The Government will not publish a Brexit impact assessment even though this is standard practice for international agreements and UK government policies. There is no excuse for this, just as there isn't for limiting Parliamentary debate, because an IA is not just about numbers...
Impact assessments are about ensuring a policy is properly scrutinised. Even if the policy goes ahead, Government typically wants to know what the impact will be on business generally, on sectors, on levels of regulation, environment, equality etc
So for the example of this Brexit Withdrawal Agreement we might want to know what the impact will be on business in GB and Northern Ireland of extra paperwork. Or on the NHS if citizens return to the UK from abroad. Or on the car manufacturing sector.
By starting to think about these impacts policy-makers are then able to consider what interventions might be required, or whether during implementation certain approaches should be taken. Obviously MPs can also ask questions on this basis.
Brexit being political does not remove the need for good administration. In fact the very opposite - when decisions are made in the coming years about implementation it will be helpful for officials to have an agreed baseline. But this won't be in place.
Yet again on Brexit the Government is ignoring usual practice, and then accusing anyone who points this out of being a remainer. It may be good electoral politics, but it is terrible governance for the country as a whole, and it will come back and cause problems. /end
