The Government will today take the next step in returning power
from Brussels to the UK by introducing the European Union
(Withdrawal) Bill.
Known as the Repeal Bill, it is designed to ensure that the UK
exits the EU with maximum certainty, continuity and control. As
far as possible, the same rules and laws will apply on the day
after exit as on the day before.
This will allow the UK to leave the EU while ensuring that our
future laws will be made in London, Edinburgh, Belfast and
Cardiff.
For businesses, workers and consumers across the UK that means
they can have confidence that they will not be subject to
unexpected changes on the day we leave the EU. It also delivers
on our promise to end the supremacy of EU law in the UK.
The Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, , said:
“This Bill means that we will be able to exit the European Union
with maximum certainty, continuity and control. That is what the
British people voted for and it is exactly what we will do –
ensure that the decisions that affect our lives are taken here in
the UK.
“It is one of the most significant pieces of legislation that has
ever passed through Parliament and is a major milestone in the
process of our withdrawal from the European Union.
“By working together, in the national interest, we can ensure we
have a fully functioning legal system on the day we leave the
European Union.
“The eyes of the country are on us and I will work with anyone to
achieve this goal and shape a new future for our country.”
The Repeal Bill is a mechanism to achieve three simple aims:
· Repeal the European Communities Act, remove supremacy of EU law
and return control to the UK.
· Convert EU law into UK law where appropriate, giving businesses
continuity to operate in the knowledge that nothing has changed
overnight, and providing certainty that rights and obligations
will not be subject to sudden change.
· Create the necessary temporary powers to correct the laws that
no longer operate appropriately so that our legal system
continues to function outside the EU.
The Bill sets out how we will prepare our statute book for exit
but will not make major changes to policy or legislation beyond
what is necessary to ensure the law continues to work properly on
day one.
Separately, the Government will also today publish three position
papers, covering nuclear materials and safeguards issues, ongoing
union judicial and administrative proceedings, and privileges and
immunities.
Each of the papers will be presented to the Commission for
discussion next week.
