Debates between Seema Malhotra and Rosie Winterton during the 2015-2017 Parliament

Mon 6th Feb 2017
European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill
Commons Chamber

Committee: 1st sitting: House of Commons

European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill

Debate between Seema Malhotra and Rosie Winterton
Seema Malhotra Portrait Seema Malhotra
- Hansard - -

I am grateful for the chance to speak in this important debate about how we can engage more with the devolved Administrations and legislatures in relation to our future discussions and negotiations.

I want to speak to my new clause 168, which calls on the Government to establish a new national convention to advise Her Majesty’s Government on their priorities during negotiations with the EU on the terms of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. It calls on Ministers of the Crown to take into account the views of the national convention before signing any agreements with the European Commission on the terms of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. I propose that the national convention should convene representatives from across different levels of government, the regions—including, in case anybody has missed this, all the English regions—and various sectors to meet and produce a report recommending negotiating priorities that would better reflect the needs of the regions of the UK.

Rosie Winterton Portrait Dame Rosie Winterton
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

Does my hon. Friend agree that the Secretary of State for Brexit said there would be some kind of meeting in York, where the Government would bring together representatives of the regions. That was some time ago, and since then we have heard nothing about it. That would fit in completely with her idea of a national convention, so it would be helpful if the Minister put some flesh on the bones of what the Secretary of State was talking about.

Seema Malhotra Portrait Seema Malhotra
- Hansard - -

My right hon. Friend makes a very important point. Indeed, the lack of engagement with the regions has been highlighted in the work of the Exiting the European Union Committee.