UK-Swiss Professional Qualifications Agreement

We note that the Agreement enables the recognition of professional qualifications beyond 2024, providing certainty to businesses and professionals, and that advances that have been made for professionals on the existing Citizens’ Rights Agreement, for example the extension of its provisions to all regulated services professionals in the UK, regardless of citizenship.

Nevertheless, we highlight concerns with the Agreement and its implications, as discussed in paragraphs 22–23 (impact on existing regulatory frameworks), 29–30 ( implementation arrangements), 38–40 (quality of consultation) and 47–49 (use of the Agreement as a model). We call on the Government to address these concerns in implementing the Agreement and in negotiating future RPQ arrangements with other countries.

Noting these concerns, we report the Agreement to the House for special attention. 2 Department for Business and Trade, Agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Swiss Confederation on Recognition of Professional Qualifications (20 June 2023): https://assets .publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data /file/1162806/uk-switzerland-rpq-agreement.pdf [accessed 13 September 2023] 3 HC Deb, 4 September 2023, HCWS999 4 Department for Business and Trade, Explanatory Memorandum on the Agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Swiss Confederation on Recognition of Professional Qualifications (20 June 2023): https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system /uploads/attachment_data/file/1162827/uk-switzerland-rpq-explanatory_memorandum .pdf [accessed 13 September 2023] 5 Department for Business and Trade, Explanatory Memorandum on the Agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Swiss Confederation on Recognition of Professional Qualifications (20 June 2023), para 3.1: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads /attachment_data/file/1162827/uk-switzerland-rpq-explanatory_memorandum.pdf [accessed 13 September 2023]. Exports are reported as £14.8bn compared to £8.8bn in imports. 6 Department for Business and Trade, ‘UK to launch talks with Switzerland on new trade deal’ (15 May 2023): https:// www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-to-launch-talks-with- switzerland-on-new-trade-deal [accessed 13 September 2023] 7 Department for Business and Trade, Explanatory Memorandum on the Agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Swiss Confederation on Recognition of Professional Qualifications (20 June 2023), para 3.3: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/ system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1162827/uk-switzerland-rpq-explanatory_ memorandum.pdf [accessed 13 September 2023] 8 Written evidence from the Solicitors Regulation Authority ( SPQ0007 ) 9 Written evidence from the General Medical Council ( SPQ0005 ) 10 Written evidence from the General Medical Council ( SPQ0005 ) 11 Written evidence from the Nursing and Midwifery Council ( SPQ0006 ) 12 Written evidence from the Health and Care Professions Council ( SPQ0009 ) 13 Written evidence from the Law Society of England and Wales ( SPQ0001 ) 14 Written evidence from the Law Society of England and Wales ( SPQ0001 ) 15 Supplementary written evidence from Marco Cillario, Law Society of England and Wales ( SPQ0004 ) 16 Written evidence from the Law Society of Scotland ( SPQ0002 ) 17 Written evidence from the Law Society of Scotland ( SPQ0002 ) 18 Written evidence from the Bar Council ( SPQ0008 ) 19 Written evidence from the Nursing and Midwifery Council ( SPQ0006 ) 20 Written evidence from the Bar Council ( SPQ0008 ) 21 Supplementary written evidence from Marco Cillario, Law Society of England and Wales ( SPQ0004 ) 22 Written evidence from the Law Society of Scotland ( SPQ0002 ) 23 Department for Business and Trade, Explanatory Memorandum on the Agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Swiss Confederation on Recognition of Professional Qualifications (20 June 2023): https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/ uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1162827/uk-switzerland-rpq- explanatory_memorandum.pdf [accessed 13 September 2023] 24 Department for Business and Trade, Explanatory Memorandum on the Agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Swiss Confederation on Recognition of Professional Qualifications (20 June 2023): https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads /attachment_data/file/1162827/uk-switzerland-rpq-explanatory_memorandum.pdf [accessed 13 September 2023] 25 Welsh Parliament Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, International Agreement: Agreements considered on 10 July 2023 (July 2023): https://senedd.wales/media/sa4c5os2/cr-ld15947-e .pdf [accessed 13 September 2023] 26 Welsh Parliament Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, International Agreement: Agreements considered on 10 July 2023 (July 2023): https://senedd.wales/media/sa4c5os2/cr-ld15947 -e.pdf [accessed 13 September 2023] 27 Department for Business and Trade, Explanatory Memorandum on the Agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Swiss Confederation on Recognition of Professional Qualifications (20 June 2023): https ://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment _data/file/1162827/uk-switzerland-rpq-explanatory_memorandum.pdf [accessed 13 September 2023] 28 Department for Business and Trade, Explanatory Memorandum on the Agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Swiss Confederation on Recognition of Professional Qualifications (20 June 2023): https://assets.publishing.service .gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1162827 /uk-switzerland-rpq-explanatory_memorandum.pdf [accessed 13 September 2023] 29 Department for Business and Trade, Explanatory Memorandum on the Agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Swiss Confederation on Recognition of Professional Qualifications (20 June 2023): https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government /uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1162827/uk-switzerland-rpq -explanatory_memorandum.pdf [accessed 13 September 2023] 30 Written evidence from the General Medical Council ( SPQ0005 ) 31 Written evidence from the Nursing and Midwifery Council ( SPQ0006 ) 32 Written evidence from the Nursing and Midwifery Council ( SPQ0006 ) 33 Written evidence from the General Medical Council ( SPQ0005 ) 34 Written evidence from the Nursing and Midwifery Council ( SPQ0006 ) 35 Written evidence from the Law Society of England and Wales ( SPQ0001 ) 36 Q 1 37 Written evidence from the Law Society of Scotland ( SPQ0002 ) 38 Written evidence from the General Medical Council ( SPQ0005 ) 39 Written evidence from the Solicitors Regulation Authority ( SPQ0007 ) 40 Written evidence from the Law Society of England and Wales ( SPQ0001 ) 41 Written evidence from the Bar Council ( SPQ0008 ) 42 Written evidence from the Law Society of Scotland ( SPQ0002 ) < Back Next > © Parliamentary copyright 2023 A-Z index Glossary Contact us Freedom of Information Jobs Using this website Copyright Privacy notice Cookie policy Cookie Manager House of Lords - Scrutiny of International Agreements: Agreement with Switzerland on the Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications - International Agreements Committee Accessibility Email alerts RSS feeds Contact us Home Parliamentary business MPs, Lords & offices About Parliament Get involved Visiting Education House of Commons House of Lords What's on Bills & legislation Committees Publications & records Parliament TV News Topics Scrutiny of International Agreements: Agreement with Switzerland on the Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications Contents