Live Article 50 Statement

:00:00. > :00:00.restore justice to victims. Statement, the Secretary of State

:00:07. > :00:12.that the European Union. David Davis. I will make a statement on

:00:13. > :00:15.the Government's responds to today's judgment by the Supreme Court. This

:00:16. > :00:22.Government is determined to deliver on a decision taken by the people of

:00:23. > :00:27.the UK in the referendum to lead the European Union. We will move swiftly

:00:28. > :00:30.to do just that. I can announce today that we will surely need to do

:00:31. > :00:33.is legislation allowing the Government to move ahead with

:00:34. > :00:38.invoking article 50 which starts the formal process of withdrawing from

:00:39. > :00:43.the European Union. We received the lengthy 96 page judgment a few hours

:00:44. > :00:48.ago and Government lawyers are assessing it carefully. This would

:00:49. > :00:52.be a straightforward bill. It is not about whether or not the UK should

:00:53. > :00:57.leave the European Union, that decision has already been made by

:00:58. > :01:01.the people of the UK. We will work with colleagues in both houses to

:01:02. > :01:11.ensure this bill is passed in good time by the end of March this year.

:01:12. > :01:14.This timetable has been supported by this house. Let me go through the

:01:15. > :01:18.issues step-by-step. The Government's priority following bit

:01:19. > :01:22.referendum was to respect the outcome and ensure it is delivered

:01:23. > :01:26.in the interests of the whole country. This house voted by six to

:01:27. > :01:32.want to put the decision in the hands of voters and that bill passed

:01:33. > :01:36.the other place unopposed. 6-1. There can be never going back. The

:01:37. > :01:41.point of no return was passed on June 23 last year. The Government

:01:42. > :01:45.has been clear that we must leave by following the process set out in

:01:46. > :01:48.article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. People want and expect us to

:01:49. > :01:53.get on with incrementing the decisions made. Let me turn to the

:01:54. > :01:57.process fight invoking article 50 and the issues that arise from

:01:58. > :02:04.today's Supreme Court judgment. The Government's view was that it is

:02:05. > :02:07.lawful and proper that the Government to give effect the

:02:08. > :02:14.decision of the people by the use of prerogative powers to invoke Article

:02:15. > :02:18.50. Today, the Supreme Court has agreed with the High Court's

:02:19. > :02:22.judgment that the prerogative power alone is insufficient to give notice

:02:23. > :02:26.under article 50. That legislation is it required to provide the

:02:27. > :02:38.necessary authorisation for this step. In addition, the supreme court

:02:39. > :02:41.look at the legislative in triggering Article 50. Relations

:02:42. > :02:45.with the EU and other foreign affairs matters are reserved to the

:02:46. > :02:51.UK Government and parliament not too involved institutions. The Supreme

:02:52. > :02:55.Court summary goes on to say that affords letters serves to not have a

:02:56. > :02:58.veto on the UK's decision to withdraw from the European Union. I

:02:59. > :03:03.will come back to our collaboration later in this statement. The Comte

:03:04. > :03:09.has been giving thought to the steps we would take in the event of the

:03:10. > :03:15.Supreme Court Paulding the High Court's view. First of all let me be

:03:16. > :03:20.clear that we believe in and value the independence of our judiciary,

:03:21. > :03:29.the foundation upon which the rule of law is built. Of course, we will

:03:30. > :03:33.respect this judgment. Second, this judgment does not change the fact

:03:34. > :03:40.that the UK will be leaving the EU and it is our job to deliver on the

:03:41. > :03:44.instruction the people of the UK have given us. We will within days

:03:45. > :03:48.introduced legislation to give the Government legal power to trigger

:03:49. > :03:51.article 50 and begin the formal process of withdrawal. It would be

:03:52. > :03:59.separate to the great repeal bill that will be introduced. This will

:04:00. > :04:05.be the most straightforward bill possible to give the decision of the

:04:06. > :04:08.people and respect the Supreme Court's judgment. The purpose of

:04:09. > :04:16.this bill is to give the Government the power to invoke -- evoke ten

:04:17. > :04:20.want -- Article 50 and leave the EU. It is what they would expect.

:04:21. > :04:24.Portman -- Parliament will dispute this legislation but I trust no one

:04:25. > :04:34.will make a vehicle for attempt to thwart the will of the people or

:04:35. > :04:39.frustrate or delay the process. Our timetable for evoking Article 50 by

:04:40. > :04:43.the end of March still stands. That timetable has given valuable

:04:44. > :04:47.certainty to citizens and businesses across Europe. It is understood by

:04:48. > :04:54.European partners and provides a framework for planning that

:04:55. > :04:59.negotiation ahead. This house backed that timetable by a majority of 373

:05:00. > :05:03.in December and we will look forward to working closely with colleagues

:05:04. > :05:08.to ensure the legislation Article 50 is passed in good time to allow us

:05:09. > :05:13.to evoking by the end of March as planned. The Government's fifth and

:05:14. > :05:17.final principle is to continue to ensure we deliver an exit in the

:05:18. > :05:26.best interests of the whole of the UK. The Supreme Court has ruled in

:05:27. > :05:29.favour of devolved legislative is in invoking Article 50. It in no way

:05:30. > :05:35.diminishes our commitment to work closely with the people and

:05:36. > :05:40.administrations as we move forward without withdrawal from the EU. Let

:05:41. > :05:48.me conclude with the word on what the judgment means. I know this case

:05:49. > :05:51.on an issue of such importance which arouses strong views on all sides

:05:52. > :05:55.has not been without controversy. The court was asked the question, a

:05:56. > :06:01.proper, thorough and independent process was gone through and it has

:06:02. > :06:06.given its and set in law. We are law-abiding notion. Big UK is known

:06:07. > :06:10.that the strength and independence of its judicial system. We will

:06:11. > :06:15.build on this and are many other strengths as we leave the European

:06:16. > :06:18.Union. We were once again be a fully independent sovereign country free

:06:19. > :06:25.to make our own decisions. The parameter has set out a

:06:26. > :06:29.comprehensive plan including our core negotiating objectives. --

:06:30. > :06:33.Prime Minister. She has been clear she once in a constructive

:06:34. > :06:37.partnership for the EU and the UK, a partnership that would be good for

:06:38. > :06:40.the UK and the rest of Europe. Today we are taking the necessary step to

:06:41. > :06:45.research -- respect the decision by announcing a bill. It will be at

:06:46. > :06:49.this Parliament to respect the decision it entrusted to the people

:06:50. > :06:58.of the UK competition may talk on June 23. I commend the statement of

:06:59. > :07:03.the House. Can I thank the Secretary of State. This is a good day for

:07:04. > :07:06.Parliamentary sovereignty three. The Supreme Court has ruled that we

:07:07. > :07:11.should have a say in this house on the Article 50 issue. Given the

:07:12. > :07:14.issues involved, that is quite right and the Prime Minister was wrong to

:07:15. > :07:18.have attempted to sideline Parliament in this process. This

:07:19. > :07:22.bill is only to be introduced because the Prime Minister has been

:07:23. > :07:26.ordered to do so. I hope in the aftermath there will be the attacks

:07:27. > :07:32.on our judges that they were when the High Court gave its ruling. It

:07:33. > :07:37.is the duty of all of us to defend them if they do and to do so

:07:38. > :07:40.quickly. I hope the Secretary of State will join me in that

:07:41. > :07:43.endeavour. The question now moves on to the proper role of Parliament and

:07:44. > :07:48.the Supreme Court said nothing about the form of legislation. On issues

:07:49. > :07:51.as important as this, it would be wrong for the Government to try to

:07:52. > :07:56.minimise the role of Parliament or to seek to avoid amendments. I ask

:07:57. > :08:00.the Secretary of State to confirm he won't take that approach. This is a

:08:01. > :08:03.question of substance, not process. Last week the Prime Minister

:08:04. > :08:08.committed herself to swapping then known benefits of single market

:08:09. > :08:15.membership and the customs union for the hoped-for benefits of a

:08:16. > :08:20.free-trade agreement. With a fallback position of bread in our

:08:21. > :08:24.economic model. That high risk. There are big gaps and

:08:25. > :08:30.inconsistencies and unanswered questions in the Prime Minister's

:08:31. > :08:35.approach. If the Prime Minister fails in her endeavour, the cost

:08:36. > :08:39.will be borne by families, working people and communities throughout

:08:40. > :08:43.the UK. The stakes are high and the role of this house in holding the

:08:44. > :08:47.Prime Minister and the Government to account through the process is

:08:48. > :08:52.crucial. Labour excerpts and respects the referendum result and

:08:53. > :08:56.will not frustrate the process. We will be seeking to lay amendments to

:08:57. > :09:01.ensure proper scrutiny and accountability throughout the

:09:02. > :09:07.process. That starts with a white paper or plan, speech is not a white

:09:08. > :09:11.paper or plan and we need something to hold the Government to account

:09:12. > :09:15.throughout the process. We can't have a speech is the only basis for

:09:16. > :09:19.accountability that two years or more. That is the first step. There

:09:20. > :09:23.needs to be reporting back procedure and then used to be a minimal --

:09:24. > :09:27.meaningful vote at the end of the exercise. The Government should

:09:28. > :09:30.welcome such scrutiny, not try to resist it because the end result

:09:31. > :09:34.would be better if scrutinised than it would otherwise be. I hope the

:09:35. > :09:40.Secretary of State will confirm we will not seek to minimise

:09:41. > :09:43.accountability. Whatever the court ruled, it is important that those

:09:44. > :09:57.interests are taken into account. What a waste of time and money.

:09:58. > :10:04.The High Court decision was 82 days ago. The Prime Minister could have

:10:05. > :10:08.accepted them to introduce the bill. We could have debated the issues and

:10:09. > :10:16.I would like the Secretary of State to lay out what a cost is to the

:10:17. > :10:22.taxpayer of this appeal? Let me say this to the honourable gentleman.

:10:23. > :10:36.The Prime Minister was not aiming to sideline democracy, she was

:10:37. > :10:40.aiming... Order. The House is in an understandably excited and excitable

:10:41. > :10:43.state. What I want to say to colleagues if they don't have to

:10:44. > :10:48.look into the crystal ball when they can read the book. Member should

:10:49. > :10:50.know that I always want to facilitate the fullest possible

:10:51. > :10:55.questioning and scrutiny and it is right that it should happen. It is

:10:56. > :10:58.also right that when the Secretary of State is responding to questions

:10:59. > :11:05.come he was given a fair and courteous hearing. Aiming to carry

:11:06. > :11:10.out the will of the people. 17.4 million people of them in the

:11:11. > :11:17.national interest. If I may pick up on the point that the honourable

:11:18. > :11:23.gentleman raised, the issue of our judges. I think I mentioned at

:11:24. > :11:30.length three times in my statement that this is a nation of the rule of

:11:31. > :11:34.law, independent judiciary is important and it is watched by other

:11:35. > :11:41.countries as an example to themselves. All the people he could

:11:42. > :11:47.criticise, I don't think I am at the front of the issue. Similarly on the

:11:48. > :11:53.question of the process through Parliament, there is an interesting

:11:54. > :11:58.litany through this whole process. Every single time I get up and I say

:11:59. > :12:02.that I will give the House as much information as possible, subject to

:12:03. > :12:06.not undermining the national interest will stop not undermining

:12:07. > :12:09.our negotiating position and that is what we have done and what we will

:12:10. > :12:15.continue to do. Not just through this bill but also through the great

:12:16. > :12:17.repeal Bill, subsequent primary legislation, subsequent secretariat

:12:18. > :12:23.-- second of legislation and the final vote at the end.

:12:24. > :12:30.He told about membership of the single market. To have membership of

:12:31. > :12:35.that, you have to give up control of borders, laws, rules, all of which

:12:36. > :12:39.of course the Labour Party is single alert incapable of making a decision

:12:40. > :12:45.on, let alone coming up with a policy on. As he talks about a plan.

