On 13 December 2018 the UK Supreme Court handed down judgment in relation to a challenge to the legislative competence of the Scottish ‘UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Legal Continuity) (Scotland) Bill’.

The Supreme Court is once again being asked to rule in relation to Brexit.

It has been reported that the UK Government has agreed to offer to pay €40 billion as part of its ‘divorce settlement’ on leaving the EU in an effort to progress the current negotiations.

Among the various issues addressed by the Government’s European Union (Withdrawal) Bill, one that has generated considerable publicity is how Brexit will impact on devolved powers.

Following the result of the EU referendum last June, questions were immediately raised regarding Scottish devolution and the future of the UK’s relationship with Ireland.

The Supreme Court has handed down judgment in the UK Government’s appeal against the earlier decision of the High Court that parliamentary approval is needed to give notice under Article 50.

The Scottish Government has published a paper, Scotland’s Place in Europe. In this paper the Scottish Government sets out its position following the result of the UK’s referendum on the EU.

The hearing of the UK Government’s appeal against the High Court’s recent decision that Article 50 cannot be triggered without Parliamentary approval is due to commence on December 5.

Over the past two weeks, the issue of devolution has once again featured in the Brexit debate.

Following calls for a further referendum on Scottish independence in light of the vote to leave the European Union, a question has arisen as to whether the Scottish Parliament could block the UK’s departure.