Summary

  • The House of Lords debates private members' bills

  1. SNP: Trade Bill limits Scottish governmentpublished at 16:39 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Trade Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Stewart HosieImage source, HoC

    The SNP's Stewart Hosie says the Trade Bill is far more complex than Labour suggests and actually "carries on from the provisions we saw in the EU Withdrawal Bill, limiting the actions of the Scottish government and other devolved administrations in areas that are or ought to be devolved".

    He admits that "clearly we can't tell precisely where the problems may arise, as we don't know precisely what the Westminster government may do", but the risks to Scottish interests remain.

    Mr Hosie says the more favourable government amendments are "in limited areas" and don't go far enough.

    He says UK ministers should be under the same obligations to consult with Scottish ministers if decisions affect devolved areas, as Scottish ministers are to consult where decisions affect beyond Scotland.

  2. Labour: SNP seeking 'ultimate power of veto'published at 16:32 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Trade Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Barry GardinerImage source, HoC

    Shadow international trade secretary Barry Gardiner is tabling his party's proposed changes to the Trade Bill concerning devolution.

    He talks of the "deficiencies" of the government's devolution amendments, and says he has worked with shadow Scotland and Wales secretaries in ensuring Labour's proposals are sufficient.

    "Just as the government have erred on one side, by proposing in this bill a disrespectful power grab,...so I believe the Scottish Nationalist Party in seeking to amend the bill, have erred in the other direction by failing to respect the boundaries of the devolution settlement."

    He suggests the SNP is discretely seeking to achieve the "ultimate power of veto", even where a trade agreement has no consequence on devolution.

  3. Commons reject Labour amendment to force consultation on free trade agreementspublished at 16:16 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Trade Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    The Commons has voted to reject Labour's amendment 19, which would require the government to publish the text of a free trade agreement and consult with businesses, unions and the devolved administrations prior to ratification.

    Ayes: 285

    Noes: 315

    Majority: 30

    Government amendments 4 and 75 are agreed by the Commons.

    The Commons now move on to debate new clauses amendments concerning devolution.

  4. Commons rejects SNP's proposal to take deals to devolved parliamentspublished at 16:00 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Trade Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    The Commons has voted to reject New Clause 20, which was an SNP amendment designed to require any mandate for negotiating new free trade deals to be approved by the devolved legislatures.

    Ayes: 37

    Noes: 316

    Majority: 279

    The government amendments 36 to 39 and 42 are agreed by the Commons.

    The Commons divides to vote again on Labour's amendment 19, which would require the government to publish the text of a free trade agreement and open it to consultation before ratification.

  5. Commons votes to reject New Clause 3published at 15:45 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Trade Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    The Commons has voted to reject New Clause 3 to the Trade Bill, which would have increased Parliamentary scrutiny and consent of new trade deals.

    Ayes: 284

    Noes: 314

    Majority: 30

    The Commons divides to vote on New Clause 20, tabled by the SNP, which would enhance consent for the devolved administrations.

  6. Commons divides to vote on New Clause 3published at 15:33 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Trade Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    The government's new clauses 12, 13 and 14 are added to the bill, without a vote.

    But the Commons divides to vote on Caroline Lucas's New Clause 3, which seeks to enhance Parliamentary scrutiny of free trade agreements and would require the government to publish sustainability impact assessments on such proposed deals.

  7. Minister expresses disappointment over Labour stancepublished at 15:32 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Trade Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Minister George Hollingbery responds with disappointment that Labour won't accept government proposals on scrutiny.

    He criticises Caroline Lucas, saying she knows the bill is about continuity of existing arrangements, not new deals. He extends this response to other MPs.

    He says the government is committed to working with the devolved administrations on trade.

  8. Government's understanding of Parliamentary democracy 'pretty poor'published at 15:31 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Trade Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Wera HobhouseImage source, HoC

    Liberal Democrat Wera Hobhouse says that this bill would not be necessary if the UK remains in the customs union. She asks how realistic it is that countries will be willing to be "copied and pasted" into new trade deals.

    "Significant changes will come along," she says, and she is "pleased" that the government is accepting amendments on Parliamentary scrutiny, but the government's understanding of Parliamentary democracy "remains pretty poor", she says.

    "No-one voted to make themselves poorer" or to lose jobs, or to have product safety standards "thrown out of the back door".

    The government "must be honest" on the impacts of any future trade deals, she states.

  9. 'Countries want to keep trade agreements'published at 15:30 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Trade Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Conservative Greg Hands, formerly the minister responsible for the bill, says there needs to be scrutiny of free trade agreements.

    He says countries are keen to adjust existing trade agreements with the EU so as to trade with the UK and that many have already agreed to do so.

    He says businesses want these agreements to continue.

    He opposes amendments which he says seek to pre-legislate future trade deals. He says this should be done at the time.

  10. 'Far safer' to remain in a customs unionpublished at 15:28 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Trade Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Chris LeslieImage source, HoC

    Labour's Chris Leslie challenges the government to roll-over a free trade agreement with Turkey, as that is a customs union.

