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PRIVACY
Economic Development

Internal Market Bill 'undermines devolution' say finance ministers of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

º£½ÇÊÓÆµ Government insists the bill is needed to protect seamless trade and that Welsh Government will gain powers

º£½ÇÊÓÆµ Government says Internal Market Bill will protect seamless trade between Wales and England. Pictured Flintshire Bridge

Finance ministers from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland voiced their collective concerns about the financial implications the º£½ÇÊÓÆµ Internal Market Bill will have on devolved governments.

Under the bill certain powers on areas such as economic development and infrastructure will transfer from the EU to the º£½ÇÊÓÆµ government to spend.

Welsh Finance Minister Rebecca Evans, Scotland’s Finance Secretary Kate Forbes and Finance Minister for Northern Ireland Conor Murphy expressed their joint concerns that it could override the existing devolution settlement. 

The º£½ÇÊÓÆµ Government says the draft law is aimed at ensuring trade within the º£½ÇÊÓÆµ can continue "unhindered".

Welsh Secretary Simon Hart said it would protect jobs and businesses by allowing firms to trade seamlessly across the º£½ÇÊÓÆµ.

He added that rather than lose powers the Welsh Government will gain 70 new ones.

But Wales Finance Minister Rebecca Evans said: "I am deeply concerned that the Bill gives º£½ÇÊÓÆµ Ministers, for the first time since devolution, powers to fund activity in areas which are clearly devolved to Wales.

Rebecca Evans AM(Image: WalesOnline)

“In Wales funding decisions are taken in partnership with local communities, to ensure that they reflect the needs of the people in Wales. The powers set out in the bill completely undermine devolution and will see decisions currently taken in Wales clawed back by the º£½ÇÊÓÆµ Government.”