European Union (Future Relationship) Act 2020

PART 2 U.K. General restrictions on certain powers of devolved authorities

No power to make provision outside devolved competence U.K.

19 (1) No provision may be made by a devolved authority acting alone in regulations under section 31, 32 or 33 unless the provision is within the devolved competence of the devolved authority. U.K.

(2) See paragraphs 23 to 25 for the meaning of “devolved competence” for the purposes of this Part.

Requirement for consent where it would otherwise be required U.K.

20 (1) The consent of a Minister of the Crown is required before any provision is made by the Welsh Ministers acting alone in regulations under section 31, 32 or 33 so far as that provision, if contained in an Act of Senedd Cymru, would require the consent of a Minister of the Crown. U.K.

(2) The consent of the Secretary of State is required before any provision is made by a Northern Ireland department acting alone in regulations under section 31, 32 or 33 so far as that provision, if contained in an Act of the Northern Ireland Assembly, would require the consent of the Secretary of State.

(3) Sub-paragraph (1) or (2) does not apply if—

(a) the provision could be contained in subordinate legislation made otherwise than under this Act by the Welsh Ministers acting alone or (as the case may be) a Northern Ireland devolved authority acting alone, and

(b) no such consent would be required in that case.

(4) The consent of a Minister of the Crown is required before any provision is made by a devolved authority acting alone in regulations under section 31, 32 or 33 so far as that provision, if contained in—

(a) subordinate legislation made otherwise than under this Act by the devolved authority, or

(b) subordinate legislation not falling within paragraph (a) and made otherwise than under this Act by (in the case of Scotland) the First Minister or Lord Advocate acting alone or (in the case of Northern Ireland) a Northern Ireland devolved authority acting alone,

would require the consent of a Minister of the Crown.

(5) Sub-paragraph (4) does not apply if—

(a) the provision could be contained in—

(i) an Act of the Scottish Parliament, an Act of Senedd Cymru or (as the case may be) an Act of the Northern Ireland Assembly, or

(ii) different subordinate legislation of the kind mentioned in sub-paragraph (4)(a) or (b) and of a devolved authority acting alone or (as the case may be) other person acting alone, and

(b) no such consent would be required in that case.

Requirement for joint exercise where it would otherwise be required U.K.

21 (1) No regulations may be made under section 31, 32 or 33 by the Scottish Ministers, so far as they contain provision which relates to a matter in respect of which a power to make subordinate legislation otherwise than under this Act is exercisable by— U.K.

(a) the Scottish Ministers acting jointly with a Minister of the Crown, or

(b) the First Minister or Lord Advocate acting jointly with a Minister of the Crown,

unless the regulations are, to that extent, made jointly with the Minister of the Crown.

(2) No regulations may be made under section 31, 32 or 33 by the Welsh Ministers, so far as they contain provision which relates to a matter in respect of which a power to make subordinate legislation otherwise than under this Act is exercisable by the Welsh Ministers acting jointly with a Minister of the Crown, unless the regulations are, to that extent, made jointly with the Minister of the Crown.

(3) No regulations may be made under section 31, 32 or 33 by a Northern Ireland department, so far as they contain provision which relates to a matter in respect of which a power to make subordinate legislation otherwise than under this Act is exercisable by—

(a) a Northern Ireland department acting jointly with a Minister of the Crown, or

(b) another Northern Ireland devolved authority acting jointly with a Minister of the Crown,

unless the regulations are, to that extent, made jointly with the Minister of the Crown.

(4) Sub-paragraph (1), (2) or (3) does not apply if the provision could be contained in—

(a) an Act of the Scottish Parliament, an Act of Senedd Cymru or (as the case may be) an Act of the Northern Ireland Assembly without the need for the consent of a Minister of the Crown, or

(b) different subordinate legislation made otherwise than under this Act by—

(i) the Scottish Ministers, the First Minister or the Lord Advocate acting alone,

(ii) the Welsh Ministers acting alone, or

(iii) (as the case may be), a Northern Ireland devolved authority acting alone.

