more, much that she does so. once more, under this agreement, british people will be able to live under laws made by representatives who they elect and who they alone can elect and remove. laws enforced by british judges in british courts. i will give way to my right honourable friend. he must recognise that of the arrangements he has come to refer northern ireland, precisely don't deliver that for the people of northern ireland. of course, that may be a matter where in northern ireland opinion will be divided as to whether they want it or not, but the reality is that the clauses are going to continue to apply to northern ireland after the transition is ended for the rest of great britain. how does he square

that with the recovery of sovereignty promised to the entirety of the british people?” sovereignty promised to the entirety of the british people? i am grateful to the right honourable gentleman but i think we can square that very simply by pointing out that yes, of course, there are transitory arrangements for some aspects of the northern ireland economy. but those automatically dissolved and are terminated after four years unless it is the majority decision of the assembly of northern ireland to remain in alignment with those arrangements either in whole or in part. and the principle of consent is at the heart of these arrangements. under this bill british firms will escape the frequently perverse effects of the common agricultural policy. —— farmers. british fishermen will be

free to face in ways that are more sensible and more sustainable. and this house will be free to legislate for the highest possible standards. i will give my —— way with pleasure to the right honourable lady. thank you very much indeed, mr speaker. the prime minister will be aware that there are four pages in his bill which address and enlarge the responsibilities of the northern ireland human rights is in and the northern ireland equality commission. that is all very well and good but there is not a single sentence in this bill which explains the new consent process contained in the new consent process contained in the prime minister parr‘s micro—brexit deal. i see very clearly to the prime minister, do not take the people of northern ireland for foals. we are not full. the prime minister needs to explain in detail how his new consent process operates in detail, please. —— fulls. i am very grateful to the right honourable lady. and of course

the process of consent is set out in detail in the unilateral declaration made between us and the republic of ireland and she will understand it is asi ireland and she will understand it is as i have indicated to the house, a process by which there are a small minority of economic arrangements which northern ireland remains in alignment. for sanitary and manufactured goods. for four years. u nless manufactured goods. for four years. unless and until by a majority vote of the stormont assembly, northern ireland elects to remain in alignment. otherwise for the vast majority of the northern irish economy, of course northern ireland exits with the rest of the uk whole and entire, able to do free—trade deals from the outset, able to participate in all the other benefits of brexit. and i hope that that point will commend itself to

the right honourable lady. i will give way with pleasure to my right honourable friend. iam honourable friend. i am grateful to the prime minister. cani i am grateful to the prime minister. can i congratulate the prime minister on getting us to this critical point in the long brexit buses. clause 36, parliamentary sovereignty. can i invite the prime minister to explain the uk will retain its own sovereign capability as outlined in the political declaration, and not be committed to any eu mission, military initiative u nless we any eu mission, military initiative unless we do so voluntarily? iam very unless we do so voluntarily? i am very grateful to my right honourable friend. he alludes to out very important chains we have been able to secure in the course of the negotiations. and he is absolutely right. the full independence will be retained in that vital sphere of defence and security. i am grateful to him for drawing attention to it. let mejust to him for drawing attention to it. let me just make a little bit of progress if i may. this house will

be free not only from the common agricultural policy but from the common fisheries policy and free also to legislate to the highest standards. i think this is a crucial thing for the house to grasp. i will give way, on fish. on fish! thank you. willie give the house a categorical assurance that he will not make the mistake of the 1970s and use marine resources on fish stocks to be traded as a bargaining chip during the upcoming negotiations? will he guarantee that we will take total 100% control of all our waters within the eu zone and pull —— pool our resources and indulge in common—sense negotiations

