European Union (Withdrawal) Bill – in the House of Commons at 9:22 pm on 20 December 2017.
Votes in this debate
Amendments proposed: 381, in clause14,page10,line25 leave out from “means” to “(and” in line 26 and insert
“
This amendment removes the power for a Minister of the Crown to appoint exit day by regulations and ensures that exit day is fixed at
Amendment 399, page 10, line 26, leave out “subsection (2)” and insert “subsections (2) to (2C)”.
This amendment is consequential on amendment 400 and signposts, in the definition of “exit day”, the existence of the new subsections that are being inserted into Clause 14 by amendment 400.
Question put (single Question on amendments moved by a Minister of the Crown), That amendments 381 and 399 be made.—(Mr Baker.)
The House divided:
Ayes 319, Noes 294.
Division number 82
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — Clause 14 — Interpretation — Moment of Withdrawal
Question accordingly agreed to.
Amendments 381 and 399 agreed to.
Amendment proposed: 349, page 10, line 46, leave out
“for a term of more than 2 years” —(Paul Blomfield.)
This amendment would prevent Ministers using delegated powers to create criminal offences which carry custodial sentences.
Question put, That the amendment be made.
The House divided:
Ayes 295, Noes 318.
Division number 83
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill: Committee of the whole House Amdt 349
Question accordingly negatived.
Amendments made: 382, page 11, line 24, leave out from “Act” to end of line 32 and insert
“references to before, after or on exit day, or to beginning with exit day, are to be read as references to before, after or at 11.00 p.m. on
This amendment is consequential on amendment 381 and ensures that references to exit day in the Bill and other legislation operate correctly in relation to the time as well as the date of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU.
Amendment 400, page 11, line 32, at end insert—
“(2A) Subsection (2B) applies if the day or time on or at which the Treaties are to cease to apply to the United Kingdom in accordance with Article 50(3) of the Treaty on European Union is different from that specified in the definition of “exit day” in subsection (1).
(2B) A Minister of the Crown may by regulations—
(a) amend the definition of “exit day” in subsection (1) to ensure that the day and time specified in the definition are the day and time that the Treaties are to cease to apply to the United Kingdom, and
(b) amend subsection (2) in consequence of any such amendment.
(2C) In subsections (2A) and (2B) “the Treaties” means the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.”—(Mr Baker.)
This amendment confers power on a Minister of the Crown to amend the definition of “exit day” in Clause 14(1) if the day or time on or at which the United Kingdom ceases to be a member of the EU is different from that specified in the definition. There is also power to amend Clause 14(2) in consequence of amending the definition of “exit day”.
Clause 14, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Schedule 6 agreed to.
New Clause 44
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The House of Commons votes by dividing. Those voting Aye (yes) to any proposition walk through the division lobby to the right of the Speaker and those voting no through the lobby to the left. In each of the lobbies there are desks occupied by Clerks who tick Members' names off division lists as they pass through. Then at the exit doors the Members are counted by two Members acting as tellers. The Speaker calls for a vote by announcing "Clear the Lobbies". In the House of Lords "Clear the Bar" is called. Division Bells ring throughout the building and the police direct all Strangers to leave the vicinity of the Members’ Lobby. They also walk through the public rooms of the House shouting "division". MPs have eight minutes to get to the Division Lobby before the doors are closed. Members make their way to the Chamber, where Whips are on hand to remind the uncertain which way, if any, their party is voting. Meanwhile the Clerks who will take the names of those voting have taken their place at the high tables with the alphabetical lists of MPs' names on which ticks are made to record the vote. When the tellers are ready the counting process begins - the recording of names by the Clerk and the counting of heads by the tellers. When both lobbies have been counted and the figures entered on a card this is given to the Speaker who reads the figures and announces "So the Ayes [or Noes] have it". In the House of Lords the process is the same except that the Lobbies are called the Contents Lobby and the Not Contents Lobby. Unlike many other legislatures, the House of Commons and the House of Lords have not adopted a mechanical or electronic means of voting. This was considered in 1998 but rejected. Divisions rarely take less than ten minutes and those where most Members are voting usually take about fifteen. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P9 at the UK Parliament site.
A person involved in the counting of votes. Derived from the word 'tallier', meaning one who kept a tally.
As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
Many hundreds of amendments are proposed by members to major bills as they pass through committee stage, report stage and third reading in both Houses of Parliament.
In the end only a handful of amendments will be incorporated into any bill.
The Speaker - or the chairman in the case of standing committees - has the power to select which amendments should be debated.
