European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill

Debate between Desmond Swayne and Mark Harper

Committee: 1st sitting: House of Commons
Monday 6th February 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Harper]

That is a helpful intervention, because the hon. Lady has tempted me to say a little more about her new clause, which I had not planned to do. I have looked at the membership of the national convention specified in the new clause, and it does not seem to involve any members of the public at all. It is all people who were very well represented in the referendum campaign: elected mayors; elected representatives of local government; people from universities and higher education; representatives of trade unions and trade bodies; representatives of business organisations; and Members of the Scottish Parliament—

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

Not them!

[Mr Harper]

Yes, them, along with Members of the National Assembly of Wales and of the Northern Ireland Assembly; plus Members of the European Parliament. Finally, it gets to “other representatives”, but not just any representatives of civil society—only those determined by the Secretary of State. Interestingly, the hon. Lady wants to give Ministers the job of deciding who should represent civil society, which seems remarkably generous of her, although rather self-defeating.

Rights of EU Nationals

Debate between Desmond Swayne and Mark Harper

Wednesday 19th October 2016 Commons Chamber

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

rose—

[Mr Mark Harper (Forest of Dean) (Con)]

rose—