Whilst all the focus has been on the Supreme Court case over the procedure for triggering Article 50 meanwhile the House of Commons has been pursuing all the usual business. On Monday the Local Government Finance Bill received a Second reading. This Bill paves the way for local Councils to be able to retain all the business rates collected in their area. Yesterday, after a Statement and lots of questions on the result of the Supreme Court case the House dealt with amendments made by the House of Lords to the Wales Bill. Today it is another Opposition day with debates on prisons and education concentrating on the proposals for a new school funding formula.
As anticipated the Supreme Court upheld the decision of the High Court on the issue of Article 50 so now a new Bill will be introduced giving power to the government to trigger Article 50. We should find out the proposed timetable for the new Bill quite soon.
David Nuttall 