Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Machinery of Government Changes: Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill

Thursday 16 March 2023 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The responsible Department for the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill is the Department for Business and Trade.
  • The Minister disagrees with the suggestion that the Bill is causing unnecessary bureaucracy and red tape.
  • The Minister asserts that the Bill helps the UK take control of its statute book and seize opportunities outside the EU.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Patrick Grady SNP
Brexit
Context

Following machinery of government changes in February 2023, there is uncertainty about which department oversees the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill.

Question

Which Department is responsible for the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill following the machinery of Government changes in February 2023?

Answer from Oliver Dowden

The responsible Department for the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill is the Department for Business and Trade.

Answered
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Q2 Patrick Grady SNP
Brexit
Context

The question is prompted by concerns over the bill's impact on bureaucracy, costs, uncertainty in industries, and potential erosion of rights post-Brexit.

Question

Is there not an irony that the Bill is causing more bureaucracy and red tape of the type that Brexit was supposed to do away with? It is costing hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of pounds in civil service time, it is causing massive uncertainty across a range of industries, and it is presenting a dangerous cliff edge for so many hard-won rights. Surely, no matter which Minister or Department is in charge of it, the Government should just dump it altogether.

Answer from Oliver Dowden

I completely disagree with the hon. Gentleman's characterisation. Through this Bill, we are making the most of our opportunities outside the EU by making sure that we take control and that this place takes control of its own statute book. The hon. Gentleman's question comes as no surprise to me, because the Scottish National party would be perfectly happy for us to align dynamically with the European Union in perpetuity.

Not addressed: Issues raised about the bill's impact on bureaucracy, costs, uncertainty in industries, and potential erosion of rights post-Brexit

How: Disagreement, Counter-Accusation

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