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On justice and home affairs matters, David Davis says the government aims to preserve the current relationship with the EU "as best we can and consistent with our broader aims".

Even after the UK leaves the EU, both will face common threats, he says and that means there is a "clear mutual interest" for continued co-operation in these areas. 

"The security of Europe will remain of paramount importance to us," he says.

House of Commons
Parliament

On the issue of employment laws, Mr Davis says there is a "sorry ignorance" on this from Labour. He says that employment protection in the UK does no derive principally come from the European Court of Justice.

The government has announced it will note erode employment protections, he tells MPs and says ministers have made guarantees that those workers' rights currently enjoyed are maintained. 

He also promises that "no law will be changed without the explicit approval of Parliament". 

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Image source, Supreme Court

The afternoon session starts with the news that Dominic Chambers QC, who is challenging the government on behalf of Deir Dos Santos, has changed seats, moving one place to the right. 

Lord Neuberger is taken slightly aback by this, asking him whether he is trying out a "new angle" of attack. 

One of the other justices jokes that the lawyer is trying to "escape" him. 

After that brief moment of levity, the court gets down to business.

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour MP Helen Goodman tells Mr Davis that government uncertainty and lack of clarity is stopping businesses investing and that is why public finances are in a "such a mess".

David Davis says that this was argued in the campaign - that the economy would collapse on Brexit.

"I've noticed in the last few months that the economy is doing really very well," he says.

He accuses the Opposition of "naysaying and talking down the country" on this matter.

House of Commons
Parliament

Former Attorney General, Conservative MP Dominic Grieve says that the motion must require Parliament to support triggering Article 50 "by means known to the law" and says that as the law stands this requires primary legislation. 

He says that it is the government's duty to bring in such legislation if it wishes to proceed in "a timely fashion" that allows proper debate. 

The DUP's Nigel Dodds says that the government amendment tonight, if agreed, will make it impossible to justify any "reneging, going back or procrastinating" or doing anything to stop Article 50 being triggered. 

Conservative MP Ken Clarke says that the word 'plan' is being used in an "extremely vague way" and says the best way to proceed would be for a white paper to be published outlining the strategic objectives the government are pursuing; and to submit that to the House for a vote. 

From there, he says, the government can trigger Article 50. 

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Brexit Secretary David Davis is now responding for the government; and rejects Sir Keir's last point that there is no mandate for a 'hard Brexit' - remarking that the "simple fact" is the mandate was to leave the EU, "full stop".

He says that the government releases information on the basis that it does not undermine the UK's negotiating position - and says that this is why he will not be giving information to the OBR.

He also says that it is "very inappropriate" to give such information to the OBR as government are engaging in a negotiation, not a policy statement.

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Sir Keir Starmer says there is no mandate for a 'hard Brexit' and no consensus for a 'hard Brexit'.

He says that having travelled across the UK and spoken to businesses "large and small", trade unions, working people, and local communities, the overwhelming evidence is that they do not want hard Brexit.

If we are going to reach a consensus it must be a consensus that works for everyone, he says - and adds that the ball is now in the government's court.

This is the start of accountability, not the end, he says.

House of Commons
Parliament

The shadow Brexit secretary says Labour's second requirement is for there to be enough detail in the plan for Parliament to undertake its duty of scrutiny.

The third requirement is for there to be enough detail to allow the OBR to do its job properly and check the government's cost plans; calling this a very important check and balance in the system. 

The fourth requirement is that the plan must have enough detail to allow the relevant devolved authorities to see if their specific concerns are being addressed; saying that "Brexit means Brexit" does not "come close" to addressing these concerns.

The final requirement is for there to be enough detail to build a "genuine consensus" on the plan - saying that the future of this country is bound up with these negotiations.

He says it is "wrong in principle" for the government to act solely in the interests of the 52% (who voted for Leave) or for a group within it. 

The referendum was not a vote to write those who voted to Remain out of their own history, he says; and calls on ministers to act in the national interest - "for the 100%".

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Sir Keir says that the first minimum requirement for Labour of the government's Brexit plans is that there is enough detail and clarity to end the "circus of uncertainty" - such as on issues like the customs union, and access to the single market.

