Annual report to the Inter-Ministerial Standing Committee, 2022 to 2023
Published 5 August 2024
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Summary of the aims of the Common Framework
The primary focus of this agreement is to maintain the principles and objectives of assimilated law across the hazardous substances regime in the land use planning system. That is, primarily, to contribute to the prevention of onshore major accidents involving hazardous substances and limit the consequences to people and/or the environment of any accidents that do take place. It also seeks to, wherever possible, facilitate the sharing of information on a multilateral basis to support ongoing alignment across the administrations.
Overview of the reporting period
During this reporting period no issues arose in relation to the operation of the Common Framework. As such, it has not been necessary to utilise the decision-making or dispute resolution mechanisms or to escalate any matters flowing from the subject matter of the Common Framework.
As reviews should be proportionate to the substance of the Framework, and given that no issues were reported over the whole year, it was agreed that stakeholder involvement would be disproportionate for this review cycle. However, as it has been some time since the publication of the Common Framework, officials have agreed to engage with stakeholders in a proportionate manner during the next review cycle. This will be by way of checking in with key stakeholders to update them that the Framework has been operating effectively and to provide them with an opportunity for any feedback.
Officials have agreed that the Framework is operating appropriately as a tool to ensure open communication between the four nations.
Forward look
Meetings between the four nations will continue on a bi-annual basis and will be kept under review with the option for any party to convene a meeting as required.
Proportionate stakeholder engagement will be undertaken, as mentioned above, and reported as part of the next review cycle.