Government Ministers questioned on the EU Withdrawal Bill
12 December 2017
Ministers from the Department for Exiting the European Union, along with the Solicitor General, and the Leader of the House of Lords will give evidence to the House of Lords Constitution Committee on Wednesday 13 December as part of its inquiry on the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill.
- Parliament TV: European Union (Withdrawal) Bill
- Inquiry: European Union (Withdrawal) Bill
- Select Committee on the Constitution
The Constitution Committee has already raised its concerns with the Bill in its two previous reports, in particular the lack of legal certainty, excessive powers granted to Ministers and the need for meaningful scrutiny by Parliament.
Witnesses
Wednesday 13 December in Committee Room 1, Palace of Westminster
At 9.45am
- Steve Baker MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Exiting the European Union
- Robin Walker MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Exiting the European Union
- Robert Buckland QC MP, Solicitor General
- Rt Hon. Baroness Evans of Bowes Park, Leader of the House of Lords
Possible questions
Questions to the Ministers are likely to include:
- What reassurance can you give us that the Bill will provide legal certainty post-Brexit?
- What does the Government intend to achieve by stipulating "exit day" for all purposes in the Bill?
- Do you agree with Lord Neuberger that there is a need for clearer guidance for the courts on the interpretation of CJEU judgments after exit day?
- Does the Bill adequately cater for the possibility of a transitional period? How do you see the powers in the Bill being used if such a period is agreed? To what extent do you think the Bill affects the shape of the devolution settlements and how are you seeking to address the concerns raised by the devolved administrations?
- Do you believe that the House of Lords' current scrutiny mechanisms have sufficient capacity to scrutinise the 800-1,000 statutory instruments expected from the Bill?
Further information
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