EU: Future Relationship White Paper

Paul Sweeney Excerpts

Thursday 12th July 2018 Commons Chamber

[Dominic Raab]

I can confirm that we will be leaving the common fisheries policy and that we will proceed as an independent coastal state with control over our waters in respect of fisheries and other matters.

[Mr Paul Sweeney (Glasgow North East) (Lab/Co-op)]

Paragraph 55 of the White Paper, on page 95, states—without a hint of irony—

“The Government has already demonstrated during the passage of the EU (Withdrawal) Bill that it will actively engage with suggestions from both Houses about the oversight of secondary legislation, adapting scrutiny arrangements as appropriate, and recognising the quality and expertise in the existing scrutiny structures in the Commons and the Lords.”

In the light of today’s shambolic performance, would the Minister care to enlighten us on what parliamentary scrutiny really means, in his eyes?

[Dominic Raab]

As the hon. Gentleman knows, it means what we are doing right now; and there will be plenty of further opportunities to scrutinise the White Paper in this House, in the other place and in Select Committees.