Overview

This bill aims to allow the UK government to seek a two-year extension to the Brexit transition period (implementation period), removing a previous legal restriction against doing so. It sets this extension as a government negotiating objective and makes the necessary legal changes to facilitate it.

Description

The main purpose of the European Union Withdrawal (Implementation Period) Bill is to amend the existing legislation related to Brexit. Specifically:

• Negotiating Objective: It establishes a government objective to secure a two-year extension to the implementation period (as defined in the Withdrawal Agreement) through the Joint Committee.
• Repeal of Section 33: It repeals section 33 of the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020, which previously prohibited the government from agreeing to an extension of the transition period.
• Consequential Amendments: It empowers the Secretary of State to make necessary adjustments to UK law to reflect any agreed extension to the implementation period. This includes the power to make consequential amendments to existing legislation.
• Financial Provision: It ensures that any costs associated with the bill, including those incurred by the Secretary of State and any increases in spending under other acts, will be covered by Parliament.

Government Spending

The bill provides for the government to cover any costs incurred as a result of its implementation. No specific figures are included in the bill itself.

Groups Affected

• UK Government: The bill directly affects the government's ability to negotiate and implement a potential extension to the Brexit transition period.
• Businesses: An extension could provide businesses with more time to adapt to the changes resulting from Brexit.
• EU Institutions: The bill's impact depends on the EU's response to the UK's request for an extension.
• UK Parliament: Parliament retains the ability to scrutinize and potentially annul any regulations made under the bill.

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