Fourth Brexit Liaison Group Meeting held

The Group discussed developments in the European Parliament with Paul Dowling, House of Lords National Parliament representative in Brussels, supported by Christopher Johnson, Principal Clerk of the EU Committee.

The discussion included the likely European Parliament approach to the negotiations; the likely timetable for European Parliament scrutiny, and the information which might be available to members of the European Parliament. Members noted the expressed enthusiasm of some MEPs to assist with informal discussions at Westminster, and the increased importance of developing and maintaining relations between House of Lords Committees and their counterparts in other national Parliaments.

Lord Lang of Monkton, Chairman of the Constitution Committee, updated the Group on the Brexit-related work of his Committee. The Constitution Committee had taken evidence from the Shadow Leader of the House of Lords and the Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords on how Parliament delegates powers to the Government and the use of these powers in the context of the Great Repeal Bill. He and Baroness Fookes, Chairman of the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee, were co-ordinating their working in this area.

The Group plans to meet next on Monday 27 March 2017.

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

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