The parliamentary session will run from 2017 until 2019, coinciding with the current timeline for Britain to leave the EU.

‘By doubling the length of the session the government is providing the space for MPs and peers to scrutinise and debate the government’s approach to both Brexit and its domestic agenda without interruption,’ said a government statement.

In 2010 a two-year parliamentary session was put in place by the coalition government.

The elongated session will also provide space to consider the domestic agenda, which Andrea Leadsom MP, leader of the House of Commons, said ‘aims to tackle the social injustices in our country’.

‘We will build the broadest possible consensus for our Brexit plans and that means giving parliament the maximum amount of time to scrutinise these bills by holding a two-year session of parliament,’ she added. ‘It will mean we can work together to deliver a successful Brexit deal and a strong social legislative programme that delivers justice and opportunity to everyone.’

Yesterday the terms of reference for Brexit negotiations, set in play after the EU-leaving Article 50 mechanism was enacted, were set by the two negotiating parties. This included: setting four-weekly meetings between the EU and British officials lasting several days; organisation of additional working parties; and groups discussing citizens’ rights, financial settlement and other separation issues. The next meeting will be on the week commencing 17 July.

Britain appeared to have stepped back from its original bargaining position of discussing trade talks in tandem with exit talks. Instead, the financial settlement and other matters will be dealt with first, before moving onto trade negotiations.

‘It’s not how it starts, it’s how it finishes that matters,’ Davis said. ‘Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.’

Details of the government’s planned terms for EU citizens’ rights to live in the UK is expected to be confirmed on Monday.

‘I’ve been encouraged by the constructive approach that both sides have taken,’ Davis said. ‘We have laid a solid foundation for future discussions, with an ambitious but eminently achievable timetable. It was clear from the opening that both of us want to achieve the best possible outcome and the strongest possible partnership. One that works for the UK and for the EU.’

Report by Kevin Reed