Key Facts

• New clause would insert provisions after Clause 28.
• Provisions relate to the objective of supporting the effective operation of the internal market in the UK.
• Section 25(3) of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 is not applicable.
• Sections 6(1)(b) and 7 of the Enterprise Act 2002 do not apply.
• New clause to replace Clauses 42, 43, and 45.
• New clause for common framework process on statutory footing.
• Report requirement within three months of the Act's passage.
• Climate and nature emergency impact statement required.
• Assessment every 12 months of trade impacts on Northern Ireland businesses.
• Unilateral interpretative declarations under public international law principles.
• Amendments to remove clauses in Part 6 (Financial assistance powers).
• Around 60% of Scottish and Welsh exports are to the rest of the UK.
• About 50% of Northern Ireland’s sales are to Great Britain.
• Over a quarter of workers in some local authorities in Wales commute across the border.
• Amendments 2 to 11, 24, 27, 28 and 35 to 38 are technical changes to remove potential confusion.
• Amendment 20 ensures biosecurity threats can be addressed without mutual recognition constraints.
• Clause 16 amendments ensure change conditions attached to authorisations bring them in scope of part 2.
• Amendments ensure higher courts may make declarations of incompatibility but not quash regulations.
• The Bill provides a safety net for Northern Ireland in case agreements cannot be reached with the EU.
• Regulations made under clauses 42 or 43 would be subject to judicial review within three months.
• Dispute settlement mechanisms will be activated if regulations are made under article 16 of the protocol.
• The Government issued a statement on September 17 setting out circumstances for using powers under clauses 42 and 43 of the UKIM Bill.
• Clause 40 includes provisions to ensure Northern Ireland's place in the UK’s internal market and customs territory.
• The Government committed to reviewing annually new procedures arising from EU customs rules applied to goods entering Northern Ireland.
• Amendment 17 addresses mutual recognition of REACH authorizations.
• Part 6 of the Bill includes clauses allowing financial assistance for infrastructure, economic development, culture, sports, education, and training activities.
• New clause 6 will require financial assistance to take into account climate, nature, and environmental goals.
• The UK Internal Market Bill breaches an international agreement signed months ago.
• Lucy Powell supports a strong internal market under UK Parliament's authority.
• MPs on Government Benches felt unable to support certain clauses of the Bill.
• The statement references quotes from various political figures, including Lord Howard and former Prime Minister Theresa May.
• Lucy Powell agrees that even with concessions, the Government is asking Parliament to pass legislation that breaks international law.
• The Northern Ireland Secretary was quoted as saying the Government is 'extremely confident that the EU is working in good faith'.
• Lucy Powell expresses concerns over the impact of the Bill on Northern Ireland.
• The Labour Welsh Counsel General called the Bill an "attack on democracy".
• A Conservative Senedd Member resigned due to shared concerns about the Bill.
• The Bill aims to address arrangements as the UK exits the transition period.
• Part 5 of the Bill deals with issues that may arise from conflicts between domestic and international law, especially concerning Northern Ireland.
• There is a legal argument suggesting that if EU insists on checks threatening the integrity of the UK, it could be seen as undermining the true construction of the withdrawal agreement.
• The House can bring forward any legislation it likes.
• Section 38 was inserted into the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020.
• Parliament is sovereign and can legislate incompatibly with international law.
• The Bill is seen as breaking international law and devolution.
• It represents a significant power-grab since the Scottish Parliament was reconvened.
• There is concern about health protections and environmental standards being compromised.
• The Bill undermines trust, respect and shared values by potentially breaking international law.
• Clauses 40 to 45 of the Bill would empower Ministers to make regulations contrary to the Withdrawal Agreement, precluding challenge in UK courts through clause 45.
• Part 5 of the Bill has triggered international condemnation, including warnings from presidential candidate Joe Biden about respect for the Good Friday agreement and preventing a hard border.
• Government amendments create more problems and unanswered questions regarding judicial review.
• The Bill is incompatible with convention rights under section 19(1)(a) of the Human Rights Act 1998 according to legal experts.
• Clause 48 is described as a blatant power-grab, reserving devolved policy on state aid.
• Clause 46 grants UK Government Ministers powers to design and impose replacements for EU spending in devolved areas such as infrastructure, economic development, culture, education, and training.
• The Bill contains sweeping powers affecting animal welfare, food safety, environmental protections.
• Chlorinated chicken is on the table as a result of the UK Government's efforts to secure trade deals.
• Professor Michael Dougan warns about the mutual recognition principle penalizing domestic producers against imported goods or service providers.
• Part 2 of the Bill forces Scotland to accept teachers with lower qualifications, contrary to current requirements.
