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The new House of Lords International Agreements Sub-Committee, which I advise, has just published a significant new report on its proposed working practices. You can read the report here: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/448/eu-international-agreements-subcommittee/news/147328/insufficient-time-allowed-for-effective-treaty-scrutiny-says-lords-report/
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In summary, the report considers the deficiencies of Parliament’s current treaty scrutiny processes and suggests ways that the new Sub-Committee can help, by conducting practical and effective scrutiny of international agreements.
The Sub-Committee concludes that: time and experience will show whether it is possible to conduct effective scrutiny within the short 21 sitting day timetable provided for under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010
The report states that “If the CRAG Act is not to be amended, then it is essential that the Government provides detailed and comprehensive information at each stage of the treaty-making process”.
It includes several recommendations to Government on these issues. It also considers how the new Committee can engage with the devolved administrations and legislatures, other Committees in the Westminster Parliament and stakeholders with an interest in new treaties.
A number of experts spoke to us and sent us helpful submissions on how treaty scrutiny should work, including @DavidHenigUK @Arabella_Law @instituteforgov @hhesterm @Jude_KD @mario_mendez1 @PhilippeLagasse @StephenAdamsGC @mastermanmurray, Jill Barret and Joanna Harrington.
We also received some very helpful submissions on how this is done in other Parliaments from both clerks and academic experts from Norway, Canada, and Wales, Australia and New Zealand. (Ends).
