Part of 2. Questions to the Counsel General – in the Senedd at 2:34 pm on 2 May 2018.
Well, the Member will be aware that this is a matter that is very much in the mind of the Welsh Government, on a number of bases, not least the fact that the volume of Brexit-related legislation and subordinate legislation that needs to be pursued and implemented required all Governments in the UK, and all legislatures, to start the work as soon as possible. So, as the Member will be aware, an application was made to the Supreme Court to expedite the hearing of the matter. That expedited application remains in place, and obviously we will not be withdrawing that until the reference itself is withdrawn, and no decision has yet been made by the Supreme Court about that question of bringing forward the hearing. What we would expect and need is for the Attorney General to withdraw that reference if the LCM is approved by the Assembly in due course. That's obviously a matter for the Assembly to consider. And at that point, the continuity Bill will be available to be submitted for Royal Assent. That may seem like a curious step to take in the circumstances, but as the Member and others will know, it won't be possible to repeal the continuity Bill without it having been submitted in that way for Royal Assent.