ofa indulge in common—sense negotiations of a reciprocal nature with our marine neighbours on an annual basis? i can happily give my right honourable friend, currently involved in these issues valiantly, that assurance, mr speaker. and i can confirm we will take back 100% control of the spectacular marine wealth of this country. not least the marine wealth of scotland, which the marine wealth of scotland, which the snp would discard as senselessly as superfluous cash dictated by the common fisheries policy itself, mr speaker. this house will be free. this house will be free. just a moment. i will give way in just a moment. i will give way in just a moment. this house will be free to legislate for the highest possible standards and let me stress that nothing in this bill undermines workers' rights, or this house's

natural desire to protect our environment. i give way. i thank the prime ministerfor giving way. and i know the prime minister has been doing a very good job trying to reassure mps like myself from towns that voted to leave. but looking at workers' rights in this current document, can the minister explained the loopholes around those workers' rights that don't give us the security that we would need regarding non—regression for communities like mine, manufacturing communities that need those workers' rights?” manufacturing communities that need those workers' rights? i am very grateful to the honourable lady and she raises an important point. people will need reassurance about this. there can be no regression. the uk will maintain the highest possible standards. and let me pass... make the point more clearly. if the eu decides and it wishes to

introduce a new piece of legislation on social protection, then it is of course automatic that this house should consider, consider that. and asi should consider, consider that. and as i say, there will be an amendable motion by which the government will give parliamentary time for the implementation, for the implementation, for the implementation of that measure. that is the opportunity, that is the opportunity that this bill gives us. and in essence it takes back to this house the powers to decide these matters. and i do not believe that we should shy away from these responsibilities, or lack of confidence in our collective ability to use these powers for the public good. because it is thanks to the effo rts good. because it is thanks to the efforts of labour and the conservative members that this house is already ensuring that this country does more to tackle climate change than almost any other country

in the eu. our environmental bill will enshrine the highest standards possible. i give way with pleasure to the honourable lady. thank you prime minister. there is a difficulty, there is a fundamental issue of trust, of trust in his word, i'm sorry to say. so if the prime minister tells this house that he is committed to reviews of things like unfair dismissal protections, including reducing the qualifying period from two years to one year, and anomalies employee terms and conditions in relation to tv regulations, will the government please write in to this bill the date by which consultations will begin on those really important right? well, mr speaker, we have already said that we will set out how we propose to address the concerns of honourable members around unfair dismissals and cheaply. i do

understand the desire of the honourable lady to get cracking on this. i know that the business secretary is going to be writing to members with more details. but i can certainly commit, i can certainly commit to her now across the floor of the house that we will indeed commit toa of the house that we will indeed commit to a date for the cementation of those conditions. an environmental bill and surrounds the highest standards in law, far—reaching legally binding targets to reduce plastics, restore biodiversity and clean up our air and water. i give way. does he have agree with himself when he said, we should go into these negotiations with a clear agenda, to root out the nonsense of the social charter, the working time directive, the atypical work directive, the atypical work directive and otherjob destroying

regulations? if that is what he said then, why should we believe a word that he says on this? because it is absolutely clear on the face of this bill and what i have said that this country will maintain the highest possible standards and will give this house, and will give this house the collective ability to keep pace with brussels and indeed to do better. as i say, we have the highest possible environmental standards. we will match those environmental standards in brussels —— that brussels brings forward. and indeed we have the opportunity now to do better, mr speaker. i have stressed for four yea rs. speaker. i have stressed for four years. the honourable gentleman said we have always had the opportunity to do better. that's not true. i am afraid he is miss mistaken. there are plenty of ways in which we are currently prohibited from going forward with higher standards, as you may know. under this bill we

will have the power in this house to do something for which i think the people of this country have yearned for years, and that is to strengthen controls on the life transport of animals and! controls on the life transport of animals and i hope that we will do that. that is currently forbidden, as he well knows, under eu law. on fiscal measures, for instance, which iam sure fiscal measures, for instance, which i am sure he knows, we will now have the power to cut vat, to cut vat on sanitary products. and as for the protection, as for the protection of workers, mr speaker, we will now be able, under this bill, workers, mr speaker, we will now be able, underthis bill, to workers, mr speaker, we will now be able, under this bill, to take action against employers and agencies who undercut our laws, including where agency is bringing overseas labour from the eu so that local people do not get a look in. and i believe, i believe that is... that is currently possible within the eu. just for the benefit of the

