European Union (Withdrawal) Bill

The Minister has talked quite a lot about the purpose of this exercise being to provide continuit...

The right hon. Gentleman is old enough and wise enough to know that, while this exercise of freez...

I have been listening carefully to what my hon. and learned Friend has been saying. Again, there ...

Yes, I am happy to do that. That is very much in the spirit what I have already said.

Will the Minister give way?

No, I would like to press on, if I may. I am mindful of the time, and I want to make sure that we...

I thank my hon. and learned Friend for giving way. This is quite an important issue. A moment ago...

I am committed to trying to achieve the best solution, whether it is in the Bill or in an amendme...

I thank my hon. and learned Friend for giving way. He is being very generous with his time, and h...

My hon. Friend is a passionate campaigner on many of those issues. I can reassure her and her con...

I accept what the Solicitor General said about new clause 50, and I think we should thank him for...

I hoped that I had responded to new clause 51 in an earlier intervention. It is well intentioned,...

I do not think that the House has the appetite to undertake the review, given the ginormous amoun...

Yes, indeed.

I shall now move on to new clauses 9, 22, 23 and 29, which is linked to amendm...

I accept of course that we should have on the table the option of creating a bespoke deal for our...

I always listen to what the hon. Gentleman says with a great deal of interest, but I say in the c...

Will the Minister confirm that one of the few things remain and leave agreed about in the campaig...

My right hon. Friend and I were on opposite sides of that debate—indeed, we have been on opposite...

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I would love to give way to the hon. Lady, but I am mindful of the time, and Mr Hoyle is looking ...

Will the Solicitor General confirm whether the powers outlined in part 2 of schedule 8 and in cla...

That is not necessary. The provisions in schedule 8 are all about the frameworks, not the policy,...

Will the Solicitor General give way?

I will not give way any further.

It is our policy that we will not be a member of the EEA o...

When the Minister talks about bringing forward a package on Report, do I take it that the amendme...

I am always happy to engage with my hon. Friend and with my hon. Friend the Member for Wimbledon ...

Order. We have a lot of speakers and, as Members are well aware, there is no knife today. I will ...

I rise to speak to new clauses 22 and 23 in my name. I say at the outset that I will not take int...

I know that an overwhelming majority of the people who voted in the hon. Lady’s constituency vote...

I completely agree. My new clause may offer some form of compromise, which I shall set out in due...

Will my hon. Friend give way?

I did say that I was not going to give way to anyone, so I am not going to do it again.

New...

On an important point of clarification, my hon. Friend has made an incredibly strong speech. Citi...

My hon. Friend has issued a very timely reminder to me. If it were possible, I would like that to...

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Hoyle.

This is another important deba...

I do not see the problem with that. If the piece of legislation is as benign and generally agreed...

I rather think that what I am proposing in my amendment is the use of the affirmative procedure. ...

Will the hon. Gentleman elaborate on that in the Scottish context? Further to what he has just sa...

It would be for the Government to choose whether to bring such things forward. At the moment, it ...

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

I need to make some progress, so I hope the hon. Lady will forgive me. I have not much more to sa...

I rise to speak to my new clause 25, which has cross-party support. The Minister has already prai...

I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak in this debate, and particularly to clauses 2 and 3...

Does the right hon. Lady agree that we risk sacrificing parliamentary scrutiny because we are in ...

I respectfully suggest that scrutiny is the purpose of these debates in Committee. We should have...

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the implication that somehow Britain would be a horrible, un...

My hon. Friend makes an important point.

One great former leader, Margaret Thatcher, once s...

The right hon. Lady is clearly very keen that Members should scrutinise things effectively. Does ...

The right hon. Gentleman knows that secondary legislation is scrutinised. We all have an effectiv...

This partly repeats my previous point, but does the right hon. Lady recognise that, whichever way...

I am sure that the hon. Gentleman, like me and all Members, believes in Britain’s future prospect...

It is a pleasure to follow the right hon. Member for Witham (Priti Patel), who has had a busy few...

As ever, my hon. Friend makes a rational case, but can he tell me what he would do with extremely...

I would want us to shape those regulations, because we are going to be affected by them. If our n...

Yes, there will be a Report stage. I can assure the hon. Gentleman of that.

