Source · Select Committees · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Recommendation 26
26
Rejected
Parliament's scrutiny of international agreements requires involvement throughout the entire lifecycle.
Conclusion
To carry out its constitutional function effectively in regard to the scrutiny of international agreements, it is not enough for Parliament to be involved only at the end of the process. A new approach to conceptualising international negotiations and international agreements needs to be developed in the UK whereby Parliament is involved throughout the process or ‘lifecycle’ of an international agreement, from early considerations on whether to open negotiations, through the negotiation rounds themselves, and on to indications of consent (for example, by way of a formal vote on whether or not to approve treaty), and then beyond, into implementation and review. (Paragraph 110) Parliamentary Scrutiny of International Agreements in the 21st century 65
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation for Parliament to be involved throughout the lifecycle of international agreements, asserting that existing parliamentary mechanisms are sufficient and that mandates for treaties should not be subject to parliamentary approval.
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
noting that: (a) existing parliamentary mechanisms, supported by the work of the designated treaties committee, should be sufficient to provide effective scrutiny; and (b) mandates for treaties should not be subject to parliamentary approval. These issues were considered during the passage of the Trade Act 2021, where amendments regarding Parliament’s role in the objectives and mandate-setting process and pre- signature scrutiny were rejected by considerable majorities in the House of Commons. 12 Government Response