European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill — House of Commons, 2020-01-07
Topic: International Affairs
Roger James Gale (Conservative, Centre-right): With this it will be convenient to discuss the following: Clauses 2 to 6 stand part New clause 4—Extension of the implementation period— "After section 15 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (publication of and rules of evidence) insert— ‘15A Extension of the implementation period (1) A Minister of the Crown must seek to secure agreement in the Joint Committee to a single decision to extend the implementation period by two years, in accordance with Article 132 of the Withdrawal Agreement unless one or more condition in subsection (2) is met. (2) Those conditions are— (a) it is before 15 June 2020; (b) an agreement on the future trade relationship has been concluded; (c) the House of Commons has passed a motion in the form set out in subsection (3) and the House of Lords has considered a motion to take note of the Government’s intention not to request an extension (3) The form of the motion mentioned in subsection (2)(c) is "That this House approves of the Government’s decision not to apply for an extension to the period for implementing the agreement between the United Kingdom and the EU under Article 50(2) of the Treaty on European Union which sets out the arrangements for the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU" (4) If the Joint Committee does not agree the extension specified in subsection (1) but EU representatives on the Joint Committee indicate that they would agree an extension for a shorter period, a Minister of the Crown must move a motion in the House of Commons to agree the shorter period proposed, and if that motion is agreed, a Minister of the Crown must agree that shorter extension in the Joint Committee (5) Any Minister of the Crown who attends the Joint Committee may seek agreement to terminate the implementation period if a final agreement on the future trade relationship is ratified before the end of the implementation period.’" This new clause would restore the role for Parliament in deciding whether to extend transition to avoid a WTO Brexit. New clause 36—Extension of implementation period— "After section 15 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (publication and rules of evidence) insert— ‘15A Extension of implementation period (1) If by 1 June 2020, agreements on both of the matters specified in subsection (2) have not been concluded, any Minister of the Crown who attends the Joint Committee must seek to secure agreement in the Joint Committee to a single decision to extend the implementation period by two years, in accordance with Article 132 of the Withdrawal Agreement (2) The specified matters for the purposes of subsection (1) are— (a) the future trade relationship between the United Kingdom and the EU (b) a security partnership including law enforcement and judicial cooperation in criminal matters (3) If the Joint Committee does not agree the extension specified in subsection (1) but EU representatives on the Joint Committee indicate that they would agree an extension for a shorter period, a Minister of the Crown must move a motion in the House of Commons to agree the shorter period proposed, and if that motion is agreed, a Minister of the Crown must agree that shorter extension in the Joint Committee (4) Any Minister of the Crown who attends the Joint Committee may seek agreement to terminate the implementation period if final agreements on both of the matters specified in subsection (2) are ratified before the end of the implementation period.’" This new clause would require the UK Government to seek an extension to the implementation period if agreements on trade and security have not been completed by 1 June 2020. Clause 33 stand part.