Today the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee had the chance to quiz the Brexit Minister Michael Russell on the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Legal Continuity) (Scotland) Bill.
It comes just days after the Bill was first introduced to the Scottish Parliament and ahead of the Stage 1 Debate tomorrow afternoon.
It was a testy exchange of views at times. I had to remind the Minister not to patronise MSPs by telling them how do their job after Alison Harris rightly raised concerns that Holyrood would only have three weeks to scrutinise the EU (Legal Continuity) Bill.
His reply was far from fitting for a Minister when he said: "There is a choice to be made. You may not wish to scrutinise... but if you do wish to scrutinise it, I am at your disposal.”
I reminded him that members are free to ask whatever they wish. So please don’t tell us what our job is.
The session finished with Mr Russell stating the Continuity Bill could be withdrawn up until Stage 1. Then it would have to be down to the Parliament to decide to withdraw it.
Regardless of what happens he stated that whether the EU Withdrawal Bill goes forward - or the Continuity Bill - it will only be the beginning of major change.
To wrap what was a very informative session there was a mischievous question on Scottish independence by Labour's Neil Findlay. The MSP asked, considering 40 years of integration with the EU is proving difficult to unravel, if the Minister had given "cause to reconsider unravelling 300 years of union with the UK".
As Convener I had to intervene saying the question was "a little bit mischievous".
You can watch me tell the Minister not to patronise MSPs HERE.
You can also view Neil Findlay's mischievous question to the Minister HERE.
The full committee session can also be watched HERE.
The panel today was:
- Brexit Minister Michael Russell
- Gerald Byrne of the Constitution and UK Relations Division
- Graham Fisher from the Scottish Government's Legal Directorate
- Luke McBratney from the Constitution and UK Relations Division