:12:46. > :12:49.The Prime Minister last week gave the 6500 word is closely argued

:12:50. > :12:57.speech which has been recognised on all sides of this country and all

:12:58. > :13:00.around Europe as an epitome of clarity, of very clear objectives,

:13:01. > :13:06.vertically ends, very clear ambitions for this country. I don't

:13:07. > :13:15.take that point at all. On the point more generally of scrutiny, we have

:13:16. > :13:24.now had I think five statements, tender bits, as some 30 different

:13:25. > :13:28.Selectric enquiries. -- ten debates. I hardly think that is an absence of

:13:29. > :13:34.scrutiny of central government policy. And I have to say, the

:13:35. > :13:43.honourable gentleman doesn't often surprise me, but for the ex-director

:13:44. > :13:50.of the is to say that the Supreme Court is a waste of time, or taking

:13:51. > :14:00.up matters is a waste of time, strikes me as quite extraordinary.

:14:01. > :14:08.Quite extraordinary! Or the! I made this point over the last few

:14:09. > :14:12.months many times. Taking the civil distance is in order to get the most

:14:13. > :14:18.followed that of an clearest, crudest possible guidance in terms

:14:19. > :14:22.of a major part of our Constitution. -- clearest, clearest possible

:14:23. > :14:25.guidance. I don't think the gentleman has advanced the knowledge

:14:26. > :14:37.of the House but look forward to the contribution of others. Mr Kenneth

:14:38. > :14:45.Clarke. Mr Speaker, have you had the chance to know that my recently

:14:46. > :14:50.published memoirs... LAUGHTER They are cited with approval in

:14:51. > :14:55.paragraph 195. Do you share my surprise that that

:14:56. > :15:01.is a minority dissenting judgment? More seriously do you accept that

:15:02. > :15:06.parliamentary sovereignty has always meant that governments of the day

:15:07. > :15:10.pursue broad policy objectives in the national interest and quite

:15:11. > :15:17.willingly submit them to the judgment of the House, both debates

:15:18. > :15:21.and two votes? And they only proceed with broad policy objectives when

:15:22. > :15:25.they have the support of the majority in the House of Commons. So

:15:26. > :15:33.would he gave me the government's assurance that this bill will be

:15:34. > :15:36.drafted on the basis that it even proves the opportunities for the

:15:37. > :15:45.government to give or withhold its consent to major policy objectives?

:15:46. > :15:48.And will he pursue that approach in future years question actually

:15:49. > :15:52.having one vote right at the end of the process with the highs will be

:15:53. > :15:57.taught that either takes the deal the government has, or goes into the

:15:58. > :16:03.alternative chaos of having no agreements with the EU or anybody

:16:04. > :16:10.else, is not a very good substitute for the normal tradition of

:16:11. > :16:16.consenting to the policy aims to the government aims of the day. We have

:16:17. > :16:22.been skirmishing over this issue, I think for some 30 years. And was

:16:23. > :16:28.with good humour. I will hope to respond to him in the same vein

:16:29. > :16:31.today. Let me just take this characterisation. He repeated it on

:16:32. > :16:36.television earlier. This characterisation of what the

:16:37. > :16:39.government is proposing. We have already had ten debates and vast

:16:40. > :16:45.numbers of other arguments. But in terms of what will happen going one

:16:46. > :16:50.is a bill to authorise the triggering of Article 50. Then we

:16:51. > :16:56.will have a great repeal Bill, Queen through the tyre corpus of European

:16:57. > :16:59.law is as it applies to the United Kingdom, -- which will go through

:17:00. > :17:04.all European law as it applies to United Kingdom, then major policy

:17:05. > :17:07.change is coming, all again in front of the House, secondary legislation

:17:08. > :17:13.again in front of both houses. And at the end of it, not just one vote,

:17:14. > :17:19.but the vote that eventually decides whether the highs supports the

:17:20. > :17:23.policy that we are proposing or not. That policy will be aimed solely at

:17:24. > :17:28.advancing the interests of the United Kingdom. It gives the best

:17:29. > :17:32.possible negotiated outcome that we can achieve. Having taken on board

:17:33. > :17:41.the informing debate of this House of Commons over the entire two years

:17:42. > :17:46.in the run-up to it. Firstly, can I welcome the judgment in anything

:17:47. > :17:50.which strengthens parliamentary scrutiny over this process? There

:17:51. > :17:54.was a time when the Secretary of State himself was a great champion

:17:55. > :18:00.of parliamentary scrutiny, back in the dim and distant past. I'm sure

:18:01. > :18:06.deep down inside he will be welcoming this judgment. I'm

:18:07. > :18:10.wondering why. Why do they fear parliamentary scrutiny? Could they

:18:11. > :18:16.be find out, and the Emperor has no clothes? That is talk of democracy,

:18:17. > :18:20.and as a gentle reminder in terms of democracy, let me remind the

:18:21. > :18:24.Secretary of State of this. When it comes to Scotland the Conservatives

:18:25. > :18:31.got there was result at the General Election since 1865. -- worst

:18:32. > :18:37.result. You have one MP! Furthermore what we are told today is that this

:18:38. > :18:42.is a political decision. And as a political decision over the rule of

:18:43. > :18:47.the devolved administrations, I hope this Parliament and government will

:18:48. > :18:50.continue to continue to not legislate on areas that are the

:18:51. > :18:54.responsibility of the Scottish parliament without its consent. And

:18:55. > :18:58.that you believe the Judgment Day, Mr Speaker, said this should

:18:59. > :19:01.enhanced devolution. If that is the case will be Secretary of State

:19:02. > :19:05.killers today that no powers will be returned from the Scottish

:19:06. > :19:10.Parliament to Westminster during the course of this process Chris Martin

:19:11. > :19:14.will seek consent from the Scottish parliament before legislating on

:19:15. > :19:21.areas over which it has responsibility? Again, I am

:19:22. > :19:26.surprised the honourable gentleman said that. I thought the Scottish

:19:27. > :19:32.National Party would give great importance to the electoral results

:19:33. > :19:40.in the Scottish Parliament, in which the Conservative Party came second

:19:41. > :19:46.this time, under the listed below -- under the great Britain Davidson. I

:19:47. > :19:50.want to make two points to him. Firstly, the process that they have

:19:51. > :19:53.gone through with the vote in the stations, the joint ministerial

:19:54. > :19:59.process, it has been going on now for some months in the monthly

:20:00. > :20:03.meetings, and the last one had a presentation from Mike Russell, the

:20:04. > :20:07.Scottish Governor Minister, on the question of the Scottish and's

:20:08. > :20:12.proposals, some of which we disagreed with, some we agreed with

:20:13. > :20:16.absolutely, such as the protection of employment law, and some we will

:20:17. > :20:20.debate the coming weeks and months. Most particularly to his point, the

:20:21. > :20:26.question of devolution, and the vault powers, he knows he I support

:20:27. > :20:32.devolution is and can say to him firmly that there will be no powers

:20:33. > :20:36.existing in the devolved at the station will come back, but Pires

:20:37. > :20:41.and the European Union which we have to decide where they are most

:20:42. > :20:45.properly allowed. And the real issue there is that the practical

:20:46. > :20:48.interests of all the nations in the United Kingdom, for example,

:20:49. > :20:54.preserving the single market of the United Kingdom, preserving the

:20:55. > :20:58.ability of the United Kingdom to do international deals, areas that are

:20:59. > :21:03.just as important to the odd that is God as to the orderly English, Welsh

:21:04. > :21:11.or Northern Irish citizen. -- important to the ordinary Scot.

:21:12. > :21:15.Mr Speaker, can I say to my right honourable friend is that the very

:21:16. > :21:21.fact that this was a split judgment shows that the Prime Minister was

:21:22. > :21:29.absolutely right to take this case of the way to get a full decision.

:21:30. > :21:35.And can I ask him to resist much respected friend and not over

:21:36. > :21:39.complicating this? After all the question is should the government

:21:40. > :21:44.trigger Article 50? So may I urge him, when he brings this in front of

:21:45. > :21:52.us, to keep it short, keep it simple and most of all keep it swift? They

:21:53. > :21:57.will keep it straight forward is what we will certainly do. He is

:21:58. > :22:01.right, this was and is a unique circumstance in many ways. Unique in

:22:02. > :22:06.terms of the importance to the kingdom but also the fact it is

:22:07. > :22:09.carrying out the will of 17.5 billion who voted directly, summing

:22:10. > :22:14.that has never before in our history. It was important to get the

:22:15. > :22:18.full outcome from the Supreme Court. I will do everything in my power to

:22:19. > :22:23.make sure it goes through swiftly. And that it is properly is

:22:24. > :22:26.scrutinised but also it is a straightforward bill that delivers

:22:27. > :22:34.the triggering of Article 50 by March 31. Having tried to argue in

:22:35. > :22:40.court that Parliament should not decide on the triggering of Article

:22:41. > :22:46.50 and lost, as will be Secretary of State now agreed to accept the

:22:47. > :22:51.unanimous recommendation of the Rex off Select Committee and in the

:22:52. > :22:58.process agree with himself before he got this job -- Brexit Select

:22:59. > :23:01.Committee, and publish a white paper on the government objectives? Then

:23:02. > :23:04.these can be considered alongside the legislation he has just

:23:05. > :23:09.announced. Because of the government does not do so then I have to say to

:23:10. > :23:16.him it would be showing a lack of respect for this House of Commons.

:23:17. > :23:24.I don't often disagree with myself. But that we say this, -- let me say

:23:25. > :23:27.this, the speech given last week by the Prime Minister was the clearest

:23:28. > :23:33.exposition of negotiating strategy are have seen modern times. It laid

:23:34. > :23:38.out very clearly what we judge the national interest to be, how we

:23:39. > :23:43.intend to protect it, what we want to do, what we hope is not happen,

:23:44. > :23:48.and how we are going to go about avoiding that. So I don't see that

:23:49. > :23:50.this government has avoided answering any question, either from

:23:51. > :23:55.his committee or indeed from the front bench. The only questions we

:23:56. > :24:01.have been unable to answer our those which would be to the disadvantage

:24:02. > :24:10.of the country in terms of undermining our negotiating

:24:11. > :24:14.strategy. I will give one example. To the spokesman for the opposition.

:24:15. > :24:18.On Channel 4 not very long ago, a couple of weeks ago, he said we want

:24:19. > :24:24.to know whether the government will pay for access to the single market

:24:25. > :24:27.and how much. If anything would undermine a negotiating position,

:24:28. > :24:32.that would, and it is precisely that which we will avoid. We will

:24:33. > :24:36.continue to give information to the House, I give his committee and

:24:37. > :24:39.undertaking we will give at least that's bad information as we will

:24:40. > :24:45.call to the European Parliament with, if indeed both. And we will

:24:46. > :24:48.continue to keep the House involved throughout the process, which will

:24:49. > :24:53.not be over in a few weeks, but last two years, and the House will be as

:24:54. > :24:57.well informed on this as it has been on anything of such importance. The

:24:58. > :25:03.Supreme Court the spawning ruled that the form of the bill is,

:25:04. > :25:07.entirely a matter for Parliament, because also indicated by then that

:25:08. > :25:12.the issues before the Supreme Court have nothing to do with the

:25:13. > :25:16.political merits of the decision to withdraw or the timetable, terms of

:25:17. > :25:23.so doing, or any future relationship between the UK and the EU. So will

:25:24. > :25:27.my right honourable friend confirmed that with any potential amendments

:25:28. > :25:29.the bill itself will be short and tightly drawn to give effect

:25:30. > :25:38.exclusively to the Supreme Court decision itself? Well, the short

:25:39. > :25:44.answer is yes. They were citing to me I think section 122 of the court

:25:45. > :25:49.decision and its commentary. And the point of this bill is to meet the

:25:50. > :25:53.requirements of the Supreme Court to deliver the instruction from the

:25:54. > :25:56.nation at large and to do it in the national interest. That means a

:25:57. > :26:01.straightforward easily comprehensible bill to the country

:26:02. > :26:04.at large and they can see what Parliament is doing and what

:26:05. > :26:09.position it is visiting on the government. That is what we will do.

