Recommendation 6

The Department has not done enough to support effective Parliamentary scrutiny of trade agreements. Despite the Department making additional commitments beyond the statutory framework, the International Trade Committee has not been provided with information from the Department in sufficient time to enable it to perform its scrutiny function effectively. For example, although the Department shared the final agreement with Australia three months ahead of the statutory process for Parliamentary scrutiny, this still makes it difficult for that Committee to consider and produce a report for Parliament in time for it to have an impact. It would also be easier for Parliament to scrutinise trade agreements if it had sight of the negotiating objectives at the outset. There is a precedent in Parliament where government has provided privileged information to the Committee and to other select committees. The House of Lords International Agreements Committee has also called for Parliament to have a stronger formal role earlier in the process and for provision of the agreement text prior to signature. Recommendation: The Department should make further commitments that would support robust and timely Parliamentary scrutiny. These should include providing the International Trade Committee and the House of Lords International Agreement Committee with the negotiating objectives, under privileged access, at the outset of the negotiations, providing oral updates at regular points on a trusted basis, and sharing any other key information in sufficient time for scrutiny. Progress with trade negotiations 9 1 The trade negotiations programme