Meeting of the Parliament 17 June 2026 [Last updated 18:21]
Again, I say with respect that it is not the Government’s place to handhold a committee and talk through the entire process of how it might want to consider such matters. There is a limit to how far I can undertake that exercise. The point is that the Government has engaged with the committee, we have had the feedback from the convener, and I have now lodged the motion to vary standing orders.
The Parliament should go into this with its eyes wide open and be aware that, if we do not agree to the motion, the Parliament will not have the opportunity to determine whether to grant or withhold consent. With the best will in the world, we all have to recognise, based on experience, that, if we do not take that opportunity, the UK Government will not halt its processes and will not withdraw its bill—it will go ahead whether or not we have had the chance to determine that. That is not in the spirit of the devolution settlement, so I ask Parliament to back the motion.