That Council notes the intention of the government, set out in the Great Repeal Bill White Paper published March 30th 2017, to afford itself wide-ranging powers to use secondary legislation to "adapt converted EU law to fit the UK’s post-exit circumstances." (para 3.13).
That, notwithstanding acceptance within the White Paper that "the purpose of the Great Repeal Bill and the secondary legislation is to convert EU law into UK law." (para 3.10), rather than to amend substance, Council is concerned that such a purpose may not hold true unless specific assurances are provided that secondary legislation (or so-called Henry VIII clauses) will not be misused;
That, in particular, Council wishes to seek assurance on behalf of the people of West Lancashire, that such secondary legislation will not be used, in a way which bypasses proper parliamentary scrutiny, to weaken the protections and rights for workers which are now embedded in EU law, but which in many cases reflect earlier successes by the trade union movement in establishing these rights and protections;
That, accordingly, the Chief Executive be instructed to write to the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union and the Attorney General, seeking assurance from them that the forthcoming legislation will specifically exclude from the provisions enabling secondary legislation any power to change converted EU-law applying to workers' rights and protections through such secondary legislation;
Further, that the Chief Executive be instructed to write to other councils in Lancashire and the Liverpool City Region, inviting them to seek similar assurance on behalf of their citizens.
Minutes:
The following Motion was moved and seconded:
"That Council notes the intention of the government, set out in the Great Repeal Bill White Paper published March 30th 2017, to afford itself wide-ranging powers to use secondary legislation to "adapt converted EU law to fit the UK’s post-exit circumstances." (para 3.13).
That, notwithstanding acceptance within the White Paper that "the purpose of the Great Repeal Bill and the secondary legislation is to convert EU law into UK law." (para 3.10), rather than to amend substance, Council is concerned that such a purpose may not hold true unless specific assurances are provided that secondary legislation (or so-called Henry VIII clauses) will not be misused;
That, in particular, Council wishes to seek assurance on behalf of the people of West Lancashire, that such secondary legislation will not be used, in a way which bypasses proper parliamentary scrutiny, to weaken the protections and rights for workers which are now embedded in EU law, but which in many cases reflect earlier successes by the trade union movement in establishing these rights and protections;
That, accordingly, the Chief Executive be instructed to write to the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union and the Attorney General, seeking assurance from them that the forthcoming legislation will specifically exclude from the provisions enabling secondary legislation any power to change converted EU-law applying to workers' rights and protections through such secondary legislation;
Further, that the Chief Executive be instructed to write to other councils in Lancashire and the Liverpool City Region, inviting them to seek similar assurance on behalf of their citizens."
RESOLVED: A. That Council notes the intention of the government, set out in the Great Repeal Bill White Paper published March 30th 2017, to afford itself wide-ranging powers to use secondary legislation to "adapt converted EU law to fit the UK’s post-exit circumstances." (para 3.13).
B. That, notwithstanding acceptance within the White Paper that "the purpose of the Great Repeal Bill and the secondary legislation is to convert EU law into UK law." (para 3.10), rather than to amend substance, Council is concerned that such a purpose may not hold true unless specific assurances are provided that secondary legislation (or so-called Henry VIII clauses) will not be misused.
C. That, in particular, Council wishes to seek assurance on behalf of the people of West Lancashire, that such secondary legislation will not be used, in a way which bypasses proper parliamentary scrutiny, to weaken the protections and rights for workers which are now embedded in EU law, but which in many cases reflect earlier successes by the trade union movement in establishing these rights and protections;
D. That, accordingly, the Chief Executive be instructed to write to the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union and the Attorney General, seeking assurance from them that the forthcoming legislation will specifically exclude from the provisions enabling secondary legislation any power to change converted EU-law applying to workers' rights and protections through such secondary legislation;
E. Further, that the Chief Executive be instructed to write to other councils in Lancashire and the Liverpool City Region, inviting them to seek similar assurance on behalf of their citizens.