I look forward to an amendment with an extra comma or full stop to facilitate a Report stage. It ...

My hon. Friend has listed what we would like to see. Would he also include regional aid, which is...

Regional aid—and the financial side—probably has more to do with the EU, and the Government have ...

How could the UK continue to enjoy the trading benefits of EEA membership without being a member ...

I was a member of the International Trade Select Committee in the last Parliament and recommended...

There is a danger in Committee that we get sidetracked into rehashing the whole of the Second Rea...

Clauses 2 and 3.

Sorry, clauses 2 and 3. I do apologise. My right hon. Friend accurately corrects me, and I hope t...

I want to make a few points about new clause 22, which my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham Eas...

I wish to speak about amendments 87 and 217, tabled by the hon. Member for Carmarthen East and Di...

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that if we want to trade with other nations, we must have som...

That may well be so, but I invite the hon. Lady to digest the terms of article 126 of the EEA agr...

It is a pleasure to follow the right hon. Member for Clwyd West (Mr Jones). In the normal course ...

The UK Government are not content with raising trade barriers with the 27 countries in the world ...

The Chairman of the International Trade Committee speaks with great expertise. That was one of th...

Before the hon. Gentleman leaves his discussion of EEA membership, does he not accept that articl...

That point was also made by the First Minister of Wales when he was against this position, before...

I will try to assist the hon. Gentleman. The United Kingdom signed the EEA agreement in 1993 as a...

I am always grateful for the hon. Gentleman’s assistance. He also speaks with great authority on ...

Is that not the crux for both Scotland and Wales? The basis of the Scotland Act 1998 was that eve...

That is why the Scottish and Welsh Governments, in a joint declaration, said that this Bill is a ...

Ironically, the hon. Gentleman is describing the creation of the British superstate of the United...

That is the fear we face. Brexit is being used as a tool to reassert Westminster control over the...

The good news coming out of this debate is that everyone in the House agrees with clauses 2 and 3...

There is a need for Parliament to be able to trust the Government, but does the right hon. Gentle...

I think Parliament is doing a good job of explaining to Ministers exactly what Parliament wants, ...

A recent TUC study found that many low-paid workers can be disciplined for taking time off for ch...

I am sure that it is an important protection for workers. I do not think that anybody is threaten...

I will speak about the new clauses tabled by Opposition Front Benchers, particularly those on emp...

Does my hon. Friend agree that it is about time that we all remembered that we have more in commo...

Absolutely. I could not agree more with that statement.

I turn in particular to new clauses...

Is it not important that we keep laws such as the equal treatment directive, which allowed many w...

Absolutely. I could not agree more. I referred to the Beecroft review, and one of its recommendat...

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

I am going to be quick, so I will not take any more interventions.

We have talked a lot abo...

It is a great pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Streatham (Chuka Umunna). We are co-chairs o...

I would not like the public who are listening or watching to take the right hon. Lady to mean tha...

I would love to ignore death threats, but I actually find them quite frightening. As a result, I ...

The right hon. Lady and I have had our differences during my time in Parliament since 2015, parti...

Order. I know that Members feel strongly about this subject, but we are straying slightly from ne...

I am desperate to get on with supporting new clause 22 and endorsing the excellent speech made by...

Does the right hon. Lady agree that the debates that we are having could be helpful to the Govern...

I completely agree with the right hon. Gentleman. I go on about what history will write about thi...

The right hon. Lady is making some very good arguments, which chime with the SNP’s position. The ...

I am not going to adopt the hon. Gentleman’s tribal language, because I am trying to build a cons...

Does the right hon. Lady not agree that what we are really discussing is democracy and how we int...

The hon. Lady may well be right. I am trying to find solutions. I am trying to find a way to get ...

There are certainly several amendments in the group that I will support, if they are pressed to a...

I seem to recall it was not so long ago that the right hon. Gentleman was in a coalition Governme...

I remember that clearly. The right hon. Gentleman and I—and, I am sure, Labour Members—can confir...

I want to speak to new clause 58 and to cover the key issue of EU pension directives, specificall...

I would like to speak in favour of new clause 2 and new clause 58, which have been tabled by thos...

I entirely endorse what the hon. Gentleman says about a free trade agreement with the European Un...

The right hon. and learned Gentleman is, as always, absolutely correct. We need to recognise the ...