Requirement for consultation where it would otherwise be required U.K.

22 (1) No regulations may be made under section 31, 32 or 33 by the Welsh Ministers acting alone, so far as they contain provision which, if contained in an Act of Senedd Cymru, would require consultation with a Minister of the Crown, unless the regulations are, to that extent, made after consulting with the Minister of the Crown. U.K.

(2) No regulations may be made under section 31, 32 or 33 by the Scottish Ministers acting alone, so far as they contain provision which relates to a matter in respect of which a power to make subordinate legislation otherwise than under this Act is exercisable by the Scottish Ministers, the First Minister or the Lord Advocate after consulting with a Minister of the Crown, unless the regulations are, to that extent, made after consulting with the Minister of the Crown.

(3) No regulations may be made under section 31, 32 or 33 by the Welsh Ministers acting alone, so far as they contain provision which relates to a matter in respect of which a power to make subordinate legislation otherwise than under this Act is exercisable by the Welsh Ministers after consulting with a Minister of the Crown, unless the regulations are, to that extent, made after consulting with the Minister of the Crown.

(4) No regulations may be made under section 31, 32 or 33 by a Northern Ireland department acting alone, so far as they contain provision which relates to a matter in respect of which a power to make subordinate legislation otherwise than under this Act is exercisable by a Northern Ireland department after consulting with a Minister of the Crown, unless the regulations are, to that extent, made after consulting with the Minister of the Crown.

(5) Sub-paragraph (2), (3) or (4) does not apply if—

(a) the provision could be contained in an Act of the Scottish Parliament, an Act of Senedd Cymru or (as the case may be) an Act of the Northern Ireland Assembly, and

(b) there would be no requirement for the consent of a Minister of the Crown, or for consultation with a Minister of the Crown, in that case.

(6) Sub-paragraph (2), (3) or (4) does not apply if—

(a) the provision could be contained in different subordinate legislation made otherwise than under this Act by—

(i) the Scottish Ministers, the First Minister or the Lord Advocate acting alone,

(ii) the Welsh Ministers acting alone, or

(iii) (as the case may be), a Northern Ireland devolved authority acting alone, and

(b) there would be no requirement for the consent of a Minister of the Crown, or for consultation with a Minister of the Crown, in that case.

Meaning of devolved competence U.K.

23 U.K. A provision is within the devolved competence of the Scottish Ministers for the purposes of this Part if—

(a) it would be within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament if it were contained in an Act of that Parliament (ignoring section 29(2)(d) of the Scotland Act 1998 so far as relating to EU law and retained EU law), or

(b) it is provision which could be made in other subordinate legislation by the Scottish Ministers, the First Minister or the Lord Advocate acting alone (ignoring section 57(2) of the Scotland Act 1998 so far as relating to EU law and section 57(4) of that Act).

24 U.K. A provision is within the devolved competence of the Welsh Ministers for the purposes of this Part if—

(a) it would be within the legislative competence of Senedd Cymru if it were contained in an Act of Senedd Cymru (ignoring section 108A(2)(e) of the Government of Wales Act 2006 so far as relating to EU law and retained EU law but including any provision that could be made only with the consent of a Minister of the Crown), or

(b) it is provision which could be made in other subordinate legislation by the Welsh Ministers acting alone (ignoring section 80(8) of the Government of Wales Act 2006).

25 U.K. A provision is within the devolved competence of a Northern Ireland department for the purposes of this Part if—

(a) the provision, if it were contained in an Act of the Northern Ireland Assembly—

(i) would be within the legislative competence of the Assembly (ignoring section 6(2)(d) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998), and

(ii) would not require the consent of the Secretary of State,

(b) the provision—

(i) amends or repeals Northern Ireland legislation, and

(ii) would, if it were contained in an Act of the Northern Ireland Assembly, be within the legislative competence of the Assembly (ignoring section 6(2)(d) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998) and require the consent of the Secretary of State, or

(c) the provision is provision which could be made in other subordinate legislation by any Northern Ireland devolved authority acting alone (ignoring section 24(1)(b) and (3) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998).