:26:10. > :26:13.I agree with the Minister that Parliament must respect the result

:26:14. > :26:17.of the referendum but I hope you will also agree that the government

:26:18. > :26:22.does not have a blank cheque either from Parliament or the public over

:26:23. > :26:27.what kind of Brexit it now pursues. He has said that there will be votes

:26:28. > :26:31.in the process, so can he tell us, given the government has said it is

:26:32. > :26:35.ruling out being in the customs union, in the common external

:26:36. > :26:39.tariff, and the common commercial policy, and he knows that there are

:26:40. > :26:43.strongly held views on different sides about the impact that will

:26:44. > :26:49.have on manufacturing industries which will be so crucial to our

:26:50. > :26:54.future? When will he give Parliament the vote on that decision?

:26:55. > :27:05.Firstly, we are to tell the House what our plan is and then we're told

:27:06. > :27:11.we don't like that so we want to have a debate on that. The simple

:27:12. > :27:17.truth... No, no, that's fine. The simple truth here is their will be

:27:18. > :27:23.any number of votes. Too many to count in the next two years across a

:27:24. > :27:28.whole range of issues. I can see the issues she is raising coming up in

:27:29. > :27:33.the great repeal Bill. I can see it coming up in primary legislation,

:27:34. > :27:42.maybe in major secondary legislation. I am sure there will be

:27:43. > :27:47.votes in the next two years. If someone debates sending the letter,

:27:48. > :27:50.are made voting against restoring the very Parliamentary sovereignty

:27:51. > :27:54.three they call in aid? Doesn't the British people want a proper

:27:55. > :28:02.parliament not a puppet parliament and swing to Brussels and map

:28:03. > :28:06.requires sending the letter soon? What it requires leaving the

:28:07. > :28:11.European Union and that's what we're going to do. Does the Minister and

:28:12. > :28:17.accept that the public want us to get on with this and carry out what

:28:18. > :28:21.they voted for? Does he accept that the public will not look likely

:28:22. > :28:27.remembrance brought in by parties that want another referendum to

:28:28. > :28:35.delay unnecessarily but do want amendments that clarify and make us

:28:36. > :28:38.all aware of the Government's intentions? She goes right to the

:28:39. > :28:45.heart of the matter. The public will not view well attempts to thwart

:28:46. > :28:55.this process, to delay this process and confuse it. They will

:28:56. > :28:57.hallucinate -- hallucinate helping the position and negotiation and

:28:58. > :29:07.that is what the Government is going to do. There is a genuine desire I

:29:08. > :29:11.believe the people to come together to support the Government, to build

:29:12. > :29:17.a consensus, to get the best deal possible. The reality is we have

:29:18. > :29:20.abandoned the single market, we have abandoned the free movement of

:29:21. > :29:28.people without any debate, never mind a vote in this place. On that

:29:29. > :29:35.basis... Somebody said we have had a referendum. There was one question

:29:36. > :29:41.on the paper. Leads-macro or Remain. We are leaving the European Union.

:29:42. > :29:46.As I have asked... I take my right honourable friend's take as a man of

:29:47. > :29:53.his word, when I voted out -- in that motion in December, I didn't

:29:54. > :29:57.agree that with the triggering of -- didn't agree with the triggering at

:29:58. > :30:04.the end of March. I thought we would have a plan and I would like a White

:30:05. > :30:10.Paper which we could debate. It will bring us together. What does my

:30:11. > :30:18.right honourable friend have to lose on a White Paper? She holds

:30:19. > :30:25.passionately a well formed view that firstly in terms of bringing people

:30:26. > :30:28.together, a large part of the Prime Minister's speech was aimed at

:30:29. > :30:32.creating a sense of this country which everybody can get behind.

:30:33. > :30:36.Ranging from protection employment rights, through to a role in the

:30:37. > :30:43.world. All of them very important. She laid out the clear future for us

:30:44. > :30:51.and the future approach for us. I think that she did everything one

:30:52. > :30:57.could ask the Prime Minister, to deliver on those undertakings. The

:30:58. > :31:01.point I would make to her now is she says these things weren't on the

:31:02. > :31:05.ballot paper. What was on the ballot paper was leaving the European

:31:06. > :31:08.Union. It is difficult to see how you can do that and still stay

:31:09. > :31:16.inside the single market with the commitments that go with that. What

:31:17. > :31:21.we have come up with and I hope to persuade her, is this is well worth

:31:22. > :31:24.game. There is the idea of a comprehensive free trade agreement

:31:25. > :31:29.under a customs agreements which will deliver the exact benefits as

:31:30. > :31:32.we have there but also enable my right honourable friend to go and

:31:33. > :31:36.foremost trade deals with the rest of the world also. It is the upside

:31:37. > :31:44.of living -- leaving the European Union. Last week in her speech the

:31:45. > :31:48.Prime Minister said and I quote, "The Government will put the final

:31:49. > :31:54.deal that is agreed between the UK and the EU to vote in both Houses of

:31:55. > :32:01.Parliament before it comes into force." Article 15 negotiation is

:32:02. > :32:07.not the final deal. -- Article 50. It is the future trading agreement

:32:08. > :32:12.between the UK and the EU. Can the Secretary of State confirm that

:32:13. > :32:17.Parliament will get a vote on both the Article 50 agreement and as the

:32:18. > :32:23.Prime Minister said, the final deal and what will happen if Parliament

:32:24. > :32:32.says, no, to the terms of either of these agreements? The answer is yes.

:32:33. > :32:37.We are standing by both of those. The point is they would be the only

:32:38. > :32:40.votes. There will be a large number of other votes in between. The

:32:41. > :32:44.Labour Party can ignore it till the cows come home but they will have

:32:45. > :32:52.many, many votes on many different policy areas after very extensive

:32:53. > :32:55.debate on primary legislation. The parliament will have a great

:32:56. > :33:04.influence on this process and it will have the final say. That is a

:33:05. > :33:09.democracy in action. Further to that last reply, my right honourable

:33:10. > :33:15.friend has given Abril clarity on Article 50. Can he give more

:33:16. > :33:24.information on the timetable of the great Repeal Bill. It will be in the

:33:25. > :33:27.Queen's Speech. I expect it to be debated extensively and it will be

:33:28. > :33:31.the centrepiece and the start of a major debate about the nature of

:33:32. > :33:37.this country in the future and therefore it is important to get it

:33:38. > :33:41.in the House very early. For the final vote offered by his Government

:33:42. > :33:47.on the negotiated package, it is not a meaningful boat -- vote unless the

:33:48. > :33:50.Government guarantees if there is a vote against the withdrawal treaty,

:33:51. > :33:54.there will be an option to have continued talks for a better deal

:33:55. > :33:58.rather than falling out with no deal at all. Can he guarantee we will

:33:59. > :34:05.have bad vote in time for that further discussion to happen? Let me

:34:06. > :34:11.make this point to the honourable lady. This is where those arguments

:34:12. > :34:19.where we said we won't have a second referendum so can revisit. What it

:34:20. > :34:24.does is it gives a price to somebody trying to put up the worst possible

:34:25. > :34:28.negotiation for us. There are plenty of members in the EU who want to

:34:29. > :34:32.force us into making us change our mind and going back inside. We do

:34:33. > :34:38.not want to do anything which allows or encourages that to happen. She is

:34:39. > :34:42.not right to say this boat is meaningless. The select committee

:34:43. > :34:52.and the opposition both asps for it. Second hourly, it will be the last

:34:53. > :34:59.of many, many votes and debates on major legislation. It means saying

:35:00. > :35:05.that one is going to leave the European Union and actually doing

:35:06. > :35:12.it. Soft Brexit means saying one is going to lead the European Union and

:35:13. > :35:22.remaining in all but name. Which course does the Government intend to

:35:23. > :35:28.follow? In his younger days, my honourable friend was an expert in

:35:29. > :35:39.Soviet propaganda. I'm afraid I view hard Brexit and soft Brexit as terms

:35:40. > :35:42.of propaganda. Can the Secretary of State guarantee that this house will

:35:43. > :35:47.have the ability to both scrutinise and vote on the agreement between

:35:48. > :35:56.the UK and the EU at the same time that that agreement is put before

:35:57. > :36:02.the European Parliament? I will say it over and over again in a series

:36:03. > :36:07.of primary legislation and finally on the vote itself. How the timing

:36:08. > :36:10.of that will coincide with the European Parliament, I have not

:36:11. > :36:17.given a great deal of thought too and I will do and I will write to

:36:18. > :36:24.her. In the course of the court case, great stress was laid on the

:36:25. > :36:32.irrevocably witty of Article 50. In those circumstances, the problem

:36:33. > :36:35.facing the House is that in triggering Article 50, that

:36:36. > :36:39.irrevocably to has to be matched against the excellent words of my

:36:40. > :36:43.right honourable friend, the Prime Minister, setting out a plan which

:36:44. > :36:48.is envisaging a future relationship with the European Union from outside

:36:49. > :36:53.of it. In those circumstances, could I urge my right honourable friend to

:36:54. > :37:00.keep in mind that the debate on Article 50 is likely to be greatly

:37:01. > :37:04.facilitated if the ideas expressed by the Prime Minister are put into a

:37:05. > :37:10.White Paper or similar document to which in fact reference can be made

:37:11. > :37:15.in the triggering of Article 50. Without festering the Government's

:37:16. > :37:19.discretion in its negotiations thereafter. This comes down to an

:37:20. > :37:26.issue of trust and if the Government can build that trust, it will

:37:27. > :37:33.greatly facilitate its task and those such as myself who wish to

:37:34. > :37:38.help the Government, in what it is trying to achieve. My old friend

:37:39. > :37:45.tempts me down a route but I will answer in these terms. In the case,

:37:46. > :37:48.the report by the Government did not depend upon the irrevocably witty or

:37:49. > :37:54.otherwise of the legal issue in front of us. It depended on the fact

:37:55. > :37:59.that we view the moment as being June 23 last year. It is not in the

:38:00. > :38:05.gift of the Government to change its mind. We have passed the point of no

:38:06. > :38:08.return. I have said over and over again I will provide what

:38:09. > :38:12.information I can, as much information as I can without

:38:13. > :38:21.undermining our negotiated position. I will continue to do so through the

:38:22. > :38:25.article process and beyond. We know negotiations of a two-way process

:38:26. > :38:29.and we accept that our European partners may not be able to agree on

:38:30. > :38:35.anything until the German and French elections are out of the way. In the

:38:36. > :38:39.meantime, there is a logic to why Article 50 should be triggered by

:38:40. > :38:42.the end of March. It has to do with a two-year process by the time we

:38:43. > :38:45.put this next elections, we will have completed that process. It is

:38:46. > :38:49.important not to remind colleagues in this house but pro -- colleagues

:38:50. > :38:57.in the other house that there is logic to an end of March date. The

:38:58. > :39:01.honourable lady gets the point of the matter. There are many reasons

:39:02. > :39:05.for the triggering by the end of March. The rather obvious one is

:39:06. > :39:10.that the public wants us to get on with it and that includes Leavers.

