, leave out "normally" Amendment 19, page 2, line 3, after "legislate", insert "(a)" Amendment 20, page 2, line 3, after "matters", insert "and (b) to alter the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament or the executive competence of the Scottish Government" Amendment 41, page 2, line 4, at end add— "(9) A Minister of the Crown in charge of a Bill in either House of Parliament must, before second reading of the bill— (a) make a statement to the effect that in his view the provisions of the bill do not constitute legislation with regard to devolved matters; or (b) make a statement that the consent of the Scottish Parliament to the Bill is being sought, or will be sought, and specifying the matters in respect of which consent is being sought; and that the Bill will not be presented for Royal Assent without such consent. Such a statement must be in writing and be published in such manner as the Minister making it considers appropriate" Amendment 45, page 2, line 4, at end add— "(9) A Minister of the Crown in charge of a Bill in either House of Parliament which makes provision with regard to devolved matters must, before Second Reading of the Bill— (a) make a statement to the effect that the Bill has the consent of the Scottish Parliament ("a statement of consent"); or (b) make a statement to the effect that although he is unable to make a statement of consent the Government nevertheless wishes the House to proceed with the Bill (10) A statement— (c) under subsection (9) must be in writing and be published in such manner as the Minister making it considers appropriate; and (d) under subsection (9)(b) must also state the Government’s reasons for wishing the House to proceed with the Bill (12) In this section, "devolved matters" include— (e) the legislative competence of the Parliament; and (f) whether, and the extent to which, functions are exercisable by the Scottish Ministers." In paragraph 70 of its Ninth Report of Session 2014-15 (HC 1022), the House of Commons Political and Constitutional Reform Committee suggested that one approach to giving the Sewel Convention the force of statute would be the addition of a requirement for the Government to set out its reasons for legislating on a matter covered by the Sewel Convention without the consent of the Scottish Parliament where it seeks to do so. Clause stand part New clause 5—Application of the Human Rights Act 1998 to Scotland— The application of the Human Rights Act 1998 to Scotland shall not be repealed in so far as it affects Scotland without the express consent of the Scottish Parliament." The New Clause states the intention that the express consent of the Scottish Parliament would be required before any repeal by the Parliament of the United Kingdom of the Human Rights Act 1998 as it applies to Scotland. New clause 10—Consent of the Scottish Parliament to certain Westminster Acts— (1) In section 28 of the Scotland Act 1998 (Acts of the Scottish Parliament), at the end add— "(8) But the Parliament of the United Kingdom must not pass Acts applying to Scotland that make provision about a devolved matter without the consent of the Scottish Parliament (9) A provision is about a devolved matter if the provision— (a) applies to Scotland and does not relate to reserved matters, (b) modifies the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament, or (c) modifies the functions of any member of the Scottish Government. (10) In subsection (8), "Acts" includes any Act, whether a public general Act, a local and personal Act or a private Act (2) After section 28 of the Scotland Act 1998 insert— "28A Duty to consult the Scottish Government on Bills applying to Scotland (1) A Minister of the Crown shall consult Scottish Ministers before introducing any Bill into the Parliament of the United Kingdom for an Act of that Parliament that would make provision applying to Scotland (2) Where the Bill is for an Act making provision that would require the consent of the Scottish Parliament by virtue of section 28(8), the requirement to consult under subsection (1) includes a requirement that a Minister of the Crown give the Scottish Ministers a copy of the provisions of the Bill that apply to Scotland no later than— (a) 21 days before the proposed date of introduction, or (b) such later date as the Scottish Ministers may agree (3) The requirement in subsection (2) does not apply if— (c) the Scottish Ministers so agree, or (d) there are exceptional circumstances justifying failure to comply with the requirement (4) The reference in subsection (1) to an Act of Parliament is a reference to any Act whether a public general Act, a local and personal Act or a private Act." This new clause would ensure that the UK Parliament can only legislate in devolved areas with the consent of the Scottish Parliament. It puts the Sewel Convention onto a statutory footing, as agreed by the Smith Commission.