Overview

This bill, an amendment to the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill, mandates parliamentary approval of the UK's withdrawal agreement with the European Union. It ensures that both the House of Commons and the House of Lords scrutinize and vote on the agreement before it can be ratified and implemented.

Description

Key Provisions:

The bill requires that the government presents to Parliament:

• A statement confirming a political agreement has been reached.
• A copy of the negotiated withdrawal agreement.
• A copy of the framework for the future relationship with the EU.

The House of Commons must then approve the agreement via a resolution. The House of Lords will debate the agreement. Finally, an Act of Parliament is needed for implementation. Specific timeframes are set for these actions, with deadlines including November 30th, 2018, January 31st, 2019, and February 28th, 2019 (though these dates may have been superseded by later amendments).

If the Commons rejects the agreement, the government must present a statement on its next steps within 21 days, subject to further parliamentary scrutiny.

Further provisions require ministerial statements and parliamentary motions if no agreement is reached by January 21st, 2019.

Government Spending

The bill itself doesn't directly allocate funds. However, the cost of negotiations, drafting legislation, and parliamentary processes related to the withdrawal agreement will impact government spending, though precise figures are not provided in this text.

Groups Affected

• UK Parliament: Both the House of Commons and the House of Lords gain significant influence over the Brexit process.
• UK Government: The government's ability to implement Brexit is constrained by the need for parliamentary approval.
• Businesses: The timetable for implementation influences business planning and investment decisions related to Brexit.
• Citizens: The outcome of the negotiations, subject to parliamentary approval, directly affects their rights and future relationship with the EU.
• European Union: The EU's negotiation process is affected by the UK's requirement for parliamentary approval.

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