:39:11. > :39:14.There are practical reasons of business uncertainties will stop the

:39:15. > :39:18.longer we spin this out, the more difficult it is for businesses and

:39:19. > :39:24.workers about their own future. She is right that it fits neatly in

:39:25. > :39:34.terms of delivering an outcome which is in our interests in the European

:39:35. > :39:38.timetable both in that there are roughly 15 elections between now and

:39:39. > :39:41.the end of the process. Then there is a European Parliament election

:39:42. > :39:47.which if we get too close to it, could compromise the vote at the

:39:48. > :39:51.end. There is a series of reasons why the end of March is incredibly

:39:52. > :39:59.important. It is not an arbitrary date, it is designed to uphold the

:40:00. > :40:03.strength of their negotiations. As one who campaigns to remain in the

:40:04. > :40:07.European Union, I welcome the decision of the court today which

:40:08. > :40:10.gives me the opportunity to show I accept the result of the referendum

:40:11. > :40:18.and I will vote for the bill triggering Article 50. Could I also

:40:19. > :40:22.say at the risk of repetition, it would help further the authority of

:40:23. > :40:25.the House and the authority of which the EU goes to the negotiations, it

:40:26. > :40:28.will take on board the unanimous view of the select committee and the

:40:29. > :40:34.expressed by the chairman of the select committee and others. The way

:40:35. > :40:37.in which the Prime Minister set out with the clarity of her expression

:40:38. > :40:42.about the plan, it is only enhanced and the work of the House is

:40:43. > :40:45.endorsed by the Supreme Court judgment and it is enhanced by the

:40:46. > :40:49.publication of that and the opportunity to debate and cover a

:40:50. > :40:57.number of things which the bill cannot itself cover. I thank my

:40:58. > :41:05.honourable friend for the tone of his question. The issue here is not

:41:06. > :41:10.information. I have said over and over again, I will provide as much

:41:11. > :41:16.information as is consistent with the previous motions on this. That

:41:17. > :41:22.is what we will do. We will provide as much information as possible but

:41:23. > :41:30.there remind that the Article 50 bill will be presented quickly to

:41:31. > :41:34.the House. Today's ruling is a victory for transparency and

:41:35. > :41:37.openness but a half-hour speech by the Prime Minister outside of this

:41:38. > :41:41.house with a couple of questions to the media is no substitute the

:41:42. > :41:44.Parliamentary scrutiny. The Secretary of State take on board

:41:45. > :41:48.their views of members of all size of this house and please bring

:41:49. > :41:51.forward a White Paper which I think will unite this house in order to

:41:52. > :42:02.forge a way forward? I have been at this dispatch box one

:42:03. > :42:06.statement alone five times and I am at great risk of boring beehives.

:42:07. > :42:10.But I would repeat to her what I have said already, the maximum

:42:11. > :42:19.possible information and debate is what we will deliver. I think this

:42:20. > :42:23.House should be grateful to both the Supreme Court and to the High Court

:42:24. > :42:30.for a certain parliamentary sovereignty and allowing us to have

:42:31. > :42:34.a say on the Article 50 process, and I agree with my friend who said he

:42:35. > :42:40.will vote for Article 50, I will too, but with regards to the

:42:41. > :42:45.question of a swift passage of the bill, and I would agree with him, do

:42:46. > :42:49.you not agree that when Parliament voted, the Heysel voted for the

:42:50. > :42:54.motion in December, not just in relation to the 31st of March

:42:55. > :42:57.deadline but also in relation to the publication of a plan? I would

:42:58. > :43:03.suggest to him that the passage of the bill will be swifter if a white

:43:04. > :43:06.paper is published and debates happen on that too, and the bill

:43:07. > :43:14.with the Article 50 process is separate. I hear what you said, I

:43:15. > :43:19.just have to reiterate the same point, becoming very boring, but we

:43:20. > :43:25.will provide as much possible information subject to not

:43:26. > :43:31.undermining our position. In 2014 in Scotland, we were told we

:43:32. > :43:35.had power is Parliament and with equal partner in the UK, but we are

:43:36. > :43:41.not equal to the likes of Belgium and we will not be consulted on

:43:42. > :43:47.Brexit. It is clear Scotland will be taken out against well. As the UK

:43:48. > :43:51.Government pursues Brexit, Scotland must take the opportunity of an

:43:52. > :43:54.independence referendum. And as the Scottish Parliament is not

:43:55. > :44:00.consulted, will at least Scottish members of Parliament in this House

:44:01. > :44:04.be taken into account and respected? Is the answer to the honourable

:44:05. > :44:08.gentleman, another old friend of mine, is of course. I have spent a

:44:09. > :44:12.great deal of time also speaking directly to the Scottish Government

:44:13. > :44:20.and while we are at it the Welsh and Northern Ireland government. In this

:44:21. > :44:24.process, it is important we protect the interests of the people he

:44:25. > :44:34.represents, the people of Scotland, in this negotiation. I welcome the

:44:35. > :44:38.Secretary of State's commitment, giving as much information as he can

:44:39. > :44:43.to the House and its committees. Could he explain why the government

:44:44. > :44:46.isn't providing any evidence to the foreign effect committee's enquiry

:44:47. > :44:52.into practical consequences of leaving the European Union after no

:44:53. > :44:56.agreement in place and how come that is a distinct possibility and one

:44:57. > :45:00.over which the government cannot command the outcome? Surely it would

:45:01. > :45:04.be best for the country and everyone affected by this in the land to

:45:05. > :45:11.better understand the consequences as clearly as possible so they can

:45:12. > :45:14.plan for it? As I said, we will provide as much information as we

:45:15. > :45:20.can. One thing I will point out however is that this is the question

:45:21. > :45:24.of negotiation, and we do not know what the endgame will be. Even the

:45:25. > :45:30.rather stark example he cites might have aspects which are different. I

:45:31. > :45:35.put and he is talking about the trade aspect. There are so many

:45:36. > :45:42.different things to assess. It would be guesswork at this stage.

:45:43. > :45:48.Today, the government has been humiliated in the Supreme Court. It

:45:49. > :45:52.has been taught a lesson about the real meaning of parliamentary

:45:53. > :45:58.sovereignty and taking back control. Will be Secretary of State now

:45:59. > :46:04.accept this verdict in the spirit as well as the letter of the ruling and

:46:05. > :46:11.finally concede that this House needs votes along the way, not

:46:12. > :46:13.simply debates without votes, and proper parliamentary scrutiny? Then

:46:14. > :46:19.together working across this House we can bring the country to the best

:46:20. > :46:26.possible deal in the interests of all of our areas up and down this

:46:27. > :46:29.country? Two things. Firstly I really recommend she read the

:46:30. > :46:35.judgment rather than interpreting it with her own glass. The detail of

:46:36. > :46:40.it, it is good and signed, as indeed I said in my opening statement. As

:46:41. > :46:48.for giving continuous votes and information, I have said that all

:46:49. > :46:52.the today. The bill should be brief and I'd come simple. Point of

:46:53. > :47:00.principle. But as the Secretary of State aware that, if the opposition

:47:01. > :47:03.parties can bind -- conveying to constrain the negotiating hand, for

:47:04. > :47:10.instance by assisting on staying in the single market, which would been

:47:11. > :47:13.effectively remaining in the EU, is he aware that many of us believe

:47:14. > :47:17.that, in those circumstances, we should have an immediate General

:47:18. > :47:27.Election put to the people? That can then concentrate the minds of the

:47:28. > :47:32.Labour Party. He is asking media question which is way above my pay

:47:33. > :47:37.grade, to say the lead. And the person suited for it has left for

:47:38. > :47:41.now. But the point I would make is this, I would hope that every member

:47:42. > :47:44.of the towers would actually see it as their duty to their own

:47:45. > :47:50.constituents to deliver the best outcome. That is what the government

:47:51. > :47:56.strategy is, delivering the best outcome for Britain in this

:47:57. > :48:00.negotiations. First of all I am pleased by the case presented to

:48:01. > :48:04.hand the veto to the Northern Ireland assembly, Britain attempt to

:48:05. > :48:10.overturn the result of the referendum has failed. But can the

:48:11. > :48:14.Secretary of State tell us that, now the Northern Ireland assembly has

:48:15. > :48:18.been collapsed by Sinn Fein, what arrangements there will be to have

:48:19. > :48:23.the issues which concern Northern Ireland raised prior to negotiations

:48:24. > :48:28.and during those negotiations? With respect to his first point, it is

:48:29. > :48:32.not above the court was unanimous, whilst it was 8-3 judgment on the

:48:33. > :48:39.rest of the issue, it was unanimous on that matter of not allowing the

:48:40. > :48:43.veto to the executive. In terms of maintaining, not so much and a

:48:44. > :48:48.relationship, but understanding of the issues that relate to Northern

:48:49. > :48:51.Ireland, last week when we had joined the Dennis Taylor committee I

:48:52. > :48:55.wrote to the Northern Ireland Executive to ask them to continue to

:48:56. > :49:03.send ministers to represent the interests of Northern Ireland. --

:49:04. > :49:06.when I joined the Justice committee. When the First Minister and Deputy

:49:07. > :49:12.First Minister disappear in the interim, other ministers remain.

:49:13. > :49:16.Last week, they did turn up. I will continue to extend that invitation

:49:17. > :49:20.to that end. If that doesn't work we will find some other bilateral way.

:49:21. > :49:25.But take it as read, I take this as they are the top of my River Tees,

:49:26. > :49:28.if not top, to preserve the situation in Northern Ireland,

:49:29. > :49:31.preserving the border in its current state, not hardening it, and

:49:32. > :49:38.preserving the interests of the Northern Irish people. No bill that

:49:39. > :49:44.goes through parliamentary scrutiny is not a better bill before it

:49:45. > :49:47.becomes an act of Parliament. Could the Secretary of State announced

:49:48. > :49:51.when we will get a business statement question back then we know

:49:52. > :49:55.the timetabling? Hopefully we can have a date for the second reading.

:49:56. > :49:59.Can I urge the Secretary of State to say we will give ample time for the

:50:00. > :50:04.committee stage so that the House can properly scrutinised it before

:50:05. > :50:09.the bill goes through to the Lords? On his last point, that will be my

:50:10. > :50:12.intention, certainly. On the first point, the business didn't, there

:50:13. > :50:20.will be won on Thursday anyway. It is a 96 page judgment. Bring to this

:50:21. > :50:23.Appeal Court was insuring we got an authoritative, detailed, final

:50:24. > :50:27.judgment on what we need to do and how we need to do it. We have to

:50:28. > :50:32.study that carefully. It will take a little tired but not much. Then we

:50:33. > :50:37.will come back to the House as soon as possible. -- take a little time.

:50:38. > :50:42.It is possible that the statement on Thursday will cover that. The

:50:43. > :50:47.Secretary of State keeps talking about certainty. But for my

:50:48. > :50:50.constituents, working in the manufacturing supply chain, given

:50:51. > :50:54.the Prime Minister's statement specifically on the customs union,

:50:55. > :51:00.they have nothing but uncertainty about their jobs. So what exactly is

:51:01. > :51:04.wrong with the suggestion from the member for Rushcliffe that the

:51:05. > :51:13.government to bring forward its policy on Brexit for a vote in this

:51:14. > :51:16.House? Well, she talks about certainty, we have negotiations for

:51:17. > :51:20.two years and nothing we can do to collapse that, nothing we should do,

:51:21. > :51:25.so that means there is a limit to the extent at which we can introduce

:51:26. > :51:31.certainty. I had not mentioned it up until then. And there will be debate

:51:32. > :51:36.after debate. Article 50, debate on policy, the great repeal bill the

:51:37. > :51:43.same, and in several subsequent pieces of primary legislation, no

:51:44. > :51:47.shortage of debate or votes. The obligation placed on the

:51:48. > :51:53.government's negotiating position during the passage of this bill may

:51:54. > :51:57.subsequently be subject to judicial review with consequent delay. I hope

:51:58. > :52:01.that my right honourable friend will judge the intentions that have been

:52:02. > :52:11.announced to amend the bill in that light. As he knows, I view everybody

:52:12. > :52:18.with a great charity and generosity and will continue to do so. Further

:52:19. > :52:24.to the question from the honourable member from Wellingborough, when the

:52:25. > :52:31.Labour government legislated for the Lisbon Treaty, Parliament had 25

:52:32. > :52:35.days, including 11 days of the committee of the whole House. We

:52:36. > :52:39.have 66 days now before the 31st of March. How many days as the

:52:40. > :52:47.Secretary of State planning to give as? Two things first. Wasn't at the

:52:48. > :52:53.Lisbon Treaty which was promised a referendum on, which we never got?

