Friday 13 October 2017
The UK Government has today published its response to the House of Common Justice Committee's report entitled "the implications of Brexit for the Crown Dependencies", which emphasised the need for the UK Government to ensure it represents the interests of the islands in Brexit negotiations.
Deputy Gavin St Pier, President of the Policy & Resources Committee, said:
'I welcome the UK Government's response to the House of Commons Justice Select Committee's recommendations in respect of engaging with the Crown Dependencies on Brexit. We have sought to work as closely as possible with colleagues from the UK and other Crown Dependencies to ensure our voice is heard, and on that front it was pleasing that Rt Hon David Lidington MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, acknowledged the benefit of our engagement and confirmed our strong working relationship with the UK.
'I also welcome the Lord Chancellor's acknowledgement that it his Ministry's responsibilities to ensure that our interests are understood and taken into account having regard to the relationship with the UK, which he himself describes as being an important one. I am particularly pleased that he once again reaffirmed the UK government's commitment to represent our interests internationally where those interests differ from the UK's. This is a point which we have repeatedly made in the last 18 months in the knowledge that it may become relevant as the negotiations with the EU progress.
'The UK's negotiations are at an important stage and so far we have welcomed the UK's genuine commitment to ensure that our interests are taken into account. This includes through engagement with the Ministry of Justice, Department for Exiting the EU and departments across the whole of Whitehall. We will need to continue to push our interests and be willing to respond quickly. I look forward to debating the third Brexit policy letter in the States which will give us the tools we will need to respond to the UK's new relationship with the EU, whatever the outcome of its negotiations.'
