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Lords EU exit regulations: 13 February

14 February 2019

Image of UK Parliament portcullis

The House of Lords examined four statutory instruments preparing for Brexit on Wednesday 13 February.

The debate took place in Grand Committee, a room outside the Lords chamber. In Grand Committee, any member can take part, but no votes can take place.

A statutory instrument (SI), a type of secondary legislation, is a law created under powers given by an Act of Parliament. It is used to fill in the details of Acts (primary legislation).

The proposed SIs make changes to laws on:

1. Construction products
2. Carbon capture storage
3. Ecodesign for energy-related products and energy labelling
4. Kimberley Process Certification Scheme for conflict diamonds

The SIs under examination on Wednesday 13 February were all made under the EU (Withdrawal) Act 2018, and are changes to the law to be made in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement.

In addition to the EU Exit SIs, the House also debated one other SI on structure and boundary changes to councils in Buckinghamshire.

All these SIs were made under the draft affirmative procedure, meaning they needed to be approved by Parliament before they can be made (signed into law) and brought into effect as law. Draft affirmative SIs can be stopped if either House votes against the government's motion calling for the SI to be approved.

Lords scrutiny

The House of Lords Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee (SLSC) examines every SI, including all EU Exit SIs. It publishes reports drawing members' attention to SIs.

Further information

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