• EU guidelines of 29 April 2017 unilaterally imposed requirements contravening article 50 of the Lisbon treaty.
• In 1945, a Labour Government passed a Finance Act that overrode international law.
• The Indian Independence Act 1947 and the Burma Independence Act 1947 broke more than 400 treaties in India's case.
• The statement addresses concerns over the UK Internal Market Bill.
• Amendment 17 aims to ease burdens for businesses operating under dual regulatory regimes post-Brexit.
• New clause 7 seeks a review of business and trade issues, specifically highlighted by Northern Ireland skippers arrested for fishing in waters near the Republic of Ireland.
• Amendment 17 addresses concerns about animal testing under REACH regulations.
• New clause 7 aims to ensure Government analysis of business implications in Northern Ireland.
• Constituent Audrey highlights the issue of repeated animal tests due to data access issues.
• The new clause aims to assert the UK's position in good faith without breaking international law.
• The Vienna convention on the law of treaties and a UN guide for handling treaty disagreements are referenced as legal frameworks.
• Subsection (1) of the proposed clause specifies invoking the procedure if EU fails protocol requirements.
• Subsections require justification based on Vienna convention, parliamentary approval before legal challenge, and reporting back to Parliament.
• New clause 6 aims to require climate and nature emergency impact assessments for public funding under the legislation.
• The Bill grants broad powers to Ministers without clear mechanisms to judge upholding policy commitments.
• The UK has failed to meet as many as 17 of the 20 biodiversity targets set a decade ago.
• John Redwood supports the Government’s amendments to the legislation.
• He opposes new clause 1, which he believes is trying to undermine the British Government’s sensible negotiating position in the European Union.
• Redwood argues that the EU withdrawal agreement was unsatisfactory and one-sided due to previous parliamentary actions.
• Farry argues that breaking international law undermines the Good Friday Agreement and harms businesses.
• The amendments tabled by the Government have raised concerns from organisations like the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the Equality Commission.
• The amendment seeks to remove clause 45, which is considered offensive and dangerous.
• Wales’s biggest trading partner is the rest of the UK, accounting for 61% of exports worth £30.1 billion and 64% of imports worth £34.3 billion.
• The Bill will enshrine mutual recognition and non-discrimination principles to ensure fair trade across the UK.
• The Bill provides new powers for Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and England after the end of the EU transition period.
• The Bill allows the UK Government to invest in cross-border infrastructure projects starting January 2021.
• The shared prosperity fund is intended to deliver levelling up and building back better agenda.
• Details on the scheme are still scarce three months before the end of the transition period.
• Horden, a village in County Durham, has faced issues with absentee landlords leading to high crime rates and poor housing conditions.
• The Bill creates powers to ensure seamless functioning of the UK's internal market.
• It includes a new shared prosperity fund replacing EU structural funds.
• The Bill gives Welsh Government control over fisheries, animal health, food standards, and maritime contracts.
• Hundreds of constituents have expressed concern about maintaining high food standards in trade deals.
• The statement criticizes Opposition MPs for failing to put the UK first.
• It mentions David Frost leading the UK's negotiating team and their need for support.
• Clause 46 of the Bill is highlighted as allowing UK Ministers to dictate spending in devolved areas without permission.
• The Bill aims to protect the UK's internal trade market post-Brexit.
• Parliamentary approval is sought for 'notwithstanding' clauses.
• New clause 7 seeks to address impacts on Northern Ireland businesses from EU regulations.
• The Bill is described as one of the most important Bills for Parliament's current term.
• The MP highlights the importance of subsidy controls in the Bill, which aligns with the spirit of Brexit.
• MG Rover factory closure in the constituency serves as an example of a missed opportunity and unused land.
• The CBI stated that protecting the UK internal market is essential.
• The Scottish Retail Consortium said Scottish consumers and economy benefit from the UK's unfettered internal single market.
• Andrew McCornick, president of NFU Scotland, supports ensuring the UK Internal Market operates as it does now.
• The Bill aims to ensure Northern Ireland remains part of the UK’s customs territory.
• It seeks to maintain unfettered access for Northern Irish businesses to Great Britain markets.
• The EU's sequencing approach in negotiations is seen as causing delays and undermining good faith efforts.
• The Bill moves towards breaking international treaty obligations.
• The Centre for Cities called the UK 'the most geographically unequal developed economy in the world'.
• New clause 3 would place a duty on the Government to consult, monitor, report on and review parts of the Bill, including the shared prosperity fund.
• In Yorkshire and Humber, the EU structural fund was about €796 million.
