Agenda item

Title of Bill / Act

Purpose

Latest event

Agriculture Bill

Link to Bill

The UK left the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) on exiting the EU on 30 January 2020.

The Direct Payments to Farmers (Legislative Continuity) Act 2020 continues direct payments to farmers across the UK. Payments are based on the amount of land they farm. These payments are like those paid under the CAP for 2020.

The Agriculture Bill contains arrangements for future agricultural support.

There will be a new approach to farm support in England from 2021. It will include payment to farmers for ‘public goods’ such as environmental or animal welfare improvements. Ministers will also be required to consider the need to encourage food production and ensure food security.

Concern has been expressed that the Agriculture Bill contains no commitment that food and animal welfare standards will not be reduced in future trade deals. The Bill does contain provisions to secure compliance with the WTO Agreement on Agriculture.

Report Stage - House of Lords (date to be announced)

Fisheries Bill

Link to Bill

From 1 January 2021 the UK will cease to be part of the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). It will become an independent coastal state and fully responsible for managing fisheries in the UK’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

The Fisheries Bill gives the Secretary of State the ability to set and distribute fishing opportunities in UK waters. It also revokes the automatic right of access to UK waters of EU vessels.

The UK and EU aim to reach an agreement on fisheries before 1 July 2020. So far negotiations have not reconciled their positions.

2^nd Reading at House of Commons on 1 Sep 20

Trade Bill

Link to Bill

This Bill aims to provide continuity for UK trade relations at the end of the transition period.

It would allow the UK to use secondary legislation to ‘roll over’ trade relations with countries the EU already has a trade agreement with.

The Bill would also establish a UK Trade Remedies Authority. This would take over the EU’s current function to act against unfair competition from ‘dumped’ goods, imported at artificially low prices.  It would also enable Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs to seek and share trade-related information.

2^nd Reading at House of Lords on 8 Sep 20

Immigration Bill Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill

Link to Bill

To replace the previous Immigration Bill which fell on prorogation of Parliament in October 2019, to end to free movement in UK law, to confirm the UK’s commitments under the EU Settlement Scheme and to enable the delivery of a new Australian-style points-based immigration system from 2021

This Bill would repeal the free movement rights of EU, EEA and Swiss citizens in the UK. It would protect Irish citizens’ existing immigration rights.

The legislation would also allow retained EU law on social security co-ordination to be modified by regulations. The Government says this will be necessary, ‘whether the UK has a future agreement with the EU at the end of the transition period or not.’

Committee Stage at House of Lords on 7 Sep 20

Private International Law (Implementation of Agreements) Bill

Link to Bill

To establish a UK framework for implementing international agreements that ensure the continuity of clear and effective legal rules agreed between different countries concerning international legal disputes and access justice, including 1996 Hague Convention, 2005 Hague Convention and 2007 Hague Convention

2^nd Reading House of Commons on 2 Sep 2020

Financial Services Bill

Link to Bill

To replace the Financial Services (Implementation of Legislation) Bill, which fell on prorogation of Parliament in October 2019.  It’s purpose is to ensure that the UK maintains remains open to international financial services markets after Brexit, to simplify the process governing sale of overseas investment funds in the UK, to implement the Basel standards strengthening the regulation of global banks in line with G20 commitments, building on existing Brexit legislation for financial services.

Most financial services regulation is currently done at the EU level. The Financial Services Bill enables the Treasury to make corresponding or similar provisions in UK law to upcoming EU financial services legislation.

If the transition period ends with no deal, without this Bill, there will be no mechanism in UK law through which financial services regulation can be updated.

Financial services legislation was announced in the December 2019 Queen’s Speech but has not yet been introduced.

To be decided

Animal Welfare (Sentencing and Recognition of Sentience) Bill

Link to Bill

EU Law recognises animals as sentient beings. Before the 2019 General Election, the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill 2017-19, aimed at increasing sentences for animal cruelty did not complete its parliamentary stages.

The Queen’s Speech in December 2019 announced the intention to introduce these measures in animal welfare legislation.

Environment Bill

Link to Bill

To put the targets in the government’s 25-year plan into law, and sets up a new Office for Environmental Protection with oversight and enforcement powers, designed to fill what environmental groups call the ‘governance gap’.

This is a key part of the post-Brexit supervision machinery – and may be important in reassuring the EU of the UK’s commitments to maintain standards.

Part 1 of the Bill, on environmental governance and principles, stems from a draft Environment (Principles and Governance) Bill. This was published in December 2018.

The draft Bill was based on an amendment added into the EU (Withdrawal) Act 2018. The amendment addressed concerns about a perceived loss of established environmental principles and EU governance mechanisms following Brexit.