Overview

This bill amends the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, removing the previous prohibition against extending the Brexit transition period. It allows the government to extend this period, but only after parliamentary approval through a specific process.

Description

The bill repeals section 15A of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, which previously prevented the extension of the Brexit transition period. It then inserts a new section (13AA) into the Act, outlining the procedure for any future extension. This process requires:

• A government minister laying a statement before both Houses of Parliament detailing the proposed extension length and other relevant information.
• The House of Commons passing a specific motion approving the extension.
• A motion for the House of Lords to take note of the statement being tabled; either the Lords debate the motion or, if not concluded within five sitting days, the motion is deemed approved.

Only after all these steps are completed can a government minister agree to an extension within the Joint Committee.

Government Spending

This bill doesn't directly allocate or change any government spending. The potential cost of an extended transition period would depend on the length of the extension and any associated agreements with the EU. No figures are specified within the bill itself.

Groups Affected

This bill primarily affects:

• The UK Government: Grants the government the power (subject to parliamentary approval) to extend the Brexit transition period.
• Parliament: Grants both Houses of Parliament a significant role in approving any extension.
• Businesses: Businesses trading with the EU may experience either continued certainty or further uncertainty depending on whether an extension is granted and its length.
• The EU: The EU would be involved in any negotiations regarding an extension.

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