Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill

 The next email:

Dear Ms Richardson,

Now that the question of the next incumbent of No 10 Downing Street has been settled may I raise the issue of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill which has its 2nd reading on Tuesday? In the words of Teresa May, retention of EU law after Brexit would "provide maximum certainty........It will be for democratically elected representatives in the UK to decide on any changes to that law, after full scrutiny and proper debate". The Bill provides that this scrutiny shall be carried out by the end of 2023, just 433 days away. Given that there are some 2400 pieces of REUL I find it difficult that believe that this artificial deadline provides sufficient time to fully and properly assess each piece of legislation. After all, there are some extremely important laws to be considered such as:

Setting minimum standards to ensure that aircraft are safe to fly;
Banning the use of cancer causing chemicals in cosmetics;
Protection for part-time workers so that they are not less well treated than their full-time colleagues;
Compensation for travellers in cases of delays and lost luggage;
Protection for staff pensions when a company goes into liquidation;
A ban on the trafficking of illegal weapons;
Minimum requirements for maternity pay.

It may well be that it is agreed that all of the above will be retained, or replaced with suitable alternatives, but the self-imposed sunset clause, which really has nothing to do with Brexit - that has already happened, risks all manner of unexpected consequences. Furthermore, this Damoclean sword hanging over legislation that UK governments of all colours have thought perfectly sensible in the past, can hardly be considered as "providing maximum certainty". Indeed, the vacuum that one encounters when looking for any specifics concerning which regulations might be radically altered or scrapped, can hardly be regarded as providing "maximum certainty". The events of the last couple of weeks have clearly show that lack of certainty can have major consequences.

This Bill should be scrapped.

Yours sincerely,

Richard Bawden