Written statement on the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill

Mr David Davis (Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union): The Government put forward three amendments to amendment 19P carried in the House of Lords on 18 June.

In these amendments, reference is made to a motion ‘in neutral terms’.

The purpose of this written ministerial statement is to set out the Government’s understanding of the way in which this reference to ‘in neutral terms’ will operate in practice.

Under the Standing Orders of the House of Commons it will be for the Speaker to determine whether a motion when it is introduced by the Government under the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill is or is not in fact cast in neutral terms and hence whether the motion is or is not amendable.

The Government recognises that it is open for Ministers and members of the House of Commons to table motions on and debate matters of concern and that, as is the convention, parliamentary time will be provided for this.