Sewel Convention
A commitment made by the government during the passage of the Scotland Act 1998 that the UK Parliament “would not normally legislate with regard to devolved matters” except with the agreement of the devolved bodies in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The Convention was subsequently given statutory recognition in the Scotland Act 2016 (s 2(8)). Where Scottish ministers believe that it is appropriate for a Westminster Bill to include provisions on “devolved matters”, a Legislative Consent Motion (often known as a Sewel Motion) is brought before the Scottish Parliament.

In (No. 1)">Miller’s case (No. 1) (R (on the application of Miller and another) v Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union [2017] UKSC 5) the Supreme Court ruled that the invoking of Article 50, initiating the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union, did not come within the scope of the Sewel Convention.

• Beddoe order
• behaviour
• belligerent communities, recognition of
• bench
• Benchers
• bench warrant
• beneficial interest
• beneficial owner
• beneficiary
• beneficiary principle
• benefits in kind
• benevolent purposes
• Benjamin order
• bequeath
• bequest
• bereaved minor’s trust
• bereavement benefit
• bereavement, damages for
• Berne Convention
• best-evidence rule
• best interests
• best value
• Beth Din
• betting duty
• bias