Responding to the Government’s admission that at least forty percent of statutory instruments needed by the 29th March are still yet to be laid in the House of Lords, Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords, Dick Newby said:

“It is nothing short of a dereliction of duty by this Conservative Government who have failed to lay vital legislation in time for the UK’s exit from the European Union.

“Not only do these statutory instruments still need to be tabled, but they all need to be scrutinised and passed by 29th March. The fact that the Minister could not tell me how many statutory instruments have already passed through both Houses of Parliament shows how clueless Theresa May’s Government is.

“No one voted for this chaos.  The only way out of this mess is a people’s vote, with the option to remain in the EU.”