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EU Exit – What’s on this week?

Source: UK Parliament

This week Parliamentarians will be focussed on the future UK-EU relationship, after the UK Government wrote to the European Commission last week requesting an extension of grace periods concerning goods crossing from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.  Currently, supermarkets and other businesses are allowed to operate with reduced requirements for paperwork and certification when moving goods, however the first of these periods will expire in April.  In a letter to Vice President Maroš Šefčovič, the UK Government requested:

  • An 18-month extension to all existing grace periods, and
  • A permanent solution for chilled meat products moving GB-NI that are otherwise prohibited.

 

Looking ahead:

After an initial meeting last week, Vice President Šefčovič will travel to London this week for further talks with the Chancellor for the Duchy of Lancaster, Michael Gove MP. This will likely be topic of discussion when Gove appears before the European Scrutiny Committee later today and the Lords European Union Committee tomorrow.

Key dates:

  • 28 February: Initial date by which the European Parliament aim to have consented to the UK-EU TCA. This date can be extended by a decision from the EU-UK Partnership Council.
  • 31 March: Date by which the UK & EU aim to have agreed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a framework for regulatory cooperation on financial services.
  • 1 April: End of grace period for UK supermarkets and trusted suppliers in relation to food safety paperwork when moving agri-food goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
  • 30 June: End of temporary bridging period for the free flow of data from the UK to the EU.
  • 1 July: End of six-month grace period for Great Britain-Northern Ireland trade on chilled meat products.

31 December: End of 12-month adaptation period for Great Britain businesses to implement new EU regulation in relation to the flow of medicines to Northern Ireland.

 

Monday 8 February

Following the end of the post-Brexit transition period, the European Scrutiny Committee is continuing to monitor the legal and political importance of new EU legislation and the future of the UK-EU Trade & Cooperation Agreement. In this light the Committee will take evidence from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove MP this afternoon.

Following this, the Petitions Committee will host an evidence session on a petition calling on the Government to negotiate visa-free work permits with the EU for touring professionals and artists. Responding for the Government will be the Minister for Digital and Culture Caroline Dinenage MP.

Meanwhile in the House of Lords, the EU Goods Sub-Committee will resume their inquiry into future UK-EU trade in goods. The Committee will hear from:

  • Anna Jerzewska, Independent Customs Expert
  • Des Hiscock, Director General, Automated Customs and International Trade Association
  • Alex Veitch, UK’s General Manager, Logistics UK

Tuesday 9 February

Following the readmittance of an amendment to the Trade Bill preventing the UK signing trade agreements with States the High Court rule are committing genocide, the Bill will return to the Commons today for another round of legislative ping-pong. This will be followed by a backbench debate concerning the publication of the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy.

In the Lords, the main activity will be on the Committee corridor:

  • At 14:00, the EU Goods Sub-Committee will conclude their current inquiry into future UK-EU trade in goods, taking evidence from the Paymaster General Penny Mordaunt MP.
  • Then at 16:30, the European Union Committee will hear from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove MP and the UK’s new Brexit and International policy representative (formerly the UK’s Chief Brexit Negotiator) Lord David Frost, on the governance of the UK-EU TCA and future scrutiny of the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Wednesday 10 February

At 09:30, the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee will take evidence from shipping & logistics companies concerning the on-going operation of the Northern Ireland Protocol. At the same time, the Home Affairs Committee will consider the implications for future UK-EU security co-operation with Sir Julian King, former European Commissioner for Security and Sir Rob Wainwright the former director of Europol.

Meanwhile in the House of Lords, the Common Frameworks Scrutiny Committee will hear from Commons, Senedd Cymru and Scottish Parliament Committee Chairs, concerning their experience scrutinising the UK common framework programme. In advance of the meeting, William Wragg MP, Chair of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee has written to the UK Government outlining concerns with the current scrutiny arrangements.

 

Thursday 11 February

While the House considers outstanding matters before the forthcoming February recess, the main event today will be on the Committee corridor, where the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Michael Gove MP, and the Minister of State for the Constitution, Chloe Smith MP will give evidence to the Joint Committee on the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act. This special committee has been appointed to:

  • Carry out a review of the operation of the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act 2011, and if appropriate make recommendations for the repeal or amendment of that Act; and

Report on the Government’s proposed Draft Fixed-term Parliaments Act (Repeal) Bill, which would revive the dissolution prerogative allowing Parliament to once more be dissolved by the Sovereign, on the advice of the Prime Minister.

 

 

Source: UK Parliament