Lords Constitution Committee raises concerns over Brexit Trade Bill

Ahead of committee stage in the House of Lords the Constitution Committee is calling on the Government to make amendments to the Trade Bill.

The Committee’s report, published today, urges the Government to:

• Ensure that safeguards for the delegated powers, which have been promised by the Government, are actually included in the Bill
• Provide a clear process for parliamentary consideration of GPA – the EU agreement to open public procurement markets
• Improve engagement with devolved governments regarding their role in treaty negotiation post-Brexit

The report also concludes that:

• The establishment of the new Trade Remedies Authority, largely through delegated powers, is constitutionally inappropriate
• Parliament will need new mechanisms to scrutinise treaties post-Brexit

Chairman of the House of Lords Constitution Committee, Baroness Taylor of Bolton said:

“We recognise the scale, challenge and unprecedented nature of Brexit, but the Government must legislate in line with constitutional principles. In particular, it must deliver on the safeguards for delegated powers that it promises in the Trade Bill’s explanatory notes, but which it has not included in the Bill itself.”