house, i will give way in a second, clause 3a and the accompanying provisions in schedule five, they include a duty on any minister to get to the point that has been raised, to introduce minimal legislation to make clear that workers' rights will not be weakened in any way. whether it is air pollution, tackling air pollution, enhancing biodiversity, this country can do better, can do better than simply by sticking with eu norms. we can achieve our vision of a dynamic, high wage, low tax market economy, precisely because we champion high skills and high standards. i will give way to the right honourable lady. i think the prime minister for giving way.

let's pull away from those at the moment. whilst we all knew this was a very important day in the brexit debate as it stood, the stakes have been increased. let'sjoin vicky young, who has got some breaking news. that's right. this is all about what might happen if the government were to lose the vote later on this evening under the timetabling of this bill. just remember, there is a vote for stubble on the so—called second reading of this bill. they would then move on to the timetabling vote. it is controversial because the government wa nts to controversial because the government wants to push this through every single aspect of the commons in just three days. so lots of mps anxious about it. a number 10 ten —— a number 10 source has told the bbc of parliament to down this timetabling motion, and if the eu offers a delay to brexit to the 31st of january, they say they will pull the bill. there will be no further business for parliament and they will move to

an election before christmas. that isa an election before christmas. that is a downing street source really threatening mps there by saying, if you don't go along with our timetable, we will pull the bill com pletely timetable, we will pull the bill completely and head for a general election. i think that would be seen asa election. i think that would be seen as a threat to lots of independent mps. very hard for an mp to win a seat as an independent. it does happen but it is quite rare. there are several conservatives at the moment and not in the parliamentary party, so could not stand as conservative. several independent labour mps as well. the government upping the stakes. a number 10 source rather than the prime minister saying it. we will see if he is asked that question in the house of commons, or if he says it himself. but clearly the government saying that even if they were to win the second reading vote, the first time that parliament would have voted for a deal, if it is not done to their timetable they will pull it completely. 7pm tonight, around then. things have just got that much more

important. vicki, we will be back to you later on. let's return to the debate. nigel dodds of the dup speaking. what i would say to the prime minister is this. is he saying that the end of 2020, that northern ireland will not go into the protocol if there is a free trade agreement? and if we are in the protocol and a free trade agreement is agreed, that we will automatically come out of eight? and that will be written into law? mr speaker, just for the clarification of the right honourable gentleman, there are no checks between gb and northern ireland. there will be some lightweight measures. to ensure that illegal trade in endangered animal species and banned firearms, which i think he would agree was sensible.

but of course the most important point is that even these measures, even these measures evaporate and are terminated automatically, they automatically dissolve, unless a majority of the northern irish assembly instalment votes to keep them. and furthermore, to get to his point, of course there is a further sense in which these measures are transitory. they all may be replaced in the great work of beginning the free trade agreement and the new partnership that we intend to build between the uk and the eu. a work in which i devoutly hope that northern irish members will be involved in building a whole uk, whole world free—trade policy. that is the prize thatis

free—trade policy. that is the prize that is for us. it will be the uk and the uk alone that will control these vital standards as we leave. and to those who share my belief in the transformative power of free trade, perhaps the single greatest engine of global prosperity, a new deal enabled by this legislation will allow us to sign free—trade agreements around the world. i will give way with pleasure to the honourable lady. i thank the prime ministerfor giving way. schedule five a of the act lists workers detained european union light. the directive work life balance for parents and carers is augmented from the schedule. how can those omissions be consistent with the prime minister's and —— commitment to the highest possible standards for workers' rights? we

