Weekly Update on Brexit Negotiations week commencing 21 September 2020

This week, MPs will further scrutiny on the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill (the Bill) and the focus will be on the Bill’s contentious provisions for Northern Ireland, which would allow Ministers to unilaterally re-interpret and disapply parts of the Northern Ireland protocol, in contravention of the Government’s obligations in international law.

Monday 21 September

MPs will commence proceedings on the Bill.  The contentious provisions related to the Northern Ireland Protocol remains top of the agenda.

In the House of Lords, Peers will debate the implications of Brexit for Road, Rail and Maritime Transport.  Click here for a summary.

Tuesday 22 September

MPs will begin the final day of scrutiny on the Bill.  This will conclude with a vote on the Government’s amendment (A66) to prevent ministers reinterpreting and disapplying parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol without MPs approval.

In addition, the Treasury Committee will take evidence on UK customs policy, with evidence from the Institute of Directors, Logistics UK and the Port of Dover, click here.

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee will question the Environment Secretary and his Permanent Secretary on their preparedness for the end of the transition period, click here.

On the Lords Committee corridor watch out for these sessions:

• the EU Security and Justice Sub-Committee will hear from experts in relation to future UK-EU foreign policy and defence cooperation, click here.
• Peers in Grand Committee will debate a EU 2019 EU Home Affairs Sub-Committee report into the implications of Brexit for refugee and asylum policy, click here.

Wednesday 23 September

At 9:30am, experts will report to the Committee on the Future Relationship on the current status of UK-EU trade negotiations.

Also, the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee will continue their work into the Northern Ireland Protocol, taking evidence from academics and experts from Deloitte and the Tony Blair Institute.

Peers will debate the UK’s approach to negotiating the future trading relationship with the EU, found here.

Thursday 24 September

Whilst the Peers will conclude the report stage of the Agriculture Bill, in the Commons, MPs will have an opportunity to put questions to the Attorney General, Suella Braverman following the publication of the Attorney’s legal advice on the Bill and the subsequent resignation of the Advocate General for Scotland Lord Keen.

Looking ahead

• 28-2 September/October: Ninth negotiating round on the future relationship (Brussels)
• 15-16 October: European Council Meeting
• 31 December: Date in law for the end of the transition period