House of Lords
Parliament

Image source, HoL

Crossbencher Lord Judge is seeking to restrict the Henry VIII powers created in the bill, saying these powers are being "strewn about like confetti at a wedding" with "casual indifference".

His amendment would delete part of the bill which says delegated powers may be used to make any provision that could be made by an Act of Parliament.

Government spokesperson Baroness Goldie outlines that the government is happy to support a related amendment which would prevent delegated legislation being used to amend this Act.

House of Commons
Parliament

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss is moving a motion relating to the European Communities Act 1993. The motion approves what the government has set out in budget reports.

The UK is required to send an annual submission to the European Commission on its fiscal situation.

Section 5 of the EC Amendment Act requires that the UK's submission must be from an assessment of the UK's economic position.

The motion requires that the House approve the Budget Report, Autumn Statements and documents from the OBR.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Shadow business secretary Rebecca Long Bailey thanks all those who have worked together with the government on this bill to make sure it will be fit for purpose.

"Somewhat unusually, I am delighted we are here today," she says, but she criticises the amount of time it has taken the government to introduce this bill.

"It is disappointing to say the least," she says, that it has taken a year for this to be implemented, and was not done in time for last winter.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Business Secretary Greg Clark says that "in the last few years, prices for consumers on the standard variable tariffs have not declined" and have in fact increased.

He says analysis from the Competition and Markets Authority says that the market is not operating "effectively".

"We need to have an energy market that works to the benefit of consumers," he says. "Prices are above what they would be in a competitive market."

"This behaviour on the part of the energy companies must come to an end," he adds.

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour's New Clause 1 is defeated.

Ayes: 125

Noes: 288

With that, the bill moves to third reading.

House of Commons
Parliament

Shadow energy minister Dr Alan Whitehead says Labour remains unhappy with the assurances from the government and pushes New Clause 1 to a vote.

New Clause 1 requires the business secretary to develop a differential between the cheapest and most expensive tariffs offered by suppliers, which would be put into effect after the end of the tariff cap.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Energy Minister Claire Perry says "having perpetual government intervention" in setting prices "is really not necessary".

"There really was overwhelming support for an absolute cap, both now and then," she says, referring to the work done by the Business Committee on what kind of cap should be applied on energy tariffs. She adds her concerns that "relative caps" would lead to "gaming" and "less transparency".

"We want this bill, and the caps to be transparent and applied, by this winter," she says.

She says that caps currently in place for vulnerable customers save them between £60 and £120.

House of Lords
Parliament

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Conservative Lord Cormack introduces an amendment which would require Parliament's vote on the deal reached with the EU to be held before that carried out in the European Parliament.

He describes it as a "common sense amendment".

He also speaks to an amendment which would mean if MPs reject the withdrawal agreement, the government must maintain the existing arrangements and relationship with the EU and to seek an extension to Article 50.

House of Lords
Parliament

Peers vote 270 to 233 for the amendment in the name of Lord Monks which would require ministers to seek parliamentary approval for their phase two negotiating mandate.

That's the second government defeat today.

House of Lords
Parliament

Peers are now voting on the amendment in the name of Lord Monks which would require ministers to seek parliamentary approval for their phase two negotiating mandate.

Image source, parliament.uk

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Chair of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee, Rachel Reeves, says that a disproportionately high percentage of those on benefits and social housing are on the standard variable tariffs, which are often higher than tariffs if people shop around and change supplier.

She says one million more vulnerable customers could see prices increase when these measures are brought in, unless Ofgem takes other steps to mitigate concerns raised by National Energy Action and other charities.

She urges the minister to make sure the legislation "does its job" and that "no loopholes" are able to be exploited by energy companies.

House of Lords
Parliament

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Labour backs the amendment under discussion, with spokesperson Baroness Hayter saying the government's negotiating objectives "should be spelled out and put to Parliament".

Brexit Minister Lord Callanan responds, claiming parliamentarians have had "ample opportunity to scrutinise the approach we are taking [to negotiations] and legislation to implement it".

We cannot "hold up" progress by introducing a further element of parliamentary approval, he says.

House of Lords
Parliament

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Labour's Lord Monks introduces an amendment requiring ministers to seek parliamentary approval for their phase two negotiating mandate.

This is similar to the process that exists at the EU level, where leaders of the EU countries approve the mandate of Michel Barnier’s negotiating team.

He argues the negotiation process should not be "solely in fumbling hands of the Cabinet" and urges peers to back it "before it's too late to influence affairs".

House of Lords
Parliament

Peers vote 260 to 202 against the amendment providing for a referendum on whether the UK should accept the outcome of the negotiations between the government and the EU or seek to remain in the EU by revoking Article 50.

House of Lords
Parliament

Lord Newby rejects the minister's arguments and forces a vote on his amendment providing for a referendum on whether the UK should accept the outcome of the negotiations between the government and the EU or seek to remain in the EU by revoking Article 50.

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour's shadow minister Alan Whitehead indicates his party's support for the bill.

He is introducing New Clause 1, which would allow ministers to develop requirements relating to a differential between the cheapest and most expensive rates offered by suppliers, to be put into effect after the termination of the tariff cap.

House of Lords
Parliament

Brexit Minister Lord Callanan says the government's position remains unchanged - that people voted to leave and "we should respect that result".

Parties backing that view won 80% of the vote at the last general election, he points out.

"Would there be a third referendum if the Lib Dems didn't like the result of the second referendum?" he asks.

He warns against "constantly looking over our shoulder".

House of Lords
Parliament

Labour spokesperson Baroness Hayter argues against the Lib Dem amendment allowing a referendum on the deal reached with the EU.

She says the country is "divided - sadly not helped by the government" and "I wonder what will happen to the debate if we insert the option of a new referendum into the bill with all the division that will cause".

"The real question is the sort of deal we should be seeking," she adds, saying Labour will abstain.