The constitutional relationship with the Crown Dependencies

Justice Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 20 Jul 2021 Closed: 30 May 2024 Parliament page
Following the announcement that a General Election will be held on 4 July, Select Committees will be unable to meet from 24 May and will cease to exist from 30 May until after the General Election. This work has therefore closed. This was a short inquiry examining the constitutional relationship … Read more
12 Recommendations
10 Conclusions
1 Report
1 Oral session
3 Letters
3 Events
Activity timeline 9 events
19 Dec
2024
Report published
28 Mar
2024
Report published
9 Jan
2024
Correspondence
15 Nov
2023
Oral evidence
15 Nov
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
23 May
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
9 Sep
2021
Correspondence
9 Sep
2021
Correspondence
7 Sep
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 1 session
15 Nov 2023
View on parliament.uk
Dr Gaynor Jeffery OBE · Department for Business and Trade Mike Freer MP · Ministry of Justice Richard Mason · Ministry of Justice Rt Hon Greg Hands MP · Department for Business and Trade Rt Hon Greg Hands MP · Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Second Report - The constitutional relationship with the Crown D… HC 30 28 Mar 2024 22 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
4 results
Clear
4 Recommendation Acknowledged
Second Report - The constitutional…
Initiate secondments for DfBT and Treasury officials to Crown Dependencies before general election
The advent of direct engagement between Crown Dependencies and other UK Government departments is a very positive step. It underlines the importance of the Ministry of Justice’s work in raising awareness across Whitehall of the constitutional relationship. To help reinforce … Read more
Government Response
The government believes intergovernmental placements are valuable and has established an intergovernmental placement working group in 2023 to address barriers and unlock benefits, but did not commit to specific secondments or a timeline.
Ministry of Justice
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6 Conclusion Acknowledged
Second Report - The constitutional…
Ministry of Justice must facilitate dialogue in Crown Dependency-UK departmental disputes
The advent of direct engagement between the Crown Dependencies and UK Government departments raises the question of the Ministry of Justice’s role in the event of a disconnect or dispute arising between a Crown Dependency and a department. We agree … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges that the Ministry of Justice normally coordinates cross-departmental issues affecting Crown Dependencies and will continue to work to ensure their interests are represented across Whitehall.
Ministry of Justice
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17 Recommendation Acknowledged
Second Report - The constitutional…
Extend general entrustments to Crown Dependencies for broader international agreement types.
In line with another of our predecessors’ conclusions, we strongly support the increased use of Letters of Entrustment so that Crown Dependencies can enter into their own international agreements and further develop their international personalities. In particular, we recommend the … Read more
Government Response
The government notes the recommendation and will continue to consider the use of general entrustments on a case-by-case basis, balancing flexibility for Crown Dependencies with UK responsibilities and ongoing complexities, maintaining dialogue on the issue.
Ministry of Justice
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22 Recommendation Acknowledged
Second Report - The constitutional…
Assess Crown Dependencies' economic contribution to UK trade and strategically promote their role.
We wish to emphasise that the UK’s taking responsibility for its own international trade policy affords a real and very significant opportunity to make the most of the 34 The constitutional relationship with the Crown Dependencies economic relationship with the … Read more
Government Response
The Department for Business and Trade highlights data limitations hindering a formal assessment of the Crown Dependencies' contribution, and will only *consider* whether publishing additional information in strategic approaches would support trade negotiation objectives.
Ministry of Justice
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Government Response AI assessment · 22 of 12 classified
Accepted 11
Accepted in Part 1
Acknowledged 4
Deferred 5
Rejected 1
Total 12 recs + 10 conclusions
Correspondence 3 letters
9 Jan 2024 To committee Letter from Mike Freer MP, Minister for Courts and Legal Services, dated 21 December 2023 regarding the Constitutional relationship with the Crown Dependencies
Parliament page
9 Sep 2021 Note prepared by the Government of Guernsey in advance of 7th September evidence session
Parliament page
9 Sep 2021 To committee Letter from the Governments of Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man, dated 31 August 2021, on relations between the UK and the Crown Dependencies
Parliament page