SP Bill 77
UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Bill
Scottish National Party
# UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Bill The Scottish Government introduced this legislation to address the legal and practical challenges arising from the UK's withdrawal from the European Union. The bill was designed to maintain continuity in Scottish law and governance during the transition from EU membership to a new relationship with the EU. It sought to preserve the effect of EU law that had previously applied in Scotland and to ensure that the Scottish Parliament and devolved authorities could continue to operate effectively in policy areas previously governed by EU legislation, including environmental protection, food standards, employment rights, and consumer protection. The bill provided powers to Scottish Ministers to modify retained EU law to ensure it continued to function appropriately in a Scottish context after Brexit. It created mechanisms for updating and correcting EU-derived legislation without requiring full primary legislation for each change, allowing the Scottish Government to adapt rules to reflect the new constitutional and legal position. The bill also addressed potential conflicts between different sources of law and ensured that devolved competences were properly exercised. This legislation formed part of the broader UK legislative framework managing Brexit's implementation, working alongside the UK Government's own European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 to provide a Scottish-specific approach to continuity and transition.
AI-generated summary
Parliamentary Progress
Introduced
18 June 2020
Stage 1
29 October 2020
Stage 2
25 November 2020
Stage 3
22 December 2020
Debate
Data sourced from parliament.scot