    He says it would be "far safer" to remain a part of the customs union.

  11. Tory MP: join the European Free Trade Agreementpublished at 15:27 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Trade Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Conservative Jeremy Lefroy asks his colleagues to look at the multiple and varied free trade agreements around the world, from the Americas to Africa.

    He encourages the government to join the European Free Trade Agreement - as opposed to the EEA.

    He says this would be the ideal mechanism for achieving the government's Brexit objectives.

  12. This is 'latest part of the Brexit fantasy'published at 15:27 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Trade Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Geraint DavisImage source, HoC

    Labour's Geraint Davis says this bill is the "latest part of the Brexit fantasy" that the UK will make up trade with countries outside the EU.

    "We know from Donald Trump, we cannot rely on the US" for trade agreements to deliver the percentages we need from other countries, he says.

    Countries are "bound" to want new agreements as we will be a "much weaker party" in negotiations.

    His New Clause 16 would request information be given to MPs on trade agreements, he adds.

    The bill allows ministers to change standards and tariffs "behind closed doors" to match new trade agreements, he states.

  13. Tory MP: seize trade opportunitiespublished at 15:26 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Trade Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Conservative Richard Graham says the amendments are an attempt to force the UK into a customs union.

    He faces a point of order for not addressing the correct group of amendments but moves swiftly to New Clause 3.

    He says those who drafted it must be against all benefits of free trade and says he will not support it.

    He advocates trade deals with poorer countries, which he says are currently disadvantaged by the EU's external tariff. He says the UK must seize these new opportunities.

  14. Devolved legislatures need to have 'equality' on dealspublished at 15:07 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Trade Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Stewart HosieImage source, HoC

    The SNP's Stewart Hosie says that his amendments would enhance scrutiny for the devolved legislatures.

    He says he hopes that in a "year or two" the international trade secretary may well be able to announce a new trade deal, but he says this new country may well want access to shipping waters, which would harm Scottish fishermen, for example.

    He says it is "common sense to have equality, equity" on such trade deals in the regions.

  15. What's in the Trade Bill?published at 15:07 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

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  16. Bill in a 'much better situation now'published at 15:03 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Trade Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Jonathan DjanoglyImage source, HoC

    Conservative Jonathan Djanogly says that the Commons is in a "much better situation now" on scrutiny for trade bills. He urges MPs to not vote for his amendments but to vote for government amendments which also reduces Henry VIII powers.

    He says that if Brexit is about giving powers back to Parliament, then powers for ministers to grant extra visas for countries negotiating trade deals should not be allowed.

    He raises concerns that the same extended powers could be used multiple times by ministers on the same Free Trade Arrangement negotiations.

    He remains "concerned" that the scrutiny system is too tied to the cross-border trade bill which was passed yesterday, he states.

    Parliament has won in this debate, he adds, saying that the details of these government amendments will require review by the Lords.

  17. Relationships with families raisedpublished at 15:02 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Health and Social Care Committee

    Select Committee
    Parliament

    Conservative Andrew Selous asks who decided to monitor the social media accounts of Carl Hendrickson, whose wife and son died at Furness General.

    Ms Smith emphasises that this was not a "corporate decision". She accepts that this decision added to Mr Hendrickson's distress.

    Mr Selous concentrates on the NMC's relationship with families.

    He establishes that the NMC surveys patients for feedback, and asks whether this feedback is negative or positive.

    Matthew McClelland, director of fitness to practise, says it is more positive.

  18. This bill does not provide scrutiny for Parliamentpublished at 15:01 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Trade Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Caroline LucasImage source, HoC

    Co-leader of the Green Party, Caroline Lucas, says that the bill has a "failure" in providing proper scrutiny for trade deals from Parliamentarians.

    This bill does "nothing" for a "scrutiny and approval framework" that would be expected for a democratic country. She states that this is the only opportunity MPs have to introduce trade frameworks before deals are struck.

    "Members of this House need a guaranteed vote on the deal that emerges from the negotiations," she states.

    She adds that there is a need for sustainability impact assessments to be produced when negotiations are concluded.

    She says that her amendment is "simple" and "basic" and just does what many other countries around the world do.

  19. At-a-glance: The UK's four Brexit optionspublished at 14:52 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    A guide to the four possible scenarios for the UK's future relationship with the European Union.

    Read More
  20. MPs investigate Furness General maternity deathspublished at 14:51 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Health and Social Care Committee

    Select Committee
    Parliament

    The Health and Social Care Committee is holding a session on what happened at Furness General Hospital between 2004 and 2013, when 11 babies and a mother died on the maternity ward.

    MPs on the committee are putting questions to the leadership of the Nursing and Midwifery Council, which has been severely criticised for failing to act on malpractice among midwives.

    The witnesses offer their apologies, and say they have invested in their fitness to practice work.

    They say they are now doing much more to listen to and engage with patients who raise concerns - and to understand what families want from the NMC and regulation.

    Jackie Smith, chief executive and registrar, says the NMC's investigations need to be less adversarial and legalistic.