have been very clear we will maintain the highest possible standards. i am maintain the highest possible standards. iam happy maintain the highest possible standards. i am happy to study what are the honourable lady says and i can assure her that if there will be, whatever the house believes has been omitted, can easily be... i give way to the honourable lady from don valley. i thank the prime minister for giving don valley. i thank the prime ministerfor giving way. don valley. i thank the prime minister for giving way. i don valley. i thank the prime ministerfor giving way. i think across this house we all agree that there is a climate emergency and that the uk must be a leader, not a follower, when it comes to low carbon living. i welcome the pledge that an environment bill will enhance uk standards. but with the prime minister committed to reinforce submission with a clear nonaggression clause as we have an workers' rights and write this into the bill? would this not provide some of the reassurance of the house needs about not only protecting but enhancing environment of standards.

i thank the honourable lady for the work she has done to champion the environment. and i would just come i would just remind the house that our environment bill will set out for the first time legally binding targets and an office for environmental protection to enforce those targets in this country. and i remind her that in the event of the eu, the crucial thing, remind her that in the event of the eu, the crucialthing, in remind her that in the event of the eu, the crucial thing, in the event of the eu bringing forward new legislation, we will, in this government, bring forward an amendable motion so that the house may choose to match those standards. mr speaker, i must, if! may choose to match those standards. mr speaker, i must, if i may, make some progress. this new deal will allow us to sign free—trade agreements around the world, encouraging innovation, lowering prices, maximising opportunities for

world beating british companies to find new markets and bringing good newjobs to find new markets and bringing good new jobs to communities find new markets and bringing good newjobs to communities that for too long have been left behind. let me repeat, mr speaker. in any future clear —— trade relations with a country, our national health service will never be on the table. but then, mr speaker, iwas will never be on the table. but then, mr speaker, i was to say something not just to then, mr speaker, i was to say something notjust to those who think brexit is a great opportunity, asi think brexit is a great opportunity, as i do, of course i do, but also to the 16 million who voted to remain. i had end of a one in my honourable friend behind me. the eu requires 14 weeks maternity pay. in the uk we offer 49 weeks. if roditi ridgers —— reduce workers' rights, why hasn't escarpment done it already? —— why

hasn't this government done it already? he makes exactly the point that this government must have the highest possible standards for workers across the country. we believe that is the right way forward for the british economy. let me repeat, and i am glad he made that point, mr speaker. i wish to address the 48% whose concerns must a lwa ys address the 48% whose concerns must always be in our minds. the revised political declaration sets out a vision of the closest possible cooperation between the uk and our european friends. a relationship, andi european friends. a relationship, and i quote, rooted in the values and i quote, rooted in the values and interests that the european union and the united kingdom share. anchored in their common european heritage. and the british citizens living in eu countries and to eu

citizens who have made their homes here and who have contributed so much, this bill protects their rights, ensuring that they can carry on living their life as before. i give way. thank you. the prime minister has said he is against live animal exports. does this mean dover to calais, or longerjourneys from gb to northern ireland? or longer journeys still to the hebrides? what does he mean? are they short journeys to the continent only or longer journeys to journeys to the continent only or longerjourneys to northern ireland? iam longerjourneys to northern ireland? i am grateful to the honourable gentleman. he rather makes my point for me. of course what he may not realise is that animals being shipped from this country to spain, indeed to north africa, in conditions of extreme distress. and ido conditions of extreme distress. and i do not believe, and i do not believe that it is the will of this

house or indeed the will of the member opposite of that we should continue on that basis. and i say to those who care, like me, for the rights of eu nationals living in this country, i argued during the referendum that we should guarantee their rights in this country immediately, and unilaterally. and i regret this did not happen. but the bill today completes thatjob. i give way. i am grateful to my right honourable friend. he has been characteristically generous in giving way. can ijust, so that we are absolutely clear, just ask my right honourable friend again, going back to the northern ireland issue, is it his and the government's intention, as i understood it and still understand it to be, that in the phase in which we negotiate a free—trade agreement, that we would negotiate that on the basis that

