Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 28
28
The opportunity for Parliament to view negotiating objectives at the outset would aid its scrutiny...
Conclusion
The opportunity for Parliament to view negotiating objectives at the outset would aid its scrutiny of trade agreements.78 There is a precedent in Parliament to share privileged information between government and select committees. For example, this Committee routinely sees privileged information and the Intelligence and Security Committee sees documents on a confidential basis. The Department said that it is not refusing to share the text of the agreement and is increasing the time that it allows for scrutiny, but it understands that it needs to improve.79 71 Letter from Permanent Secretary, DIT, to the Chair of the Public Accounts, 4 February 2022 72 Qq 14, 61 73 Qq 67–69, 79 74 C&AG’s Report, para 4.10 75 C&AG’s Report, para 19 76 Qq 70–73 77 Qq 71 78 Q 73 79 Q 72 18 Progress with trade negotiations
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
6: PAC conclusion: The Department has not done enough to support effective Parliamentary scrutiny of trade agreements. 6: PAC 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. 6.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 6.2 The government publishes, and provides to the relevant select committees, its strategic approach to each new FTA at the outset of negotiations; this includes negotiation objectives. This is published alongside the response to the public call for input, and an initial scoping assessment. The government remains committed to sharing these documents with the relevant select committees in advance of publication where time allows. 6.3 Furthermore, the government provides oral updates to the relevant select committees and is happy to reiterate its offer to make Chief Negotiators available to brief the committees in private should they wish. In 2021, the department’s ministers and senior officials briefed the International Trade Committee on 17 occasions, six of these times specifically focussed on Australia and New Zealand FTA negotiations. The government always endeavours to share relevant information with the Committees where possible, whilst being mindful of the need to protect UK negotiating interests and the Department’s negotiating partners’ legitimate expectations of confidentiality. 6.4 Nonetheless, the government will continue to review arrangements, ensuring they remain fit for purpose.