He says there is a "pattern and rhythm" in government of one minister saying one thing one day, another says something else on different day; then a spokesperson says no decision has been made.

This, he says, is causing "anxiety across the UK and has to end".

Sir Keir says that this uncertainty is causing more damage to the process than any thing else at the moment.

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Sir Keir says that there has been a "characterising" of anyone who questions the government approach as seeking to "frustrate" the process.

He says that the motion calls for the government's plan to be produced in good time with sufficient detail for MPs to debate it.

"But we do not seek to frustrate the process," he repeats.

Plaid Cymru MP Jonathan Edwards joins Green MP Caroline Lucas in warning Labour against accepting the government's amendment to the motion - Ms Lucas called it "a Tory trap".

Mr Edwards says that if Labour accepts the amendment from the government he is "in effect giving unilateral support" to whatever plan it decides to bring forward.

This would therefore, he says, mean that opposition MPs will not be able to fulfill their role of scrutinising the executive.

"No, that is not the case," Sir Keir says.

Supreme Court president Lord Neuberger asks Lord Pannick QC about the legal effect of the EU referendum, during this morning's Supreme Court hearing.

Lord Neuberger nodded to one of his officials as the court struck one - and the court is adjourned for an hour. 

Image source, Supreme Court

Elaborating on his theme of the primacy of parliamentary sovereignty, Dominic Chambers, whose client is challenging the government's case, says all the rights deriving from the 2002 European Parliamentary Elections Act - such as the rights of British citizens to stand and vote in European elections - are based on the legislation itself rather than any other legal system or instrument. 

He goes on to to say that there will be an "inevitable loss" of rights once Article 50 is triggered and only Parliament can "override, set aside or nullify legislation".

His basic assertion is that the prerogative is nothing more than a "label for executive action...and executive action is unlawful if it contravenes the doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty". 

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Sir Keir Starmer reminds MPs that the government is currently presenting the argument in Supreme Court that MPs should not have a say in the triggering of Article 50

"They want to remove the vote from MPs," he says, in order to avoid scrutiny and accountability.

If the government succeeds in its appeal, he says; then this motion will be "incredibly important" and will be a good thing for anybody who believes in parliamentary scrutiny. 

Sir Keir says that he wants to repeat the point that Labour does not want to frustrate the process and timetable for leaving the EU.

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Sir Keir Starmer, the shadow secretary of state for Exiting the EU, begins by saying that "for months" Labour has been pressing the prime minister and government to set out its plans for Brexit.

"For months the prime minister and ministers have refused to do so," he says.

But, facing defeat on today's motion, Sir Keir says the "government has now caved in", saying of the government amendment today: "Last minute amendments tell their own story and everybody knows it."

He calls this a "victory for common sense".

Looking forward to this afternoon's proceedings, the BBC's legal correspondent Clive Coleman says the Scottish government's insistence that it be consulted over the triggering of Brexit is unlikely to throw a "legal spanner" into Theresa May's plans since she could simply over-ride existing mechanisms and conventions setting out the consent process for devolved matters.

But he says the issue is politically important and the Scottish government's decision to intervene in the Supreme Court case could be regarded as a "smart move" for its own domestic political purposes. 

Looking a two possible scenarios, he says either the UK government uses the royal prerogative over Article 50 and could then be portrayed as "riding roughshod" over Scotland or there is a vote on Article 50 in the Commons in which SNP MPs vote against but the measure is approved anyway.

Both outcomes could "fan the flames" of the independence movement, he says.

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Prominent Leave campaigner and Tory MP Steve Baker says MPs will be "astonished if not aghast" at his reports that a "succession" of journalists from the BBC have "sought to create and manufacture" stories of backbench rebellion on the issue of the EU.

He says that on these controversial issues the BBC should stick to maintaining its charter obligations on accuracy and impartiality, "instead of seeking to create problems for the government".

Mr Lidington responds with mock horror, that all MPs are "shocked" at the thought that anybody could look to him as a source of information about rebellions against the government - to laughter on the Tory benches.

"I hope he will find some comfort," he goes on to say, in hearing that the BBC's new royal charter enshrines the obligation to be impartial.  

A man is arrested over alleged online threats against Gina Miller, the woman behind the Brexit legal challenge.