Parliament must have role in scrutinising Brexit negotiations, say Lords
All aspects of the negotiations on the UK withdrawal from the EU, including trade negotiations, should be effectively scrutinised by Parliament, says a Lords report out today.
The report, Scrutinising Brexit: the role of Parliament, says that the withdrawal process is arguably the “most important task that the Government has undertaken since the Second World War”.
It stresses that parliamentary scrutiny will be critical to the success of the withdrawal process, and that this scrutiny will provide an audit trail for future generations.
Lord Boswell, Chairman of the EU Committee, said:
“In this report we conclude that it's vital that Parliament is involved in scrutinising every step of the withdrawal process, including any informal discussions that may precede Article 50, formal negotiations under Article 50 itself, and any continuing negotiations establishing a new relationship between the UK and the EU.
“The negotiations are of immense significance to the future of the UK. The rights of EU and UK citizens currently living in each other's countries, our internal security, and the long-term prosperity of the UK are all going to be shaped by these negotiations.
“We can't afford to get this wrong, and we urge the Government to ensure that effective scrutiny is placed at the heart of its plans. We also believe that the House of Lords European Union Committee is in a strong position to carry out this oversight.”
Key findings
- Parliament's role in scrutinising withdrawal negotiations will be critical.
- Scrutiny must cover informal discussions, the withdrawal agreement and the agreement on the new relationship.
- New relationship talks could start as soon as Article 50 is triggered.
- Parliamentary scrutiny would be enhanced by ensuring a key role for the House of Lords European Union Committee.
The report is strictly embargoed until 00:01 on Friday 22 July.
To request a copy, please contact the press office.