:52:54. > :52:59.So selling a false bill of goods is not a very good example to

:53:00. > :53:04.parliaments around the world. This is Article 50, the triggering

:53:05. > :53:08.process only, nothing more but the triggering process. There will be

:53:09. > :53:16.vast quantities of legislation, much more than the Lisbon Treaty, between

:53:17. > :53:22.now and the conclusion. Does he noticed that those who know talk

:53:23. > :53:28.about parliamentary sovereignty mean the YouGov Brussels? When they say

:53:29. > :53:32.scrutiny, they could mean delay. And with the spec, the mean

:53:33. > :53:38.condescension. British people have voted and we must legislate, don't

:53:39. > :53:45.you agree? As ever, my honourable friend speaks for England.

:53:46. > :53:49.We are all trying to get the best deal for our constituents, and that

:53:50. > :53:55.is why the Liberal Democrats will seek to amend the Article 50 bill to

:53:56. > :53:59.give people their first say on the terms of the UK's future

:54:00. > :54:04.relationship with the European Union and government plans to crash out of

:54:05. > :54:07.the single market, under customs union, inflicting huge damage on

:54:08. > :54:12.families and businesses up and down the country. Why did the government

:54:13. > :54:19.take this opportunity to boost their democratic credentials and simply

:54:20. > :54:25.agree to such a popular vote? I would ask the gentleman to exercise

:54:26. > :54:28.his brain on this matter. The consequence of putting a second

:54:29. > :54:32.referendum at the end of this negotiation is to invite every

:54:33. > :54:36.single member of the European Union who do not want us to leave to put

:54:37. > :54:45.the worst possible deal in the hope we change our mind. We're not to do

:54:46. > :54:49.that. Today, we uphold the rule of law by respecting the Supreme Court

:54:50. > :54:54.judgment. Will he agree with me that both Houses of Parliament must now

:54:55. > :55:03.respect the result of the referendum by swiftly passing this necessary

:55:04. > :55:06.act? He is as right as ever. You can see the phenomenal interest in the

:55:07. > :55:11.House in this particular issue and you should not be afraid of

:55:12. > :55:15.scrutiny. My honourable friend from Bishop Auckland asked how many days

:55:16. > :55:17.would be committed to proper scrutiny of all the issues

:55:18. > :55:22.surrounding Article 50 on the floor of the House. Can you accept that

:55:23. > :55:27.this bill is more important than the Lisbon Treaty bill, the Maastricht

:55:28. > :55:31.Treaty, and any attempts to curtail the opportunities for this House to

:55:32. > :55:36.scrutinise those issues would betray the fear that the government has

:55:37. > :55:40.offered proper debate? Is that received two things, firstly I don't

:55:41. > :55:44.think I've ever been run away from scrutiny, I spent more time at this

:55:45. > :55:48.dispatch box than any other Secretary of State in the last five

:55:49. > :55:53.months. In terms of what he is saying about the importance, of

:55:54. > :55:57.course it is important, and indeed I want to see as much time as we can

:55:58. > :56:03.possibly get for it to be discussed but that's a matter for the usual

:56:04. > :56:09.channels to discuss. But the point I would make is this, many people who

:56:10. > :56:13.see this bill is included late -- as incredibly important are seeing it

:56:14. > :56:18.as some sort of point of no return. The point of no return was passed on

:56:19. > :56:22.June the 23rd last year, this is carrying out the instruction of the

:56:23. > :56:25.British people. We will do so under full scrutiny of Parliament and its

:56:26. > :56:32.authorisation and will give time for that. But don't conflate that with

:56:33. > :56:35.the whole process the bill. Sorry, the negotiation. That will take

:56:36. > :56:40.much, much more than was given to Lisbon, much more time, because that

:56:41. > :56:47.number of legislation will take more time.

:56:48. > :57:04.The honourable member talked about democracy.

:57:05. > :57:09.He is the only representative of his political party here today. Will it

:57:10. > :57:12.be undemocratic if he were to go down to the House of Lords and

:57:13. > :57:15.encourage 120 unelected members to play ping-pong and mess about with

:57:16. > :57:19.this bill? We must deliver what the British people have asked for they

:57:20. > :57:23.will be looking at both houses. They will not have to delay the bill are

:57:24. > :57:31.necessarily better web proper process of scrutiny and deliver on

:57:32. > :57:35.the will of the people. The Supreme Court today has ruled clearly that

:57:36. > :57:41.the devolved legislatures do not have legislative confidence and

:57:42. > :57:45.capacity in relation to the UK leaving the European Union.

:57:46. > :57:54.Therefore it must for logically that the procedure called English votes

:57:55. > :58:01.the English laws should not be applicable when we come to the great

:58:02. > :58:06.repeal Bill. It is demeaning to those members who represent Wales,

:58:07. > :58:10.Scotland and Northern Ireland. When the Secretary of State has said and

:58:11. > :58:16.I believe him, that every effort will be made by this Government to

:58:17. > :58:21.hold together the United Kingdom, it will be helpful today if the Brexit

:58:22. > :58:29.secretary could rule out clearly the use of evil in terms of the great

:58:30. > :58:35.repeal Bill. I can't think of a circumstance where it might reply.

:58:36. > :58:47.The point I would say is it rests on a ruling by the Speaker and not by

:58:48. > :58:57.the Secretary of State. Could it releases from the acts such as our

:58:58. > :59:05.membership of the EE a? Bet is a debatable matter of law. There may

:59:06. > :59:10.be subsequent matters that arise after the triggering of Article 50

:59:11. > :59:17.and if so, we will come back to it. There is no reason why it shouldn't

:59:18. > :59:20.go to the end of March. Can I just urge the Secretary of State that

:59:21. > :59:24.when the business managers come knocking and say we should condense

:59:25. > :59:29.the processes that we should have several different stages on the same

:59:30. > :59:34.day, that the old member who flourished for a 20 years on the

:59:35. > :59:40.backbenches returns and fights hard for this house to say we will do the

:59:41. > :59:48.process properly? I will thank him not to refer to me as the old

:59:49. > :59:57.member. Of course I will ensure we get proper scrutiny. I think the

:59:58. > :00:02.honourable gentleman has not got another birthday until December.

:00:03. > :00:06.Today British judges in the highest court in the land decided a point of

:00:07. > :00:11.historic constitutional importance which was unprecedented in law. It

:00:12. > :00:16.was therefore right to seek the judgment of the Supreme Court to

:00:17. > :00:20.enable them to discover the law as us lawyers euphemistically call it.

:00:21. > :00:23.Crucially the Supreme Court recognise the limits of a Scotch

:00:24. > :00:28.additional powers when it left the form of that legislation to this

:00:29. > :00:32.Parliament. Is this not our Constitution thriving in action and

:00:33. > :00:39.does it not bode well for the future? She goes to the point that I

:00:40. > :00:44.made before the dispatch box. That is why we go to the Supreme Court.

:00:45. > :00:49.It was not just the issue of Article 50 and the House of Commons but the

:00:50. > :00:56.role of the devolved administrations which had to go to the Supreme Court

:00:57. > :01:01.in any event. Is the Minister aware that many of us warmly congratulate

:01:02. > :01:05.the judges, the Supreme Court and the High Court for upholding

:01:06. > :01:11.Parliamentary sovereignty which the Government tried to bypass in

:01:12. > :01:14.triggering Article 50? The judges are not the enemies of the people,

:01:15. > :01:22.they are the defenders of Parliamentary democracy. I don't

:01:23. > :01:26.think it goes back to this experience and he will finally ever

:01:27. > :01:38.finally referring to the judges of the people as enemies. I welcome the

:01:39. > :01:42.Secretary of State statement and the ruling which narrowed the scope of

:01:43. > :01:47.the opaque High Court ruling and allows us to pass a short, sharp

:01:48. > :01:53.bill to trigger Article 50. Does he agree that is is -- it is the

:01:54. > :01:56.responsibility in both houses to give effect to the British people

:01:57. > :02:03.bypassing that bill without delay? I agree. From my part, I will

:02:04. > :02:06.endeavour to make this Bill is straightforward and as

:02:07. > :02:10.comprehensible as possible. The reason I say this is because it is

:02:11. > :02:16.the public will be watching us and the public will want to know what it

:02:17. > :02:20.is we are voting on and to understand it. We will aim to

:02:21. > :02:25.present these straightforward bills which will take place as far as is

:02:26. > :02:32.consistent with proper scrutiny. Paragraph 151 of the ruling says the

:02:33. > :02:34.convention has an important role for facilitating harmonious

:02:35. > :02:37.relationships between the UK Parliament and the devolved

:02:38. > :02:43.legislatures. What will you do to ensure that is a harmonious

:02:44. > :02:53.relationship? Disagree -- agree with the ruling and write something down?

:02:54. > :03:02.-- does he agree. That section ends with the phrase that nobody has a

:03:03. > :03:08.veto. In terms of involving and looking after the interests of

:03:09. > :03:11.devolved administrations and the people they represent, we have got a

:03:12. > :03:17.whole process in place, a joint committee which is -- does nothing

:03:18. > :03:25.but consider these matters, consider the interests of the nations of the

:03:26. > :03:28.UK and to ensure that none of the political situation none of the

:03:29. > :03:40.economic situations are harmed in any way. There has been a couple of

:03:41. > :03:43.references to paragraph 122 of the Supreme Court judgment. It says

:03:44. > :03:46.there is no equivalence between the constitutional importance of a

:03:47. > :03:52.statute and its length or complexity. Under Article 50, it

:03:53. > :03:54.could be very short. Does my right honourable friend agree that is a

:03:55. > :04:08.very important message for members of the opposition? I will seek for

:04:09. > :04:15.decisive action. The Prime Minister says that no deal is better than a

:04:16. > :04:20.bad deal. Ending up on WTO rules could be the worst possible deal

:04:21. > :04:25.hitting businesses and families hard. Can I press the Secretary of

:04:26. > :04:30.State. Will there be a vote in this house at the end of the trade

:04:31. > :04:34.negotiations, not just the Article 50 process but the trade

:04:35. > :04:41.negotiations so that Parliament can decide what is in Britain's National

:04:42. > :04:44.economic interest? Apart from correcting this, there would be a

:04:45. > :04:51.simple trade negotiation. The European Union pretty much always

:04:52. > :04:54.insists on nothing is agreed until everything is agreed so justice and

:04:55. > :04:59.home affairs and security matters and a whole series of other issues

:05:00. > :05:06.will be tied into it. There will be a vote at the end of it. We have

:05:07. > :05:11.already agreed that. There has been a lot of talk of second referendums

:05:12. > :05:15.on Article 50 from someone on the opposite side of the House. Will my

:05:16. > :05:19.honourable friend reassure my constituents that the majority of

:05:20. > :05:32.whom voted to leave, that he will category rule out any second

:05:33. > :05:39.referendum? I take the view that the British people didn't know what they

:05:40. > :05:46.were doing first time round. It is patronising and undemocratic. It is

:05:47. > :05:52.improper. Rightly held by one of the smallest part is in the House. The

:05:53. > :06:00.answer is I will not be supporting a second referendum. The Welsh Labour

:06:01. > :06:08.Government and Plaid Cymru Bill have in good faith come together to

:06:09. > :06:12.establish how Brexit ends. Why will he not do likewise? I spoke to

:06:13. > :06:18.Carwyn Jones yesterday and I haven't had the chance to read it in detail.

:06:19. > :06:22.It struck me as a constructive submission to the process and we

:06:23. > :06:28.will be debating it at the next committee. Joy shall be in heaven

:06:29. > :06:33.over one sinner that the Pentre. Will my right honourable friend join

:06:34. > :06:38.with me in sharing my delight that those who had previously been happy

:06:39. > :06:41.for sovereignty to be dispatched to Brussels now believe in the southern

:06:42. > :07:03.tree of the UK Parliament? Apart from the fact that...

