Deciding transport policy in Westminster to provide "stability" and "maintain" UK single market - ministers

When transport powers are returned from the EU, "common UK frameworks may be required... to protect the freedom of businesses to operate across the UK single market," according to the Department for Exiting the European Union has declared.

In a white paper for a 'Great Repeal Bill' setting out proposals for ensuring a functioning statute book after leaving the EU published yesterday, the Government says that when powers are repatriated, "it will be important to ensure that stability and certainty is not compromised... our guiding principle will be to ensure that no new barriers to living and doing business without are our Union are created".

EU powers over transport will, therefore, return to Westminster, and the Government will then begin "intensive discussions" with devolved administrations to identify where common transport frameworks need to be retained, and were common frameworks are not necessary". The white paper says that, whilst stability is important, "it is the expectation of the Government is that the outcome of this process will be a significant increase in the decision-making power of each devolved administration".

David Davis, the secretary of state for exiting the EU, said it was important that economic rules do not become fragmented. But the nationalist Plaid Cymru interpreted the proposals as "the biggest power grab" since the annexation of Wales in 1536. Plaid Cymru’s Brexit spokesperson, Jonathan Edwards said: “The people of Wales voted o take back control – they did not vote to allow unelected Whitehall Britocrats to grab power for themselves."