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The Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee was established to assist with the observation and implementation of Article 13(3a) and (4) of the Windsor Framework, which is a legal agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom which adjusts the operation of the Northern Ireland Protocol.[1] These are the parts of the Framework which set out the processes for how new, and amending or replacement EU law may apply in Northern Ireland.[2]
In order to operationalise the democratic mechanisms included within the Windsor framework, the UK parliament approved regulations, known as the "Stormont brake".[3][4][5]
The UK Government legislated through the Windsor Framework (Democratic Scrutiny) Regulations 2024 to make provision for the establishment of a new committee in the Assembly, the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee.
Since the announcement of the Windsor Framework in February last year, the UK Government has been working to operationalise the democratic mechanisms contained within it including the Stormont Brake. In March 2023, Parliament approved the draft Windsor Framework (Democratic Scrutiny) Regulations. I can confirm that I made those Regulations yesterday, bringing them into force today.