northern ireland would form a whole and singular part of that agreement and singular part of that agreement and therefore would be treated exactly the same as kent? mr speaker, i can give exactly that assurance. that is exactly what this bill does. that is exactly what this agreement has secured. i give way to the honourable lady from west lancashire. prime minister my constituents voted to leave 55—45. but they want to ensure, they want to believe, and it isa ensure, they want to believe, and it is a question of trust, that there will be certainty and decent rights for all workers as we leave the eu and in the future. i welcome the announcement that there will be an employment group reform bill. but when he has got his pen out in a nswer to when he has got his pen out in answer to my honourable friend, could he actually set the date and tell us when he is going to put that

date in this bill, so we know it happens? mr speaker, i think i can confirm that we will be doing that. but it's probably best done in the course of the bill and we should get on with the bill and we should get on with the debate as fast as possible. let me come if i may, before i take some interventions, to our compatriots in northern ireland. this bill upholds in full the belfast good friday agreement, as lord trimble has attested. and our unwavering commitment to northern on the's place, unwavering commitment to northern ireland's place in the uk. i give way. the simple plank, prime minister of the mechanisms for ensuring both communities are protected in the belfast agreement is, and! protected in the belfast agreement is, and i state, from the agreement itself, to ensure that all sections

of the community can participate and work together and that all sections are work together and that all sections a re protected work together and that all sections are protected arrangements to ensure key decisions are taken on a cross community basis. how does that square with the terms of this agreement, which have been stated by yourself in this house, that decisions can only be made on a majority basis? i am very grateful to the honourable gentleman. i thank him and his party for the work that they have done to help us change this deal very, very much for the better, and they have been instrumental, he played an instrumental, he played an instrumental role in that. he knows that this is a reserved issue. i simply return to my point. it is the salient feature of these arrangements that they evaporate, they disintegrate, they vanish, unless, unless a majority of the

northern ireland assembly elects to keep them. and i think that it is up to members of the northern ireland assembly to assemble that majority if they so choose. and further, there is an opportunity, of course, to vary those arrangements in the course of the free—trade agreement, the new partnership, which i hope that he willjoin us in building together. this new deal explicitly respects the territorial integrity of the uk, takes the united kingdom whole and entire out of the eu. and of course there is a spite —— set of special provisions for northern ireland. order. a lot of members are bellowing in a rather bellicose fashion as the prime minister. he has made it clear that at the moment he is not giving way. he has taken a lot of interventions. he is proceeding at his pace. as the speaker, i give way to the honourable member from west belfast.

iam very honourable member from west belfast. i am very grateful. i have heard clearly not only what he has tried to do this afternoon to assure this house, but also in answer to the question from the member for chingford and woodford green. how can he swear the players he has given that says northern ireland can fully benefit from free trade arrangements with the provisions in the agreement he agreed, and article i3, the agreement he agreed, and article 13, that require the eu to have a say in whether we succeed from the protocol arrangements? -- secede. because there is absolutely no provision for the eu to have a say, mr speaker, because as he knows, there are special provisions in the agreement that apply to northern ireland in respect of trade goods and sanitary measures, a single electricity market. and the benefit of that alignment, that is temporary for your alignment, mr speaker, is of course that it allows us to avoid

a hard border in northern ireland. that is a great benefit. it allows us that is a great benefit. it allows us to respect the good friday agreement. but those arrangements are automatically terminated... well, just very gently so to the honourable gentleman who has had an opportunity, if it is a point of order rather than a point of frustration? a point of order, mr sammy wilson. the prime minister has claimed to the house today that the agreement... you're watching bbc news from westminster where boris johnson is urging mps to back it spreads a deal in a final bid to get the uk to leave the eu in nine days. mps will vote on the withdrawal agreement bill later tonight. at 7pm. and in the last half an hour laura kuenssberg tweeting that if mps don't agree to the government a timetable for brexit legislation, they will pull the bill. the stakes

could not be higher. we return