EU law to apply until December 2020
Britain will stay tied to EU laws – and be under the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice – throughout the Brexit transition period ending in December 2020. The details of this time-limited implementation period agreed between the UK and the EU are outlined in the White Paper on Legislating for the Withdrawal Agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union, published by the Department for Exiting the European Union on 24 July.
Departments “stockpiling” for Brexit
Health secretary Matt Hancock said the NHS would be stockpiling medicines just in case the UK crashes out of the EU without a Brexit deal, while Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab said the government would take steps to ensure an “adequate food supply”. However Raab told Parliament’s Brexit select committee that the disruption would be minimal and it would be wrong to describe the government’s actions as “stockpiling”.
Fracking gets green light
Fracking has finally been approved in Lancashire after months of protests over the issue. Energy firm Cuadrilla will begin work in late August or early September at the Preston New Road site, energy minister Claire Perry announced.
Red Arrows base to close
RAF Scampton, the home of the Red Arrows, is to be sold off to save £140m. A statement by defence minister Tobias Ellwood said the iconic display team would be moved to “locations more fit for purpose”.
More courts to close
A further seven courts in England will be closed in a bid to save money. They are: Blackfriars Crown Court, Banbury Magistrates' and County Court, magistrates' courts in Maidenhead, Chorley, Fleetwood, and Northallerton and Wandsworth County Court.
Housing document delayed
A policy document on social housing which was promised before the summer break has been delayed. Shadow housing secretary John Healey said ministers had “missed their own deadline” on the long-awaited green paper.
Crossrail budget soars
The budget to deliver the new Crossrail service in London has shot up by £600m. Rail minister Jo Johnson said “cost pressures” meant the final bill for the project – which when finished will be named the Elizabeth Line – will be £15.4bn.
Immigration detention condemned
Home secretary Sajid Javid has announced a major shakeup in immigration detention after a government report said conditions in immigration centres were still not good enough and made more than 60 new recommendations. The report was handed to the Home Office in April this year, but the government waited until today to release it.
Money given to Jordan army not cleared by MPs
The Government gave £13.3m to the army in Jordan between 2015 and 2017 but failed to tell MPs. Defence secretary Gavin Williamson said “robust measures” had been taken to ensure the oversight would not happen again.