Monday 4th November 2019

(5 years, 1 month ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Gardiner of Kimble Portrait Lord Gardiner of Kimble
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Yes, during the period up to 31 December, under the relevant clause—I cannot remember which—of the withdrawal Bill, there would be EU oversight of all the arrangements. The point, as I mentioned, is that the OEP is due to come in on 1 January 2021. It would then take over the oversight.

Lord Watts Portrait Lord Watts (Lab)
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My Lords, will the Government confirm that there would be nothing to prevent them adopting the European standards and going further if they wished?

Lord Gardiner of Kimble Portrait Lord Gardiner of Kimble
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My Lords, I hope I used the word “ambition”. This country has been world-leading and we have an ambition to continue to be world-leading. Yes, we want to enhance the environment and do better than the rest of the EU.