Weekly Update on Brexit Negotiations week commencing 29 September 2020

As the UK-EU future relationship negotiations are entering its most critical stage, this week, MPs will conclude the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill (the Bill) and if it passes the third reading, it will be sent to the House of Lords for consideration.

Monday 29 September

In Brussels, Michael Gove and EU Vice President will chair a meeting of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee where they will discuss progress on the implementation of the treaty.

In addition, Lord Frost and Michel Barnier will meet for the ninth round of UK-EU trade negotiations. This is set to be the final week of formal talks ahead of the October 15-16 European Council Meeting.

The Committee corridor, with a Delegated Legislation Committee is set to consider a Government statutory instrument related to the import of key medicines after the transition period.

Tuesday 29 September

In the House of Commons, MPs will undertake the final stages of debate on the Bill before sending it to the House of Lords. Amongst the key amendments and clauses that MPs will consider are:

• A15: A Government amendment, which softens the ban on legal challenges to government actions under the Bill, so that judicial review would now be permitted;
• NC1: A new clause proposed by the Labour, which would replace the contentious Northern Ireland clauses with a commitment to adhere to specific clauses in the Withdrawal Agreement;
• NC7: A joint DUP and Labour clause to require an assessment every year of the impact on businesses and consumers from the Northern Ireland Protocol; and
• NC8: A new clause, which would allow the Government to make a “unilateral interpretative declaration” about trade rules for Northern Ireland, in the event of the EU failing to act in accordance with international law over the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol.

In the House of Lords, Peers on the EU Security and Justice Sub-Committee will question Home Office Minister, Chris Philp, on future UK-EU cooperation on asylum policy.

Wednesday 30 September

The Committee on the Future Relationship is set to hear evidence from the aerospace, chemical and pharmaceutical industries about their preparations for the end of the transition period.

Additionally, Peers will begin the first day of report stage consideration on the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination Bill.

Thursday 1 October

Michael Gove will be questioned on the state of the future relationship talks in the House of Commons.

The Welsh Affairs Committee will hear from Port operators to discuss their readiness for new UK-EU processes trading arrangements in the event of a no deal or a free trade deal with the EU, click here.

Peers will hold a third reading debate on the Agriculture Bill. Following Government defeats on amendments concerning post-Brexit food standards and the use of pesticides and the amended Bill will return to the House of Commons so MPs can consider the changes.

The Bill may go back and forth between each House until both Houses reach agreement on the exact wording of the bill.

Looking ahead

• 15-16 October: European Council Meeting
• 31 December: Date in law for the end of the transition period