Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to paragraphs 118 and 119 of page 39 of the White Paper, The future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union, Cm. 9593, published on 12 July 2018, whether it is proposed that the non-regression provisions cover all relevant rules on the statute book; and whether those rules could still be amended under those non-regression provisions.

This Government has been clear that the UK will maintain high environmental, climate change, and labour standards once it has left the EU. In recognition of these ambitious, domestic choices, the Government proposes that as the UK leaves the EU, both parties should commit to the non-regression of environmental and labour standards.

Our climate change agenda is set out in domestic law, and our commitments are more ambitious than those that arise from our current obligations under EU law. The UK will maintain its world-leading climate standards after we leave the EU.

Across all three areas, the exact details will be subject to negotiation.

In future, all laws in the UK will be legislated for by Parliament or a devolved legislative and subject to appropriate oversight and scrutiny.