Consultation outcome

UK internal market: policy option proposals

• From: Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
• Published: 16 July 2020
• Last updated: 26 October 2020 — See all updates

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government

This consultation has concluded

Read the full outcome

UK internal market policy option proposals: government response

PDF, 353 KB, 21 pages

Detail of outcome

The government response sets out its overall approach to:

• the scope of the mutual recognition and non-discrimination principles
• protecting regulatory autonomy
• preserving high standards
• governance and transparency
• protecting Northern Ireland’s place in the UK internal market
• providing independent insight into the UK internal market’s functioning

Accordingly, the government plans to bring forward legislation before the end of this year.

Update 21 October

Since publishing the government response on 9 September, we identified 31 responses that had been only partially analysed for data purposes. We have reviewed our analysis and found that no material change to the text was needed, except for the new aggregated response numbers provided here under Detail of feedback.

We also removed the following line from the start of the government response, second paragraph, page 14, inadvertently drafted to provide an expansive interpretation: ‘Whilst there was support from some respondents to this question for the idea of both mutual recognition and non-discrimination principles working in tandem…’.

Detail of feedback received

We received a total of 302 responses to the consultation broken down as follows:

• individuals - 90
• industry or trade bodies - 88
• businesses - 68
• political organisations - 18
• charities - 17
• local government - 3
• academics - 3
• other categories, including public and professional bodies and trade unions - 15
• formal responses from the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive

Wider engagement through roundtables and direct calls with businesses, trade associations and business representative organisations involved a further 339 stakeholders across the UK.

The response overwhelmingly supported action to mitigate against both direct and indirect discrimination, including:

• the principles of non-discrimination on the grounds of avoiding new trade barriers
• ensuring regulatory consistency to deliver UK-wide benefits to consumers
• certainty for businesses as the transition period ends

Responses regarding independent advice and monitoring exhibited a broader range of views. There was support for the concept of an independent body having a role within the internal market, particularly with the involvement of all 4 administrations of the UK, as a key way of ensuring transparency and consistency within the UK internal market.

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Original consultation

Summary

We're seeking views on the policy options set out in the white paper on protecting the flow of goods and services in the UK’s internal market.

This consultation was held on another website.

This consultation ran from
midday on 16 July 2020 to 11:45pm on 13 August 2020

Consultation description

The UK internal market white paper sets out policy options to enshrine in law 2 principles:

• the principle of mutual recognition
• the principle of non-discrimination

We would like views on these options from businesses, academics, consumer groups and trade unions, but the consultation is open to anyone who has an interest.

See the BEIS consultation privacy notice.

Please do not send responses by post to the department at the moment as we may not be able to access them.

Published 16 July 2020
Last updated 26 October 2020 + show all updates

1. 26 October 2020

   Consultation response numbers corrected - further details on page.

2. 9 September 2020

   Government response published.

3. 16 July 2020

   First published.