Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 10
10
Paragraph: 64
With cross-Government working comes a need for cross-committee scrutiny.
Conclusion
With cross-Government working comes a need for cross-committee scrutiny. If the Government is to succeed in achieving an “integrated” approach to UK security and foreign policy as set out in the Integrated Review, Government departments must be held to account by all committees with the relevant remit and expertise. In the case of the Investment Security Unit, this would ensure that scrutiny of Government decisions is not only conducted by select committees with a primarily pro-business lens, but would provide a more balanced and nuanced assessment of its decisions.
Paragraph Reference:
64
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government believes it is right that the BEIS Select Committee should oversee the work of the ISU in its operation of the NSI Act. This is the Parliamentary Committee with responsibility for overseeing the work of BEIS, where the ISU is housed. The Government has committed to ensuring the BEIS Select Committee has access to the information it needs to undertake such scrutiny, and a Memorandum of Understanding underpinning these arrangements will be published in due course. The Government will continue to work with the Foreign Affairs Committee and other relevant Parliamentary committees to ensure that they are appropriately informed of the NSI system and the work of the ISU. This includes scrutiny by the Science and Technology Select Committee, where the work of the Unit falls within the specific remit of that Committee. The Government also welcomes the Intelligence and Security Committee’s continued scrutiny of the work of the intelligence community, including where that supports the work of the ISU.