Labour seeks to force publication of leaked Brexit study
Ministers agree to publish Brexit report if requested by MPs
(about 4 hours later)
Labour will try to force the government to release its latest assessment of the impact of Brexit on the economy through a binding Commons vote.
Leaked studies on the economic impact of Brexit will be released if MPs back the move in a vote later.
The leaked study suggests that in three different scenarios the UK economy would grow more slowly than it would if it stayed in the European Union.
Downing Street said it would allow MPs and peers to see the report on a confidential basis if directed.
Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer said MPs needed the details to make informed decisions.
Ministers said they would not oppose a Labour motion urging its publication amid signs they would lose the vote.
The government said the document could damage UK negotiations with the EU.
The leaked study suggests that in three different scenarios the UK economy would grow more slowly than it would if it stayed in the European Union
Meanwhile, the BBC understands a government minister will keep his job after raising concern about the study.
The government had previously argued that the document could damage UK negotiations with the EU.
Justice Minister Phillip Lee tweeted that if the figures were "anywhere near right, there would be a serious question over whether a government could legitimately lead a country along a path that the evidence and rational consideration indicate would be damaging".
Theresa May earlier told reporters en route to China, where she is on a trade mission, that making the analysis public before it was fully completed would be "wrong".
The leaked document, titled EU Exit Analysis - Cross Whitehall Briefing, suggests that almost every part of the economy would do less well as otherwise expected, according to Buzzfeed which has seen it.
But with the government facing potential defeat in the vote on Wednesday afternoon, Brexit minister Robin Walker told MPs a copy of the report would be given to Hilary Benn, the Labour chairman of the Commons Brexit committee.
It looked at scenarios ranging from leaving with no deal to remaining within the EU single market.
He added: "And a confidential reading room can be provided for other MPs and peers a copy of this analysis to view the material on a confidential basis. This will happen only when arrangements can be made."
Brexit minister Steve Baker played down the significance of the document as he responded to an urgent question in the Commons on Tuesday.
The minister did not clearly specify a timeframe on when these arrangements can be made.
It "does not yet take account of the opportunities of leaving the EU", he said, adding that civil service forecasts were "always wrong, and wrong for good reasons".
Labour have called for the report to be released since details of its existence first emerged in a Buzzfeed article on Monday. Several Tories also said the material should be made public.
This sparked anger from a civil servants' union, but Mr Baker said he had had a "jolly" conversation with his officials on Wednesday morning.
Speaking before the government concession was announced, shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer said Parliament was entitled to know the likely impact of the government's approach and to hold it to account.
Mr Baker said the government would not be publishing the study, adding that it was at a "preliminary" stage and had not been approved by ministers, and that to release it now could damage the UK's negotiation prospects with EU.
"What we need now from the Government is clarity about when the documents will be handed over and a guarantee they will be so in an unedited and unredacted form," he said.
But Labour's Sir Keir said: "People voted to leave the European Union in part to give Parliament control about its own future.
"That means giving MPs the information they need to scrutinise the government's approach to Brexit.
"Ministers cannot keep sidelining Parliament to hide the deep divisions within their own party," he added.
"They should accept this motion and allow the country to have an informed debate about its relationship with Europe after Brexit."
In an opposition day debate later, Labour will use an archaic parliamentary procedure to bring a vote which would be binding on the government.
On Tuesday, a number of pro-Remain Conservatives joined opposition MPs in calling for the analysis to be released, suggesting the vote could be close.
Former Conservative chancellor Kenneth Clarke accused ministers of trying to protect the government from "political embarrassment" in refusing to release the document.
According to Buzzfeed, the report suggests UK economic growth would be 8% lower than current forecasts, in 15 years' time, if the country left the bloc with no deal and reverted to World Trade Organisation rules.
It says growth would be 5% lower if Britain negotiated a free trade deal and 2% lower even if the UK were to continue to adhere to the rules of the single market.
