Devolution in the United Kingdom

• After its creation in 1994, the European Committee of the Region became the principal point of contact between regions and cities from the UK and other EU member states.
• The United Kingdom left the EU on 31 January 2020 and the transition period ends on 31 December.
• We want ties to remain close beyond 2020, and the CoR-UK Contact Group will work to maintain good lines of communication and will seek an EU-UK relationship that includes close and effective cooperation at regional and local levels.
• Deal or no deal, there will be significant changes from 1 January 2021, and local and regional politicians on both sides share an interest in limiting the damage to their regional and local economies."
• He continued:"Speaking as an EU politician, I call on the UK government to recognise that the relationship between the EU and the UK including those of its devolved administrations, regional and local authorities cannot be put on the same footing as other relationships.
• The CoR members of the CoR-UK Contact Group have a fixed mandate, while the UK representatives of local authorities, devolved parliaments and assemblies will vary from meeting to meeting according to the topics being discussed.

• Latest Bill

  Latest news on the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill 2019-21

  Thisis a public bill presented to Parliament by the Government.

• The Bill was introduced to the House of Commons and given its First Readingon Wednesday 9 September 2020.
• This stage is formal and takes place without any debate.
• Additional information

  Summary of the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill 2019-21

  To make provision in connection with the internal market for goods and services in the United Kingdom (including provision about the recognition of professional and other qualifications); to make provision in connection with provisions of the Northern Ireland Protocol relating to trade and state aid; to authorise the provision of financial assistance by Ministers of the Crown in connection with economic development, infrastructure, culture, sport and educational or training activities and exchanges; to make regulation of the provision of distortive or harmful subsidies a reserved or excepted matter; and for connected purposes.

The Transport Committee hears from Metro Mayors of the West of England, Greater Manchester, and Liverpool City Region, as it examines the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the local transport sector.
MPs will question witnesses on a number of issues, including:

• This Sewel Convention applies when the UK Parliament wants to legislate with regard to the powers of the devolved legislatures or executives of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• Under the terms of the Convention, the UK Parliament will not normally do so without the relevant devolved legislature having passed a legislative consent motion.
• The Sewel Convention is precisely that, a convention.
• This briefing paper explores the origins of the Sewel Convention, its development under the three devolution settlements, its application to Brexit legislation and proposals for reform.