Source · Select Committees · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Recommendation 16
16
Accepted
Paragraph: 69
Retain requirement for explanatory memorandum with treaties under Constitutional Reform Act 2010.
Recommendation
We recommend that the existing requirement to provide an explanatory memorandum along with the treaty in Section 24 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 is retained.
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation and commits to continuing to provide an explanatory memorandum alongside treaties for parliamentary scrutiny under CRaG, and will keep this under review to ensure necessary detail is provided.
Paragraph Reference:
69
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
Agree. The Government accepts the Committee’s recommendation to continue to provide an explanatory memorandum alongside treaties laid before Parliament for scrutiny under CRaG. The Government has previously agreed, in consultation with the IAC, the information to be provided so that Parliament may effectively scrutinise key elements of a treaty. This includes how a treaty enters into force, whether it can be amended and details of implementation including any relevant existing domestic legislation and any legislation needed to be enacted. It will keep this in review and continue to work with Parliament to ensure the necessary detail is provided. The Government continues to welcome the scrutiny efforts provided by the IAC, which provides a valuable scanning function.