I wish I could answer that question in the affirmative, but the answer is no. Before each meeting the devolved Administrations, with the UK Government, have engaged in direct consultation with stakeholders. However, the stakeholders have not been inside the room. None the less, what they bring to the table is very much understood. I develop upon these parts because, as the noble Lord, Lord Wigley, pointed out, it is important that when we consider the question of agriculture there is no suggestion that, although agriculture itself is one of the headings, everything in agriculture will remain part of that. To some degree, what noble Lords had in their in-boxes, which was simply entitled “Agricultural funding”, was a little unhelpful. Underneath that rests each of the areas where there is expected to be a necessary common framework, and indeed a whole range of areas where there would not need to be a common framework because it would be fully devolved from the get-go. To some degree, there can be a result of some misunderstanding contained in that approach. Again, that is why it is imperative that we examine every single aspect when we have these deep dives, which are ongoing; they have not finished yet.
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As the noble and learned Lord, Lord Keen, pointed out last week, when these common frameworks move into the next stage, on a case-by-case and Bill-by-Bill basis, they will form part of the Bills that must then undergo the process whereby they are examined by the devolved legislatures and the devolved Administrations and will be “Seweled”, if I can use that as a verb in this context. We have to secure a legislative consent Motion. The purpose of that is to make sure that this is done, as far as possible, by the consent we have established and the practice we have taken forward. It will be critical to move forward on that basis.
I understand that the fisheries White Paper, for example, is imminent. It has been so for about six months but it is none the less imminent and will come. There will be a common framework in it and, by necessity, in the framework will be the agreement required from the devolved Administrations affected by it to ensure that the elements of common necessity are taken forward to create a functioning common framework. That is critical. To revert to the point made by the noble Baroness, Lady Hayter, it will not be imposed; that is the process whereby we will move legislation forward through the traditional established consent procedure.
It is not for me to correct the noble and learned Lord, Lord Keen, but as a former Member of the European Parliament I can happily confirm that each of the devolved Administrations is fully consulted and engaged with directly on matters as they move towards
the legislative process in the European Parliament. As the noble Baroness will be aware, devolved Administration leaders often lead those discussions, depending on the circumstances. That has always been done on a basis of serious engagement. Perhaps the most serious of all has often rested on fisheries; towards the end of each year, there is a December Council—as the noble Lord will be aware—where real-time engagement and having the devolved Ministers there is needed for the necessary toing and froing, so that everyone is a participant and has broadly bought into the outcome, whether it is to be celebrated or not. I would be happy if he would accept, on behalf of the noble and learned Lord, Lord Keen, that modest correction of his earlier statement.
I hope that I have given noble Lords some sense that, as we go forward with our approach to common frameworks, it is our endeavour to do so not just on the basis of a dismissive, quick flash of legislation as we move it towards the other place. That is not our intention at all; again in reference to the third subsection of the new clause proposed by the noble and learned Lord, Lord Hope, this will be fully consulted on, as per the established procedures, which we will take forward. I suspect that I should make reference to the useful intervention of the noble and learned Lord, Lord Mackay. I know that last week the noble and learned Lord, Lord Keen, heard what was said and will reflect on it. I hope that has given coverage to all the key issues we have raised.