The UK Internal Market

Overview

The aim of this inquiry is to consider the implications of the UK internal market for Scotland including how devolution works.

Background to the inquiry

You may find the following information and links helpful in reading and responding to the Committee’s questions.

The UK internal market was established in law by the UK Internal Market Act 2020 (IMA), but other new constitutional arrangements like common frameworks will also be important to its operation.

You can find out more about the UK internal market, new constitutional arrangements and the legal and practical changes arising from the UK leaving the EU in these frequently asked questions – areas covered including the market access principles contained in the IMA, common frameworks, the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, intergovernmental relations, trade agreements, and the keeping pace power.

Share your views with us

What are your thoughts on the UK Internal Market? The Committee would especially welcome your views on the following areas:

• How devolution is being impacted by the new constitutional arrangements arising from the UK internal market.
• Scrutiny, transparency and accountability challenges – including how the Parliament can best address these challenges.
• The challenges and opportunities in domestic policy divergence including the risks/rewards of policy divergence between the four parts of the UK and the EU.
• The relationship between the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland and the operation of the UK internal market – including whether this poses challenges for Scotland.
• What the establishment of the UK internal market and the increasingly interconnected nature of devolution means for intergovernmental and interparliamentary relations – including what opportunities and challenges they present.
• The impact of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement and other bilateral trade agreements on the operation of the UK internal market and devolution.

How to submit your views

Please submit your views using the online submission form, linked to below.

We welcome written views in English, Gaelic, Scots or any other language. 

The call for views closes on 29 October 2021.