:07:04. > :07:10.The judgment is welcome in establishing that the will of this

:07:11. > :07:15.house is superior, is sovereign to the Royal prerogative but is

:07:16. > :07:19.unwelcoming seeking to take back from Wales, Scotland and Northern

:07:20. > :07:24.Ireland, powers that have been devolved to them. Can we promised

:07:25. > :07:29.that the special needs of Wales, who will be hit most severely and

:07:30. > :07:36.withdraw from the single market, we have a Brexit that is not just a

:07:37. > :07:44.red, white and blue Brexit, but a red white and green Brexit is that

:07:45. > :07:48.meets the needs of Wales also? Firstly I think you misread the

:07:49. > :07:56.judgment. It doesn't talk about taking back powers from the devolved

:07:57. > :08:05.administrations at all. As for... As I answered, the interests of the

:08:06. > :08:11.people of Wales have been put together in a paper which has been

:08:12. > :08:14.submitted to the joint ministerial committee and will be debated at the

:08:15. > :08:20.next meeting of the European negotiating arm of that committee.

:08:21. > :08:24.The Supreme Court judgment was decisive in its reference in the

:08:25. > :08:28.position of the devolved assemblies. Given that is the case, what my

:08:29. > :08:34.right honourable friend agree that now was the time for the states men

:08:35. > :08:38.and women of the devolved assemblies to respect the decision of the

:08:39. > :08:42.Supreme Court and to work constructively with the Government

:08:43. > :08:50.for the greater good of the UK of which they are very much a part? I

:08:51. > :08:54.could not have put it better myself. I will vote to trigger Article 50

:08:55. > :08:58.but I also have a duty to scrutinise the Government deal to ensure it

:08:59. > :09:06.does not make my constituents poorer. My constituents have a right

:09:07. > :09:11.to know how much the Supreme Court appeal cost them. Would he tell us?

:09:12. > :09:16.I don't have that number in my mind. I don't. I have been studying the

:09:17. > :09:24.agreement today, not the agreement, the judgment. I will provide it to

:09:25. > :09:29.her as soon as I can. About the spending of money on a Supreme Court

:09:30. > :09:38.judgment, I'm sure it will be expensive on one level. Lawyers are

:09:39. > :09:44.expensive. I'm sure he is a much more expensive lawyer. It is the

:09:45. > :09:48.greatest compliment I can pay him. Let me make a fundamental point.

:09:49. > :09:53.When we are dealing with something as important as this, I don't think

:09:54. > :09:57.anybody in the House questions the importance of the constitutional

:09:58. > :10:01.decision that has been made today. It is incredibly pump -- important

:10:02. > :10:05.it has been made on solid ground and with proper authority, made in a way

:10:06. > :10:10.which the Government can interpret properly to deliver the right

:10:11. > :10:15.outcome. I have made this point more than once to stop therefore,

:10:16. > :10:23.frankly, it will be worth whatever we pay for it. He is the right man

:10:24. > :10:27.in the right place at the right time. 61% of the people in Kettering

:10:28. > :10:31.voted to leave the European Union. They will take comfort that there is

:10:32. > :10:35.nothing in today's judgment that will delay the process and they were

:10:36. > :10:38.like the fact that their member of Parliament will obey their

:10:39. > :10:45.instructions and vote to trigger Article 50. I commend all other

:10:46. > :10:52.members to do the same. All I can say is I am surprised it was only

:10:53. > :10:58.61% in his constituency. The judgment's terms tell us we should

:10:59. > :11:01.not rely on mere political convention for legal adherents or

:11:02. > :11:08.political confirmation on key matters. That means it will be

:11:09. > :11:11.meaningless in the context of the great Repeal Bill but does he

:11:12. > :11:15.recognise that the key constitutional precept of the Good

:11:16. > :11:18.Friday agreement in terms of the principle of consent and that

:11:19. > :11:23.potential for united Ireland, is something that will have to be

:11:24. > :11:30.explicitly included in any new UK treaty. If those provisions are a

:11:31. > :11:33.matter that the people of Ireland without impediment or fully

:11:34. > :11:40.reflected under the terms of the Supreme Court judgment properly

:11:41. > :11:46.reflected. I am not going to reiterate the fact of the Supreme

:11:47. > :11:49.Court judgment on the Irish aspect in question today. He can read that

:11:50. > :11:56.more authoritatively in the judgment. I have said to him before

:11:57. > :12:01.in this house. There is more than one guarantee on this. The British

:12:02. > :12:04.Government is determined to preserve the peace settlement and all that

:12:05. > :12:10.underpins it. The Irish Government is determined to underpin it. And so

:12:11. > :12:15.is the commission. I will say something nice about the commission

:12:16. > :12:21.on this. When I spoke to my opposite number, he was reminding me that he

:12:22. > :12:27.was involved in the original peace process himself. And so all of the

:12:28. > :12:28.parties to this have a vested interest in delivering what he

:12:29. > :12:39.wants. He extolled last week he liked to

:12:40. > :12:43.please his boss, and has wonderful speech last week, and could I say to

:12:44. > :12:50.him he could unify the whole side of the host by publishing a white paper

:12:51. > :12:57.based on are both' excellent speech, which I'm sure will make an even

:12:58. > :12:59.more popular with our boss? I thought I was actually rather

:13:00. > :13:09.restrained given she was sitting there. But I wasn't prompted by the

:13:10. > :13:17.honourable lady who gave me the line last time about Her Majesty, I think

:13:18. > :13:22.it was. Nearly. I nearly said, absolutely. I will not rehearse all

:13:23. > :13:28.of the arguments again. I will provide whatever information I can,

:13:29. > :13:37.as much as I can, as promptly as I can, bearing in mind this process is

:13:38. > :13:40.likely to start next week. I agree with the Secretary of State, the

:13:41. > :13:46.Prime Minister was very, very clear last week in her speech that we are

:13:47. > :13:50.now leaving the single market, and likely the customs union. Before the

:13:51. > :13:55.referendum his government said that that would cost the British people

:13:56. > :14:00.?66 billion, or roughly half the cost of the NHS per year, and does

:14:01. > :14:04.the government stand by that estimate is that a different one and

:14:05. > :14:12.could you tell us what it is today? Two things, first thing is I think

:14:13. > :14:17.the deputy governor of the Bank of England spoke about the Michael Fish

:14:18. > :14:20.moment for economic forecasters. Maybe he could elaborate on that

:14:21. > :14:26.next time he is asked. The second point is this economic models and

:14:27. > :14:30.forecasts are only as good as the assumptions going into them. The

:14:31. > :14:35.point that the Prime Minister was making last week was not just that

:14:36. > :14:40.we will not be members of the single market but that we will seek the

:14:41. > :14:44.freest and most barrier free access in the interests of the people of

:14:45. > :14:49.Wales and others. They are going to seek that. But the negotiation is

:14:50. > :14:57.not complete yet. We will seek that, and if we succeed, it will be hugely

:14:58. > :15:02.valuable for the people of Wales. The EU referendum saw a 72% turnout

:15:03. > :15:08.for a clear vote for leaving the European Union. It showed a strongly

:15:09. > :15:13.held at will by the British people. Do you agree with me that the

:15:14. > :15:18.Liberal Democrat call for a second referendum, I think one honourable

:15:19. > :15:21.member turned up today, no not here, it shows they do not care about the

:15:22. > :15:32.public view unless they get their way. I am tempted looking across the

:15:33. > :15:36.chamber to say, what Liberal Democrat? And as she said there was

:15:37. > :15:39.only one here at most, showing is they did take this incredibly

:15:40. > :15:43.important issue. I think the public at large will take a view of the

:15:44. > :15:50.Liberal Democrats on this, as they are using it for the want to go

:15:51. > :15:53.purpose, not the national interest. There have been a lot of questions

:15:54. > :15:59.understandably today about process, but also an emerging Brexit reality

:16:00. > :16:05.in the country for which this government is responsible. 1000 jobs

:16:06. > :16:10.going from London to Paris with HSBC. Toyota, Lloyd's of London, UBS

:16:11. > :16:16.and Nissan all reviewing their operations. Exactly how many jobs as

:16:17. > :16:20.the government prepared to lose to other European countries whilst we

:16:21. > :16:24.negotiate our exit from the European Union? I could stand here for ten

:16:25. > :16:29.minutes saying things like Google, Microsoft, all those companies who

:16:30. > :16:34.have decided, McDonald's, decided to be here. I will say this, we have

:16:35. > :16:41.the highest employment and lowest unemployment for a considerable

:16:42. > :16:45.time, completely contrary to the pessimistic predictions of many

:16:46. > :16:53.people after the Brexit results. I'm afraid if you want to look at a

:16:54. > :16:55.dominant station of high badly wrong -- demonstration of how badly wrong

:16:56. > :17:01.the establishment of Britain got this, just look at those numbers.

:17:02. > :17:05.Exiting the EU is uncharted territory. There will be naturally

:17:06. > :17:09.uncertainties and challenges, and will you tell the House what steps

:17:10. > :17:13.you are taking and the government is taking to communicate with British

:17:14. > :17:18.businesses to ensure that we can build confidence and foster economic

:17:19. > :17:24.growth in the months ahead? To be frank, I can sense in the numbers,

:17:25. > :17:31.but they are beyond counting now. The number of meetings, with

:17:32. > :17:37.manufacturing, aviation, tours and, finance, banking, and so on, but not

:17:38. > :17:42.just ministers in my department but all across government, they are

:17:43. > :17:47.talking to their own client industries as it were to ensure that

:17:48. > :17:50.they know what their concerns are, what the opportunities are, and what

:17:51. > :17:56.policy measures we have to take to maximise the opportunities and

:17:57. > :18:00.mitigate concerns. And what we are beginning to see, it took a few

:18:01. > :18:05.months, but we are beginning to see a change in mood and to see the

:18:06. > :18:09.opportunity rather than the concern, which is an incredibly important

:18:10. > :18:17.change in mood in the country. You have twice said that the point of no

:18:18. > :18:22.return was on June the 23rd. He has ruled out a white paper, ruled out

:18:23. > :18:27.of order on the plan. Does he agree that neither the words customs

:18:28. > :18:34.union, nor a single market, were on the ballot paper? And if this House

:18:35. > :18:39.decides that it does not wish to proceed at some point with the

:18:40. > :18:47.process after Article 50 has been triggered, do we then leave

:18:48. > :18:52.automatically or is it reversible? Let me say firstly about what was

:18:53. > :18:56.not on the ballot paper. Listing two people say this is rather like say,

:18:57. > :19:01.you said you would sell the car, but the engine and the tyres as well.

:19:02. > :19:06.These components, these elements of the common external tariff barrier,

:19:07. > :19:11.the common commercial policy, the will of the European Court of

:19:12. > :19:16.Justice, all of these things are components of the UPN union, which

:19:17. > :19:20.the public voted to leave. -- of the European Union. That is the first

:19:21. > :19:26.thing I would say. But beyond that, he also miss quotes me in terms of

:19:27. > :19:30.what I have said about votes and debates. There will be any number of

:19:31. > :19:38.votes and debates in the coming two years, many of them about the issues

:19:39. > :19:42.he talks about. I fully support the words from all quarters today in

:19:43. > :19:46.support of judges who really are the best, most inscrutable and highest

:19:47. > :19:52.quality I've seen anywhere in the world. But those warm words need to

:19:53. > :19:58.be matched by action by all members in the House today, and in

:19:59. > :20:01.particular just as the government is supporting and accepting the verdict

:20:02. > :20:04.today, that members accept the words of the Supreme Court in respect of

:20:05. > :20:10.the fight but a small bill can have just the power of a larger one and

:20:11. > :20:14.that those from some of the devolved parts of the United Kingdom accept

:20:15. > :20:19.the verdict as well. And in terms of cost, if he is publishing the costs

:20:20. > :20:22.of the government in the Supreme Court, ask the devolved assemblies

:20:23. > :20:29.particularly in Scotland to publish how much taxpayers money has been

:20:30. > :20:33.spent on joining the action? I will pick up cost. I will provide those

:20:34. > :20:38.numbers, no problem. But I will make one point in all of this. They were

:20:39. > :20:43.not the people who put the case. We were not the people who put the

:20:44. > :20:53.case! So the cost of this is a direct outcome of that. I am not one

:20:54. > :20:57.of those, with animal noises from the other side notwithstanding, I am

:20:58. > :21:01.not one of those who criticise those who brought the case. It was an

:21:02. > :21:05.important constitutional case which is why I think whatever because it

:21:06. > :21:10.was worth doing. But don't say to the government why did you defend

:21:11. > :21:14.the case? Cause a massively important constitutional issue was

:21:15. > :21:18.at stake. My honourable friend is right that we should take it

:21:19. > :21:29.seriously and as the status of our law today and will be. We are

:21:30. > :21:33.supposed to have the most important devolved parliament in the world.

