Select Committee · Justice Committee

The constitutional relationship with the Crown Dependencies

Status: Closed Opened: 20 Jul 2021 Closed: 30 May 2024 12 recommendations 10 conclusions 1 report

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 between the UK Government and …

Reports

1 report

Title	HC No.	Published	Items	Response
Second Report - The constitutional relationship with the Cr…	HC 30	28 Mar 2024	22	Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

4 items

4 Recommendation Second Report - The constitutional rela… Acknowledged

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 relationships and further increase awareness, there should be greater use …

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

6 Conclusion Second Report - The constitutional rela… Acknowledged

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 with Minister Freer that the Ministry of Justice’s role is …

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

17 Recommendation Second Report - The constitutional rela… Acknowledged

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 extension of general entrustments to other types of international agreements. …

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

22 Recommendation Second Report - The constitutional rela… Acknowledged

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 Crown Dependencies. They are valuable members of the British family …

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

Oral evidence sessions

1 session

Date	Witnesses
15 Nov 2023	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	View ↗

Correspondence

3 letters

Date	Direction	Title
9 Jan 2024	To cttee	Letter from Mike Freer MP, Minister for Courts and Legal Services, dated 21 Dec…
9 Sep 2021	—	Note prepared by the Government of Guernsey in advance of 7th September evidenc…
9 Sep 2021	To cttee	Letter from the Governments of Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man, dated 31 A…