Select committee: International Agreements Committee

24th Report - Scrutiny of International Agreements: Agreement with Switzerland on the Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications

Published 20 September 2023

International Agreements Committee UK-Swiss Professional Qualifications Agreement Report on parliament.uk ↗

At a glance1 recommendation and 2 conclusions · Government response published 20 November 2023 (deadline 20 November 2023)

The government's response

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government sets out how the Switzerland agreement will be implemented and states that it is consistent with the Professional Qualifications Act 2022, while "not convinced" that a separate call for input is the best means of consultation for future agreements.

On regulators' concerns, the government says it sought to balance continuity for businesses with minimising the burden on regulators, and that changes to existing arrangements have been kept "to a minimum".
On implementation, DBT "aims to have these regulations in force by 1 January 2025", using secondary legislation under the Professional Qualifications Act 2022. Regulator consultations will "likely" take place in the first half of 2024.
On monitoring, the agreement establishes a Joint Committee that will, among other things, monitor implementation by both countries and develop guidelines for sector-specific arrangements.
On use as a model, the government states the agreement "is consistent with both the principles and the requirements" of the 2022 Act, and that regulators remain responsible for deciding comparability and compensatory measures.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error

What the committee recommended 3

Sources

24th Report - Scrutiny of International Agreements: Agreement with Switzerland on the Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications ↗The committee's report, parliament.uk
Letter from Lord Johnson to IAC Chair ↗The government's response, 20 November 2023, parliament.uk

Recommendations and conclusions 3

50
We note that the Agreement enables the recognition of professional qualifications beyond 2024, providing certainty... Conclusion Conclusion (the committee's words)
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.
51
Nevertheless, we highlight concerns with the Agreement and its implications, as discussed in paragraphs 22–23... Recommendation Recommendation (the committee's words)
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.
52
Noting these concerns, we report the Agreement to the House for special attention. Conclusion Conclusion (the committee's words)
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