:21:34. > :21:42.The Scotland act or does this all convention is embedded into law. We

:21:43. > :21:46.now know that those acts as really worth the paper they are written on.

:21:47. > :21:50.When will you do something and act? If you do not accept the very

:21:51. > :21:54.reasonable proposals be put to him the Scottish people will ask quickly

:21:55. > :22:01.what is the point of being here at all? The first thing I would say to

:22:02. > :22:09.him is, if I remember it correctly, the Supreme Court's comments on the

:22:10. > :22:15.convention is it was not for the judges to decide, but the point I

:22:16. > :22:20.would make is also this but I listened last week at great length

:22:21. > :22:24.to the Scottish Government Minister present the arguments in their

:22:25. > :22:28.paper. And as I said earlier to one of his colleagues, there are bits of

:22:29. > :22:31.that they disagreed with. There are bits of it that we are absolutely

:22:32. > :22:35.agreeing that, the most obvious one from my point of view is protection

:22:36. > :22:39.of employment law, which I take very, very seriously and we are on

:22:40. > :22:48.the same place on that. I talked through with him and others in the

:22:49. > :22:52.committee the issue of devolution. And the clear point was no existing

:22:53. > :22:55.devolved powers were going to be withdrawn or retracted. Of course

:22:56. > :22:58.that will not happen. But of course we have to think in rational terms

:22:59. > :23:03.in the interests of the Scottish people and the wider citizens of the

:23:04. > :23:06.United Kingdom. We need to have decisions on where the best place to

:23:07. > :23:10.make those decisions is. I would like to devolved powers but in some

:23:11. > :23:14.cases it is not practical and that is what we have to do, what is right

:23:15. > :23:20.for the people, not what's its political interest. -- not what

:23:21. > :23:24.suits. I am confident that every member of

:23:25. > :23:30.this House will vote to trigger Article 50. Who would they go

:23:31. > :23:37.against the will of the people? Do you share my one concern that the

:23:38. > :23:42.implications of this case could have an affect on, for example, the

:23:43. > :23:47.government's decision to go to war? Could that be challenged by example

:23:48. > :23:52.by a member of the public? No, I don't think he's right on that. It

:23:53. > :23:58.is a 96 page judgment which we have to go through the detail on. But

:23:59. > :24:02.this was confined to two aspects, or at least the major part of the case

:24:03. > :24:09.that. The implication specifically for the ECA, and for those treaties

:24:10. > :24:13.which have an effect on the domestic legal rights of citizens. I don't

:24:14. > :24:18.think that the decision to go to war would fall within that. However, he

:24:19. > :24:24.raises more broadly a very important point, because we are in an era when

:24:25. > :24:28.the exact feature of the Royal Troon it has to be established and

:24:29. > :24:32.understood, particularly when we are understood in complete command of an

:24:33. > :24:36.future. -- when the exact feature of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy be

:24:37. > :24:40.established. We have to consider where we have to go back for

:24:41. > :24:47.authorisation and one of the reasons why we're taking time to be

:24:48. > :24:51.detergent. The Secretary of State has mentioned a few times about this

:24:52. > :24:58.being a massive exercise in democracy. I just want to put to him

:24:59. > :25:02.that are very useful tool in a participatory democracy is issuing

:25:03. > :25:05.White papers. I really do not understand why the Secretary of

:25:06. > :25:09.State has set his face so against doing that when they are about to

:25:10. > :25:14.make the most important decision of many, many generations and trigger

:25:15. > :25:20.Article 50. One of the things that were said by the chairman of the

:25:21. > :25:29.Select Committee, unfortunately not here now, was that they wanted the

:25:30. > :25:33.plan as quickly as possible, before the middle of February. I said it

:25:34. > :25:38.would be difficult to turn out if full White Paper before then. One of

:25:39. > :25:42.the virtues of delivering this through the prime ministerial speech

:25:43. > :25:47.of some length was that we can do it quickly, make it very clear and

:25:48. > :25:51.everybody would understand it, and it got coverage around the world in

:25:52. > :25:57.a Kiwi which wouldn't have been available for any other medium. --

:25:58. > :26:00.in a way which. But the point that matters here is that people remain

:26:01. > :26:06.free, and something to tease me of course, about my history as an

:26:07. > :26:13.activist for parliamentary votes. -- people remain to be. The point of a

:26:14. > :26:17.member is the only here because we represent constituents, and people's

:26:18. > :26:23.interests, and what I have done, or tried to do so far, is to provide as

:26:24. > :26:28.much information as possible. I keep repeating that. Let's take the plan

:26:29. > :26:33.with respect to what was asked by the Labour front bench and by what

:26:34. > :26:36.was asked by the Labour front bench and by they asked what we would do

:26:37. > :26:40.about the single market. Hopefully that there is no plane. The customs

:26:41. > :26:43.front bench and by what was asked by the Labour front bench and by what

:26:44. > :26:45.was asked by the Labour front bench and by they asked what they would do

:26:46. > :26:48.about the single market. Hopefully that is now plain. The customs

:26:49. > :26:50.union? Hopefully that is now clear. What role do we see for Britain in

:26:51. > :26:54.the world question mark hopefully that is now clear. But they cannot

:26:55. > :26:59.see what the outcome will be. We can give levels of certainty, as we have

:27:00. > :27:00.and will, as to what the aims and strategic objectives are, and we

:27:01. > :27:10.have done that. I also welcome the judgment today by

:27:11. > :27:13.the Supreme Court and I would like to lend my support to the Supreme

:27:14. > :27:18.Court but judges and I hope we do not see any repeat of the bile that

:27:19. > :27:21.was directed towards the High Court judges last year in the papers

:27:22. > :27:27.tomorrow. I welcomed the Prime Minister 's speech last week

:27:28. > :27:29.outlining a free trade agreement but I have received thousands of e-mails

:27:30. > :27:36.from constituents all wanting to have their say on this because 70%

:27:37. > :27:39.of them voted to remain inside the European Union. Does my Right

:27:40. > :27:43.Honourable Friend agree, without wishing to make him repeat himself

:27:44. > :27:47.again, that the best way to do this is to make sure that my constituents

:27:48. > :27:54.have their views heard by the use of a white paper? I'm afraid he has

:27:55. > :28:01.failed in not making me repeat myself! What the House has

:28:02. > :28:08.determined I would say, in is it just a minute or the quiz, I

:28:09. > :28:12.reiterate, the facts of the matter, it is the plan that matters, it is

:28:13. > :28:16.answering Parliament was my that matter. We have done all of those

:28:17. > :28:20.things. I will continue to provide whatever information I can without

:28:21. > :28:33.compromising our negotiating position. I will do that. I thank

:28:34. > :28:35.the Secretary of State for his answer when he said he has written

:28:36. > :28:38.to the Northern Ireland executive, but would he recognise that it has

:28:39. > :28:42.collapsed after eight months and may not have the confidence of the

:28:43. > :28:46.people of Northern Ireland, and the fact that they have no joint plan,

:28:47. > :28:51.with the Secretary of State make sure that the rights to all parties

:28:52. > :28:55.so that we get something that tells all of us where we are going? We

:28:56. > :29:00.accept the result, we need a quick resolution, but we must all be

:29:01. > :29:11.included. Would he do so? He raises an interesting point. Before I

:29:12. > :29:15.answer directly, may I say this? Of course I have sought to get the

:29:16. > :29:19.parties in the executive to continue sending a minister to the joint

:29:20. > :29:23.ministerial committee, but that is only one mechanism. There are

:29:24. > :29:30.others. We will be speaking, we have plans to speak to the Taoiseach next

:29:31. > :29:35.week so the Irish government interest will be represented and I

:29:36. > :29:40.will talk to others more directly. I went over this early on in my time

:29:41. > :29:46.in this Chair. I am inclined to say yes to him. Let me consider

:29:47. > :29:50.carefully, I am not going to land myself in some problem. The reason I

:29:51. > :29:56.am being cautious is because there is now an election underway and I

:29:57. > :29:58.have got to be very wary of the British Government appealing to sort

:29:59. > :30:03.of medal in any aspect of the election. Let me take pause and

:30:04. > :30:09.think about that and I will do what I judge is in the best interests of

:30:10. > :30:13.Northern Ireland and you must take that as my promise. The pace has

:30:14. > :30:20.slowed terribly in the last few minutes. What is required is a pithy

:30:21. > :30:27.question of the kind in which a Queens Counsel should specialise.

:30:28. > :30:33.Let us hear about the context of the textbook pithily, Lucy Fraser. The

:30:34. > :30:36.Supreme Court on the first page of a judgment stated that it wanted to

:30:37. > :30:41.emphasise the case is nothing to do with the terms of withdrawal, the

:30:42. > :30:46.arrangements for withdrawal or the detail as to any future relationship

:30:47. > :30:49.with Europe. In those circumstances, does the Secretary of State agree

:30:50. > :30:53.with me that all the Supreme Court decided was that, before pulling the

:30:54. > :30:57.trigger, they needed authorisation by Act of Parliament, and under the

:30:58. > :31:05.terms of the judgment at least, there is no obligation to set out

:31:06. > :31:09.the detail any deeper? With him today was my judgment it says that

:31:10. > :31:14.notwithstanding you legislative constraints, and I quote "The EU

:31:15. > :31:18.will enhance the double competence" I asked the Secretary of State the

:31:19. > :31:23.same question last week and I was dismayed that he was only able to

:31:24. > :31:27.provide his presumptions, so can you now provide actual, concrete

:31:28. > :31:31.examples of which types of powers will be devolved to the devolved

:31:32. > :31:36.administrations following our exit to the European Union? I rather

:31:37. > :31:43.suspect she missed richly from last week. What I should of said was that

:31:44. > :31:48.there are some elements -- that she misquotes me from last week. Some

:31:49. > :31:51.elements will stay in the centre, but there will be a number well

:31:52. > :31:54.we're going to have to debate the matter and the side and that will

:31:55. > :31:58.happen in the first instance in the joint ministerial committee. Single

:31:59. > :32:04.sentence questions with the abandonment of any preamble that

:32:05. > :32:09.comics might have had in mind. Once the Secretary of State should take

:32:10. > :32:12.seriously amendments to the legislation proposed in good faith

:32:13. > :32:23.he should give short shrift to those who seek to use amendments to derail

:32:24. > :32:25.or delay the process. I will. The Secretary of State has already

:32:26. > :32:29.attempted a sideline Parliament by refusing to publish a white paper so

:32:30. > :32:34.can he be very clear, will the bill be drafted in such terms as to allow

:32:35. > :32:39.not just amendments but substantive amendments, yes or no? I've been

:32:40. > :32:42.here 30 years. If you knows how to draft a bill that withstands any

:32:43. > :32:48.amendments I would like to hear about it. -- if he knows how. In any

:32:49. > :32:54.negotiation it is worth thinking about the other side. Lord Hill came

:32:55. > :32:56.to our committee and said that their strategy for negotiation is to come

:32:57. > :33:02.together with decisions being made otherwise we will be sending mixed

:33:03. > :33:06.messages. Does the Secretary of State agree? Yes, and I would hope

:33:07. > :33:11.that once we get through the article 50 process we will see a more

:33:12. > :33:14.collegiate attitude from all parts of the political spectrum. This is,

:33:15. > :33:21.after all, our national interest that is engaged. The Secretary of

:33:22. > :33:25.State reminded us that our job is to do what is in the best interests of

:33:26. > :33:28.our constituents. The city I represent has 8.5 million visitors

:33:29. > :33:36.each year, two universities and an economy that includes the head

