European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 6) Bill

Baroness Smith of Basildon Excerpts

3rd reading (Hansard): House of Lords
Friday 6th September 2019 Lords Chamber

[Lord Callanan]

I think some noble Lords might want answers to some of the questions that have been asked, particularly about the Government’s intentions—

[Baroness Smith of Basildon (Lab)]

If I might help the noble Lord, the only point of dissent there was that we are not at Third Reading but the Do Now Pass stage.

[Lord Callanan]

I apologise—perhaps the legal officials did not explain it to me clearly enough. I thank the noble Baroness for her clarification.

My noble friends Lady McIntosh of Pickering and Lord Hailsham raised concerns about whether the Government would request an extension but then vote against it in the European Council. I reiterate, as we have stated many times, that the Government have been clear that we will of course adhere to the law. Noble Lords have the text of Clause 1(4) in front of them and can see what it requires. The noble Baronesses, Lady Deech and Lady Falkner of Margravine, and my noble friends Lord Forsyth of Drumlean and Lord Leigh of Hurley have raised the prospect that the extension could come with conditions. Noble Lords are well aware of my position, which is of course that the Bill hands powers to the European Union, and it is true that the Bill, as drafted—