The Dutch cabinet has agreed to water down emergency legislation which it will enact if Britain crashes out of the EU without a deal after MPs said the original proposal gives the cabinet uncontrollable powers.

Foreign affairs minister Stef Blok, who is in charge of the Brexit process, told MPs in a debate on Thursday evening he would accept several amendments to curtail the role of the cabinet.

The legislation gives a minister the right to change or withdraw laws without parliamentary approval and without being put out to consultation to the Council of State.

Block has now agreed that emergency laws should only remain in force for six months, rather than a year, and that parliament should approve any new legislation no more than 10 weeks after it has been enacted.

Three of the four coalition parties and most of the opposition were critical of Blok’s plans, saying they were undemocratic and bypassed parliament.

Blok sent the emergency powers legislation to parliament last November as part of the preparations for a no-deal Brexit. The aim of the legislation is to make sure that ‘people, animals and companies’ can be helped in the event of a no-deal, by allowing ministers to take measures to cope with unforeseen events.

A no-deal Brexit could have ‘far-reaching consequences for the movement of people and of goods,’ Blok said during the debate. It is the second time he has made amendments to the draft legislation.