78
Acknowledged
The closer relationship with the EU and the accelerating trend towards UK regulatory alignment with...
Conclusion
The closer relationship with the EU and the accelerating trend towards UK regulatory alignment with the EU does, however, raise important questions about the need for parliamentary scrutiny of EU matters within the House of Commons. In particular, under the envisaged agreements based on dynamic alignment the UK Parliament will, in effect, be asked to outsource more of its legislative autonomy to another jurisdiction while such treaties are in place (on top of the requirement to align with EU rules already required by the Windsor Framework for Northern Ireland). As long as alignment is taking place, EU laws will inevitably constrain UK Government policy and Parliament’s legislative functions, as well as having potentially significant impacts on businesses and citizens. (Conclusion, Paragraph 223) 101
Government Response Summary
The government recognises the important role for Parliament in the legislation process and has secured explicit reference in the Common Understanding to the United Kingdom’s constitutional and parliamentary procedures for future areas of alignment. It states that Parliament will have a say where the UK dynamically aligns with new EU laws.
Government Response
Acknowledged
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government recognises there is an important role for Parliament in the legislation process, and secured explicit reference in the Common Understanding to the United Kingdom’s constitutional and parliamentary procedures for future areas of alignment. Where we dynamically align with new EU laws, Parliament will rightly have a say in this. Parliament will be able to respond to the EU treaties being negotiated and to the Bill itself later this year. We are currently in negotiations on UK decision-shaping powers and will not be able to give a running commentary on the progress of those negotiations. It is a matter for Parliament as to how it scrutinises the work of government through Select Committees.
Source
Committee
Foreign Affairs Committee
Addressee Bodies
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Timeline
Recommendation age
0.2 yrs
Report published
04 Mar 2026