• Clause 46 provides power for a Minister of the Crown to provide financial assistance for economic development, infrastructure, cultural activities, and sport.
• The SNP claims it represents a power grab but no powers are being removed from Edinburgh, Cardiff or Belfast.
• More than 70 powers currently held in Brussels are being devolved to the UK nations.
• Nearly 800,000 jobs in Scotland were protected by the furlough scheme and self-employment income support schemes during the pandemic.
• £12.7 billion has been provided for support in addition to pre-virus spending levels.
• The Minister will respond to the lengthy debate in five minutes.
• Questions will be put after the Minister's response.
• The Bill aims to ensure continued functioning of the internal market post-Brexit.
• It is argued that international law is often interpreted politically rather than strictly legally.
• Government amendment 66 incorporates final decision-making power on certain matters back into Parliament.
• Nigel Evans is addressing procedural matters related to the UK Internal Market Bill.
• MPs are instructed to follow strict rules regarding access through doors due to social distancing requirements.
• Seven MPs were unable to enter and Evans apologizes for this issue.
• Nigel Evans addresses procedural aspects in the UK parliamentary proceedings.
• The discussion revolves around new clauses introduced by other MPs.
• No new actions, policies, or funding commitments are proposed by Nigel Evans.
• Amendments made include changes to Clause 3 by omitting subsection (3) and inserting subsection (4A).
• Amendment 19 leaves out Clause 3(5) as it is superseded by a new general subsection inserted by another amendment.
• Amendment 20 modifies paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to apply to threats posed by pests or diseases in qualifying Northern Ireland goods.
• Amendments made to widen references to competence in Part 4.
• Amendments proposed to modify section 6(1) of the Human Rights Act 1998.
• No court or tribunal may entertain proceedings for questioning regulations under sections 42(1) or 43(1).
• The OIM panel chair is appointed under paragraph 1(1)(b)(iv).
• Other members of the OIM panel are appointed under paragraph 1(1)(b)(v).
• The Secretary of State must consult with Scottish Ministers, Welsh Ministers, and the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland before making appointments.
• Appointment terms to the OIM panel are not more than eight years.
• An OIM task group consists of at least three members of the OIM panel.
• More than 150 right hon. and hon. Members have spoken during the Bill’s passage.
• The Public Bill Office has supported the process with around 30 hours of debate.
• EU law has acted as a cohering force for the UK internal market since 1973.
• Businesses, including Make UK, NFU Scotland, and the British Chambers of Commerce, support the approach to safeguard the seamless UK internal market.
• The Bill aims to ensure Northern Ireland businesses and producers enjoy unfettered access to the rest of the United Kingdom.
• The Bill introduces a break-glass mechanism that ensures a safety net will come into force only if a motion in the House is passed.
• The Bill reaffirms commitment to devolution and supports one of the biggest transfers of power to the devolved Administrations.
• Former Prime Minister Theresa May criticized the Government for acting recklessly and irresponsibly, with concerns over long-term impacts on UK standing.
• Bob Neill supports the Bill in principle.
• Neill declares an interest as chair of the all-party parliamentary group on Gibraltar.
• The overseas territory of Gibraltar should have clear, free and unfettered access to the UK internal market.
• Neill is concerned about Northern Ireland provisions but appreciates Government clarifications.
• The UK Internal Market Bill was rushed through without engagement with devolved Governments.
• The Bill breaks international law and undermines devolution across Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
• The Sewel convention, which places statutory footing on respect for devolved institutions, is being ignored by the Government.
• Clauses 46 and 47 of the Bill grant powers over infrastructure including water, electricity, gas, telecommunications, sewerage, health facilities, educational facilities, cultural or sports facilities.
• The Bill takes away from Scotland the power over state aid as stated in clause 48.
• An opinion poll shows four times as many Scots now support the Scottish Parliament over Westminster.
• The Scottish Parliament faces stripped-down powers after 21 years of devolution.
• Public trust in the Scottish Government is more than four times that of the UK Government according to a recent survey.
• Support for increased influence on Scotland's governance lies with the Scottish Government, not the UK Government.
• The Bill gives Westminster direct control over health, education, housing, and transport in Scotland.
• Ian Blackford refers to a SNP motion passed without objection that enshrined Scotland’s claim of right.
• Lord Cooper gave an opinion stating the principle of unlimited sovereignty of Parliament is distinctively English.
• Article 19 of the Treaty of Union between Scotland and England may be breached by this Bill.
• The Good Friday agreement, endorsed by people in Ireland north and south, could be disrespected if the Bill passes.
• The bill passed with 340 Ayes and 256 Noes.
• The debate lasted for six hours before being interrupted according to Standing Order No. 83E.