I would be grateful if the hon. Gentleman could explain how often, and in what circumstances, the...

This is a clear case of a “before and after” conversation. The court would be substantially alter...

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

I will not, as so many Members want to speak. I am afraid that I must make progress.

I want...

I rise to welcome and support a number of proposals in this group, in particular new clause 2, ne...

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I feel ashamed of this country and of this Government when I see so many good people feeling so u...

I represent a fairly finely balanced constituency. Many of my constituents voted leave and many v...

The two “retained enhanced protection” new clauses tabled by the Leader of the Opposition are inc...

The Government say, “Trust us, workers’ rights are safe.” As someone who has fought for workers’ ...

I know how many speakers have put in for the next debate, so I will be brief. It has been a good ...

I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.

With this it will be convenient to discuss the following:

New clause 60—Retention of princi...

I am pleased to speak in support of new clause 30, which is in my name and those of many other ho...

EU laws on animal sentience have allowed Wales to lead the way on animal welfare. When Plaid Cymr...

I thank the hon. Lady for her intervention, and I absolutely support what she says. Last night, I...

We in this country are of course well known throughout Europe as a nation of animal lovers. The h...

As a passionate animal rights and animal welfare campaigner, I obviously want the best possible a...

Does the hon. Lady agree that, once we have left, we will be able to increase our animal welfare ...

What about the badgers?

The hon. Gentleman asks about badgers. I have actually been leading some of the campaigning again...

No one would be more delighted than me if we had the political will, which is as important as the...

The hon. Lady is making a great speech. We completely agree with her and want to take her side on...

The hon. Gentleman makes an incredibly important point. He has anticipated what I was going to sa...

On that very point, there cannot be a green group that the Secretary of State has not embraced or...

The hon. Gentleman’s intervention is spot-on. This is exactly such an opportunity for the Governm...

The intervention by the hon. Member for Stroud (Dr Drew) was a little unfair on the Secretary of ...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his intervention and I agree with him—so fart. There are still mor...

Does not what has just been said simply show that the Secretary of State can lift standards withi...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his intervention. It is not just about the fact that they can go o...

Does the hon. Lady agree that the ban on neonicotinoids would not have taken place were it not fo...

The hon. Lady neatly brings me on to the next issue that I want to address. She is absolutely rig...

The hon. Lady is making a valid point, but some of the EU’s principles are lower than ours. For e...

I disagree with the hon. Lady. I do not think there is anything relating to the EU that is stoppi...

On a point of clarification, the hon. Lady said that she was not aware that we could not ban micr...

I really do not understand the hon. Lady, because we have done it—it has been done. All the fears...

The Environmental Audit Committee had a very interesting meeting this morning at the Department f...

I am grateful to the hon. Lady for that helpful update. There are many myths about what the EU pr...

The environmental protections should be enshrined in UK law because we do not want the Government...

I agree. This country will be very interested in forming more free trade agreements as soon as po...

Is it not vital for air quality that we enshrine these principles in UK law, given that the Gover...

The hon. Lady is absolutely right. The role of the ECJ in applying fines has concentrated the min...

I have a large degree of agreement and sympathy with what the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion ...

Is not one of the central problems of the Bill that the legislation is so broadly drafted that th...

I am delighted that the hon. Gentleman asked that question, because more or less the whole of the...

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May I explain what I have in mind? I am more than willing to give way to the hon. Gentleman again...

The Environmental Audit Committee recommended, after its inquiry into the future of the natural e...

Well, we must leave it to Ministers to speak for themselves, but I have to say that the discussio...

indicated assent.

And his mind is one that is capable of grasping these matters, if ever the mind of a Member of th...

Why does the right hon. Gentleman think that the two are mutually exclusive? Why could we not hav...

First, I am confident that this Secretary of State will be here for rather longer than some other...

We have had three Environment Secretaries in two years, and we have all been waiting for the fame...

What gives me the confidence is that I think it is perfectly doable, and I think the Secretary of...

The idea that judicial review will be an adequate recourse is misguided. Judicial review is about...

Perhaps we will not reach agreement about this. I disagree with every part of what the hon. Lady ...

Will the right hon. Gentleman give way?

I will give way in a moment.

It is much better to be in a position where we can take the Go...

