House of Commons
Parliament

Intervening on Bob Blackman, Labour MP Keith Vaz notes that, in previous similar debates, the MP for Harrow East has normally brought the issue of the need for a lift at Stanmore Station. 

He asks if there is good news on that front.

"It is a sad fact", replies Bob Blackman, that a company offered £1m to build such a lift but "in their infinite wisdom" Harrow Council declined to give the project planning permission.

House of Lords
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Shadow Brexit spokesperson Baroness Hayter raises concerns about the "sheer scale" of the level of scrutiny of the Bill that will be required.

Baroness Hayter says "extra capacity" will be needed if the House of Lords are able to deal with the "avalanche" of upcoming secondary legislation. 

"There are dangers ahead", she says, whilst telling the Government benches "we'll be watching you". 

House of Lords
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Brexit Minister Lord Bridges of Headley is repeating a statement given earlier by David Davis on legislating for the UK's withdrawal from the EU.  

Thousands of EU laws on everything from workers' rights to the environment are to be scrapped or replaced with UK equivalents in what's being called the Great Repeal Bill.

House of Commons
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Image source, HoC

The animal welfare debate comes to an end and MPs now move on to the smorgasbord that is the debate entitled "matters to be raised before the forthcoming adjournment".

This debate allows MPs to raise all manner of issues before the House of Commons adjourns for the Easter recess. 

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Responding to the debate, shadow environment minister Sue Hayman says that acting upon the report's recommendations, external would cement the UK's position as a world leader in the standards of animal welfare.

Environment Minister George Eustice tells MPs that the government is proposing to make licensing mandatory for anyone selling or breeding more than two litters in a year.

House of Commons
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Labour's Anna Turley tells MPs of two cases of animal cruelty.

Firstly the case of a dog called Baby, who was headbutted and thrown down the stairs. The two men responsible received a suspended sentence.

Secondly she describes the discovery of Scamp the dog who was found with a nail hammered into his head. In this case, the men responsible were sentenced to four months. 

She addresses the argument that such crimes are "worth less serious attention" than the abuse of humans.

She argues that there is a "startling propensity" for those convicted of cruelty towards animals to go on to commit violent offences towards humans.

House of Commons
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Image source, HoC

"What a relief to be discussing something other than the European Union," begins Conservative Sir David Amess. 

"I am absolutely sick to death of it and there's another two years to go."

Turning to the subject of the debate, he says that people must check where an animal comes from when they buy a new pet.

He tells MPs that his black Labrador was bought for his family by Anne Widdicombe and had been owned by the grandson of Rab Butler so it "certainly had a very good pedigree".

House of Commons
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Image source, AFP/Getty Images

And that wraps up the statement.

Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Neil Parish now opens the debate on animal welfare. 

The motion being debated calls for a ban on third party sale of dogs and a maximum penalty of five years for animal welfare offences.

House of Commons
Parliament

Two Labour MPs - Heidi Alexander and Ian Murray - ask about how the UK government will withdraw from the European Economic Area (EEA).

Ian Murray says the UK needs to give 12 months note before withdrawal.

How will that be dealt with? he asks, "or has he simply forgotten".

David Davis says this is not a matter for the Great Repeal Bill.

Another Labour MP, Kevin Brennan, pursues the issue by asking if a separate vote will be needed to withdraw the UK from the EEA.  

That depends on what the policy decision is, replies the Brexit secretary.

House of Commons
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The SDLP's Mark Durkan fears that the bill will lead to "a demolition derby" as workers' rights and environmental protections are reduced.

He tells MPs that trusting Conservative ministers with such powers is like "asking Attila the Hun to mind our horse".

"Didn't know he had a horse," replies David Davis but he adds that "his assessment is just plain wrong".

House of Commons
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Labour's Barry Sheerman warns the Brexit secretary that "if he panders to the barmy army Eurosceptics behind him" he will not get the cooperation he needs.

I don't know who he is referring to, replies David Davis - but says that he will be guided by his conscience. 

House of Commons
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The SNP's Joanna Cherry asks if the bill will require legislative consent motions.

A legislative consent motions is the mechanism by which a devolved assembly can allow the UK government to legislate on issues which affects the devolved region.

"Yes or No?" demands Joanna Cherry.

At this stage we don’t know, replies David Davis.

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative Martin Vickers welcomes the announcement that the European Court of Justice (ECJ) will have no authority in the UK.

He seeks reassurances that the commitment will not be watered down during negotiations. 

David Davis says "there will be no reach of the ECJ into the UK".

However, he adds, when you sell a product into that country you have to meet the rules of that country. 

House of Commons
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The hallmark of this government has been to avoid scrutiny, says Labour's Owen Smith.

He notes that the bill will include at least 1,000 statutory instruments which won't be properly scrutinised. 

"How on earth is that taking back control?" he asks.

David Davis replies that any policy changes will be made through primary legislation, not statutory instruments.

House of Commons
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Conservative Christopher Chope seeks confirmation that two years from today "we will have the change to amend, repeal or improve all this ghastly EU legislation".

The aim of the bill is to bring decisions back to this House, replies the Brexit Secretary

House of Commons
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Image source, HoC

DUP MP Nigel Dodds welcomes the government's approach.

He asks if the government will be engaging with the devolved administrations as to where power should lie.

The straight answer is yes, says David Davis.

He tells MPs that he held off on publishing today's white paper in the hope that a Northern Ireland executive would have been formed.

"But we can't wait any longer," he says.

He says that there will be a mechanism to consult with Northern Ireland "whether it is the executive or not".

He adds that he is not yet sure what that mechanism will be. 

House of Commons
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In his statement, Brexit Secretary David Davis said the bill would "provide clarity and certainty for businesses and consumers on the day we leave the EU".

He said it would allow businesses to continue operating "knowing the rules have not changed overnight" and ensure there was "no sudden change" to individual rights.

Workers rights, environmental protection and consumer rights currently enshrined in EU laws would continue as before when Britain left, he added.

But the UK Parliament, and the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, would then be able to amend or scrap these laws without EU consent.

The bill will also "end the supremacy" of EU law in the UK, "delivering" on the result of last year's referendum, he added.

"Our laws will then be made in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast and interpreted not by judges in Luxembourg but by judges across the United Kingdom."