:33:37. > :33:41.offices of EDF and MX. If I don't think that the guarantees offered by

:33:42. > :33:44.this government will protect everything that is great about my

:33:45. > :33:49.city will be agree that I cannot support this timescale? I am not

:33:50. > :33:53.about to protect him from his constituents, I am afraid. My

:33:54. > :33:58.comment to him is this. We are in negotiation. If he can point to me

:33:59. > :34:03.and negotiation can guarantee before it started I would be interested to

:34:04. > :34:06.hear it. I'm sure the Secretary of State would agree that it seems

:34:07. > :34:10.strange many are unaware that legislative changes will be needed

:34:11. > :34:15.on a whole range of issues as we meet, not just on the article 50

:34:16. > :34:17.point. If people try to use tricksy procedure in this House or anywhere

:34:18. > :34:23.else to try and restrict Article 50, it will just fuel scepticism and

:34:24. > :34:29.push people to vote lead. That is true and I think his constituents

:34:30. > :34:33.will notice. Someone who has been waiting a long time and must work

:34:34. > :34:36.out how to do it in a short sentence. Given that the legislative

:34:37. > :34:39.consent motion is now a political decision and there is no impediment

:34:40. > :34:43.for the government to bring one, can you advise a House of the government

:34:44. > :34:48.had a legislative consent contingency in place before the

:34:49. > :34:54.Supreme Court ruling, and why on Earth would he rule out bringing on

:34:55. > :34:58.-- bringing one now? Because I said that no component part of the United

:34:59. > :35:03.Kingdom has a veto. I have said that dozens of times in this House, if he

:35:04. > :35:07.had been listening. Can my Right Honourable Friend assure my

:35:08. > :35:11.constituents, a majority of whom voted to leave that he will allow

:35:12. > :35:14.nothing to get in the way of ensuring that the bill that he has

:35:15. > :35:21.announced will be passed as quickly as possible? Yes. Mr Speaker, the

:35:22. > :35:25.Secretary of State said in a statement that this government is

:35:26. > :35:29.determined to deliver the decision taken by the people of the United

:35:30. > :35:32.Kingdom, but of course, in Scotland, the country that those of us on

:35:33. > :35:36.these benches represent, voted to remain within the United Kingdom and

:35:37. > :35:39.the Scottish Government has been empowered by the Parliament to make

:35:40. > :35:43.sure that we remain within the single market. Why is he acting

:35:44. > :35:46.against the best interests of the Scottish people and will he not

:35:47. > :35:53.understand that, in refusing to accept our will,... Too long, too

:35:54. > :35:57.loud! We don't want to hear it, enough. Secretary of State. Number

:35:58. > :36:00.one, I don't think the interest of the Scottish National Party are the

:36:01. > :36:05.same as those of the Scottish people. Number two, as I remember,

:36:06. > :36:07.the Scottish nation voted to stay inside the United Kingdom. That

:36:08. > :36:14.United Kingdom which voted to leave the European Union. The World Trade

:36:15. > :36:18.Organisation has done a fantastic amount of work to reduce trade

:36:19. > :36:21.barriers around the world. It is the basis of our trading relationship

:36:22. > :36:26.with the US, where we have a trade surplus. Would my Right Honourable

:36:27. > :36:31.Friend agree with me that this is a great foundation for a trade deal

:36:32. > :36:37.with the EU, and it is for the EU now to do something about that? I

:36:38. > :36:40.agree. The Secretary of State has spoken a great deal about listening

:36:41. > :36:44.to the devolved nations, but will you listen to what they have to say

:36:45. > :36:49.about the importance of unfettered access to the single market? We

:36:50. > :36:56.already have. That was the point the Prime Minister was making when she

:36:57. > :37:03.said she wanted a barrier free, most facilitated trade with the EU. Mr

:37:04. > :37:07.Speaker, can my Right Honourable Friend is sure the 70% of my

:37:08. > :37:11.decisions who voted for Brexit that, if the Upper House were to attempt

:37:12. > :37:17.to thwart or delay that bill he has a contingency plan to make sure that

:37:18. > :37:20.we meet the March deadline? From what I remember of his constituency

:37:21. > :37:29.he has enough members of the Upper House in it to tell them himself!

:37:30. > :37:32.Will the Secretary of State recognise that 62% of people in

:37:33. > :37:38.Scotland voted to skate. The Scottish Government is not asking

:37:39. > :37:41.for a veto, it is asking for a compromise of Scotland maintaining

:37:42. > :37:44.membership of the single union. When will he actually work with them to

:37:45. > :37:52.achieve that? As I have said to several of his colleagues, we work

:37:53. > :37:56.at the joint ministerial committee, woo hoo we worked bilaterally, we

:37:57. > :38:02.seek to protect the influence of the older the Kingdom including, not

:38:03. > :38:05.least, Scotland. I don't want to frustrate the protest, but does he

:38:06. > :38:09.feel that the referendum result is the only factor that should govern

:38:10. > :38:14.the article with the vote, and isn't that tantamount to signing a blank

:38:15. > :38:19.cheque setting aside the views of our constituents? I don't want to

:38:20. > :38:28.frustrate the process but his question starts... That tells you

:38:29. > :38:32.something in its own right. This is the government seeking authorisation

:38:33. > :38:38.to trigger the start of the new negotiation which was what the

:38:39. > :38:45.British people voted for last year. It is not the only issue but it is

:38:46. > :38:48.the most important issue. This judgment rode roughshod through the

:38:49. > :38:51.school convention, so can the Minister assure me that he will seek

:38:52. > :38:55.meaningful discussions with the Scottish Government, discussions

:38:56. > :39:03.that respect and reflect the desire of the Scottish electorate to remain

:39:04. > :39:09.in the EU? I think the Scottish Government will be represented, it's

:39:10. > :39:12.case was represented to the Supreme Court and unlike the honourable

:39:13. > :39:16.gentleman, I don't pick and choose which bits I like or don't like, I

:39:17. > :39:20.go along with the Supreme Court because it is the highest court in

:39:21. > :39:25.the land, and we have to obey. The country voted to leave but my

:39:26. > :39:30.constituents did not vote for a cut in their living standards. There are

:39:31. > :39:32.genuine, serious concerns about the impact on the economy,

:39:33. > :39:38.manufacturing, higher education and research if the UK left the EU

:39:39. > :39:41.without a deal and fell back onto WTO rules. What assessment has he

:39:42. > :39:46.made of the risks of leaving with no deal in place, and will be published

:39:47. > :39:52.subject to proper scrutiny? Number subject to proper scrutiny? Number

:39:53. > :39:56.one, there were a great number of forecasts of how terrible things

:39:57. > :40:08.would be if people voted for Brexit. They were all...

:40:09. > :40:13.Not to fail to do so but the get one and that is what will protect her

:40:14. > :40:18.constituents if she's willing to pay attention to it. The Secretary of

:40:19. > :40:22.State the to the fact that he wants to reserve the interest of the

:40:23. > :40:26.people of Northern Ireland and that he understands that the peace

:40:27. > :40:30.settlement. Currently we are in an election which will be quickly

:40:31. > :40:34.followed by negotiations which Brexit will form an important part.

:40:35. > :40:40.In discussions with the Taoiseach and with the Irish government, will

:40:41. > :40:44.he ensure that special status is well considered for Northern

:40:45. > :40:50.Ireland, as part of those negotiations ensuing from the

:40:51. > :40:53.elections? There are many special circumstances that apply, and when I

:40:54. > :40:57.went to visit Northern Ireland, since I have been in this post, the

:40:58. > :41:02.sort of things that came out were the importance of the border, the

:41:03. > :41:05.single energy market, a series of things like that and we will

:41:06. > :41:10.continue to pay attention to them. I am going to be careful about asking

:41:11. > :41:14.questions because of the ongoing election, but I think she should

:41:15. > :41:23.take it as read that we take this very seriously indeed. The Secretary

:41:24. > :41:26.of State for Scotland is no longer in his place. He stole this House or

:41:27. > :41:29.at least five occasions that the school convention was being placed

:41:30. > :41:33.on a statutory footing by the Scotland Act. The Supreme Court

:41:34. > :41:37.today has said that it is not. Which of these two contradictory judgments

:41:38. > :41:42.currently holds the confidence of Her Majesty's government? It is not

:41:43. > :41:48.a contradictory judgment. This is a reserved matter. Surely the ruling

:41:49. > :41:51.confirms that Brexit means Brexit has been totally inadequate as any

:41:52. > :41:57.explanation to Parliament or its people. The devil is often in the

:41:58. > :42:15.detail, particularly the Tory detail. Surely that the Dell should

:42:16. > :42:18.be given in a form of a white paper. The strategic aims are very clear

:42:19. > :42:24.and they are designed to protect the interest of the people she

:42:25. > :42:26.represents. I notice that the judgment was issued during the

:42:27. > :42:34.course... And hope somebody will explain that. I wonder if he can

:42:35. > :42:37.tell us by the unelected Lords will have more of a say over the article

:42:38. > :42:45.50 processed only members the devolved institutions? I am trying

:42:46. > :42:49.to think of the significance in terms of the chairman of the Select

:42:50. > :42:59.Committee on Brexit. I did not hear half of his question so I will have

:43:00. > :43:06.to write to him on that. I could not hear that either. I will answer

:43:07. > :43:08.later. The rules in place means that Parliament construes nice

:43:09. > :43:13.legislation as it passes through this House. Will they commit to make

:43:14. > :43:20.sure there are two weekends between the first and second reading? That

:43:21. > :43:24.is not a matter for me. The Scottish Government has published a set of

:43:25. > :43:29.proposals to maximise the relationship of the European Union.

:43:30. > :43:33.Does the Secretary of State realise that not publishing a white paper is

:43:34. > :43:36.tantamount to political cowardice question I have never been accused

:43:37. > :43:38.of cowardice before so I do not know how to respond but the answer no

:43:39. > :43:48.Mac. Supporters of the Government's you

:43:49. > :43:52.are trying to delegitimise the opinions of others to thwart the

:43:53. > :43:58.decision to leave the European Union. Can I ask to conform to this

:43:59. > :44:02.House, having read the Scottish Government's position, there is no

:44:03. > :44:05.part of that document suggest that either Scotland or any other part of

:44:06. > :44:11.the United Kingdom should do anything other than leave the

:44:12. > :44:16.European Union? I am being very careful in the period since I have

:44:17. > :44:21.received that document not to criticise it publicly. I wanted to

:44:22. > :44:27.have that debate. I was cheering that Committee. I did not want to

:44:28. > :44:31.colour the cheering of the debate. You can put it into three

:44:32. > :44:35.categories. That I did not think would work, bits that were subject

:44:36. > :44:39.to debate, particularly about devolution issues, and that's that

:44:40. > :44:48.we are on the same page on matters like employment law. There are

:44:49. > :44:51.elements of the paper which will have run into problems, not just

:44:52. > :44:56.with the United Kingdom Government but other members of the European

:44:57. > :45:02.Union. It was criticised by the Spanish Minister. And also

:45:03. > :45:08.implicitly criticised by senior Norwegians. I do not think you can

:45:09. > :45:19.hold it up, some sort of ideal model of a perfect outcome. I am

:45:20. > :45:25.grateful to all 84 backbench members who took part in this series of

:45:26. > :45:31.exchanges. On the point of order, Mr Speaker, I told the House in good

:45:32. > :45:37.faith, Sir Craig Oliver vehemently denies that he or any other member

:45:38. > :45:43.of David Cameron's media team knew about the aborted trident test last

:45:44. > :45:47.June. He has said this to my parliamentary office staff in terms

:45:48. > :45:52.bordering on the rudeness. However, when he was invited to appear before

:45:53. > :45:55.the defence Committee today, he told the defence Committee clerk that he

:45:56. > :46:03.did not wish to attend as he had said he had left Number Ten to work

:46:04. > :46:09.for the iron maiden campaign before the test fired into place. Can I

:46:10. > :46:10.correct the record and assure the House that we held the most