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I will give way to both hon. Ladies shortly, but first I want to come to a further point that is ...

indicated assent.

The Secretary of State is again nodding. That is why we have agreed that it is necessary under th...

I am interested in what the right hon. Gentleman is saying. Is he proposing that the body he is d...

In a word, yes, because this body will be able to take the Government to court, and the courts ha...

I am interested to hear the right hon. Gentleman develop the ideas around this new body to fill t...

The hon. Lady is actually making my point. If one looks at new clause 60 or new clause 67, they c...

I congratulate the right hon. Gentleman on some nice blue-sky thinking about what could come in t...

Order. I know that we are in Committee, but interventions must be brief.

That was the subject of a previous intervention, and what I said in response then I will say agai...

On adopting EU law into domestic law, I am sure the right hon. Gentleman will accept that there i...

I leave that to the Government, but it is noticeable that new clauses 60 and 67 would have UK app...

After Brexit, we all want to have the best environmental standards possible. Before my right hon....

I did not intend to return to new clause 30, which I did not table, but my hon. Friend may well b...

Order. Thirteen colleagues, and possibly more, have caught my eye with 130 minutes to go before w...

It is a pleasure to follow the right hon. Member for West Dorset (Sir Oliver Letwin), and I welco...

With respect to compliance, does the hon. Gentleman recognise the importance of strong UK framewo...

I agree with that, and I would add that if the environmental principles are brought into UK law i...

Has the hon. Gentleman given any consideration to what the words

“enforced, allowed, and fo...

That point is very well made. I expect that other hon. Members will touch on that in more detail ...

I am grateful for the opportunity to speak in support of clause 4 and to respond to today’s secon...

Will the Minister give way?

I am going to make a little progress; I am mindful of your strictures, Mr Streeter. I will take i...

That brings me neatly to the question as to what it means that a right should be “allowed” immedi...

I will come to the precise application shortly, but I am happy to take another intervention if my...

rose—

I give way to the Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee.

The right hon. and learned Member for Beaconsfield (Mr Grieve) has raised this point: the rubber ...

There are bodies that deal with these kinds of things, such as the Health and Safety Executive, b...

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I am going to make some headway because I am mindful, Mr Streeter, of your guidance about interve...

I am thrilled the Minister has come back to chemicals, because we spent about three months of our...

The Chair of the Select Committee makes her point powerfully, and she draws quite an important di...

rose—

I am going to make a little progress, again mindful of the guidance that I have received.

L...

It may well be that this comes from the European Communities Act, but I still find the word “allo...

I have endeavoured to explain that the aim—and, I believe, the fact—of the Bill and the clause is...

Will the Minister give way?

I will give way one more time, with the tolerance of the Chair.

That is enormously kind of the Minister, particularly since the Solicitor General earlier this af...

I am glad that the hon. Lady made that intervention. Clauses 2, 3 and 4 are subject to the saving...

Will my hon. Friend allow me to intervene one last time?

Perhaps shortly, but I am going to make some progress now, because I am hearing censorious noises...

The Minister says that we already have a number of vehicles to ensure that we give effect to our ...

As I have said, we continue to keep these matters under review. If there is a court decision, we ...

Will my hon. Friend give way?

No, I will make some progress, otherwise I will be in serious trouble. I have taken several inter...

It is a pleasure to have this unexpected opportunity to take part in the debate and to speak to a...

My hon. Friend makes a very good point about EU nationals. While the UK has been in deficit since...

My hon. Friend makes very salient points. He represents a constituency that relies on those skill...

The hon. Gentleman is making very good points. I want to just draw two issues together. He talks ...

Absolutely. I agree with the hon. Gentleman’s very good point.

We support new clause 67, wh...

I say to the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Caroline Lucas) and others, perhaps as one remai...

indicated dissent.

I know that that was not quite what the hon. Lady said, but I have the scars on my back. When the...

It is a pleasure to follow the right hon. Member for Newbury (Richard Benyon), who is very commit...

Does my hon. Friend not agree that the action that ClientEarth brought on expansion of Heathrow c...

There are various different aspects to what right we will have to pursue court cases and judicial...

We heard in the Environmental Audit Committee session with the Ministry of Justice officials that...

My hon. Friend is quite right. It is about the removal of the cap on costs as well, and the