House of Commons
Parliament

MPs vote 313 to 297 to reject Labour's new clause to ensure environmental principles under the Treaty on Functioning of the EU continue to apply in the UK after Brexit.

House of Commons
Parliament

MPs are now voting on Labour's new clause to ensure environmental principles under the Treaty on Functioning of the EU continue to apply in the UK after Brexit.

House of Commons
Parliament

MPs vote 313 to 295 against a new clause tabled by Green co-leader Caroline Lucas, which would transfer the EU Protocol on animal sentience in Article 13 of Title II of Lisbon Treaty into UK law, so animals continue to be recognised as sentient beings under domestic law.

House of Commons
Parliament

Green co-leader Caroline Lucas says she's not been reassured by the government and a vote is called on her new clause which would transfer the EU Protocol on animal sentience in Article 13 of Title II of Lisbon Treaty into UK law, so animals continue to be recognised as sentient beings under domestic law.

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour's Kate Green now presents her amendment, which would preserve after Brexit any rights or obligations arising from the UN Convention on Rights of the Child which apply in UK law by virtue of membership of the EU.

She says there is "no explicit constitutional commitment to children's rights" in domestic law "and that's a concern".

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour chair of the Environmental Audit Committee Mary Creagh makes the case for her new clause designed to ensure that after Brexit, the environmental principles of EU law would be retained as part of UK law.

"Nobody voted for dirtier beaches, nobody voted for unclean air," she observes.

"I don't subscribe to the view that everything will be awesome when we leave. Everything is not awesome," she adds, mentioning air pollution in particular.

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative Richard Benyon tells the House that it is not the case that everything the EU does for animal welfare and the environment is good, and everything outside the EU is bad.

He admits he was "tempted" by Caroline Lucas's amendment, but there's an "attractive alternative" in the prospect of a new independent UK body to enforce environmental protections.

"This will secure the vital ingredient of a national policy statement" which is "robust", he says.

House of Commons
Parliament

The SNP's Neil Gray introduces an amendment requiring the government to retain various articles in the Treaty on Functioning of the European Union, which would "make it more difficult for the government to have its bonfire of red tape" after Brexit.

"We could see pressure to slash away at these fundamental rights" from "right-wing Brexiteers", he suggests.

The rights he has in mind include equal pay, freedom of movement and residence, and the protection of citizens' rights.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Justice Minister Dominic Raab speaks for the government on this part of the bill, first making the case for Clause 4, which he says "makes sure we retain the general principle of EU law and directly effective rights".

These principles are "judicially determined and that's why it's not right for us to write our own lists", he explains.

On the amendment concerning animal welfare, he says this is "already recognised in domestic law here".

He signals the government will consider "reflecting" the treatment of animals as sentient beings in wider UK legislation.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Shadow Brexit minister Matthew Pennycook brings an amendment which aims to ensure that environmental principles under A191 of Treaty on Functioning of the EU would continue to apply in UK after exit day.

These include the requirement that preventative action should be taken against environmental damage, and the "polluter pays" principle.

He says these are "essential components" of environmental law, and the bill as drafted does not guarantee their retention.

Theresa May tells Prime Minister's Questions she's "listening" to "lively debate" on the Brexit bill.

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative Sir Oliver Letwin argues against Caroline Lucas's amendment on recognising animals as sentient beings, pointing out that Environment Secretary Michael Gove has suggested an environmental protection act.

He goes on to say that the government should bring in a national policy statement, which courts would refer to at judicial review.

Ms Lucas objects that judicial review can be difficult to access, but Mr Letwin insists it has been "successful" and brought about action on air quality.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, PA

MPs have disagreed over powers to ban micro-beads.

The government has announced a on ban micro-beads in cosmetics, which will come into effect in England at the start of 2018.

In August the Welsh government announced it would do the same.

Last year, the Scottish government confirmed that legislation would be brought in to end their use.

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Parliament

Conservative MP Anne Main argues that EU regulations prevent the UK from raising environmental standards, for example banning plastic micro-beads, which pollute waterways and can harm marine life.

The Green Party's Caroline Lucas says she does not believe there is anything in EU laws preventing the UK banning micro-beads.

House of Commons
Parliament

Former Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron says that higher animal welfare standards might well mean higher import costs.

He is concerned that "there would be an economic temptation to lower those standards" if the amendment is not made to the bill to recognise animals as sentient.

Liberal Democrat MPs, including current leader Sir Vince Cable, have put their names to Caroline Lucas's amendment, alongside Labour, SNP and Plaid Cymru MPs.

House of Commons
Parliament

Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas introduces her amendment to require that animals continue to be recognised as sentient beings under domestic law.

It would transfer an EU Protocol on animal sentience under the Lisbon Treaty into UK law and, the MP suggests, should not be controversial.

Ms Lucas says the protocol recognises that animals "are sentient beings, not simple agricultural goods".

They can feel pain, heat and cold and are aware of what is going on around them, she adds.

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour's amendment falls by 311 votes to 299 - an even narrower victory by just 12 votes.

It means that New Clause 58 is not part of the bill.

House of Commons
Parliament

The House now divides on a Labour amendment, also on enhanced scrutiny.

It applies to EU-derived employment rights, environmental protection, standards of equalities, health and safety and consumer standards, ensuring they could only be amended by a bill in Parliament or by secondary legislation under this act.

(Secondary or subordinate legislation refers to orders made under powers given to ministers by an act of Parliament - in this case the EU Withdrawal Act.)

House of Commons
Parliament

Kerry McCarthy's amendment is defeated by 311 votes to 295 - a majority of just 16. That means New Clause 25 won't be part of the bill.

On to the next vote.