Moved by
Lord Stevenson of Balmacara
35: Before Schedule 1, insert the following new Schedule—
“COMMITTEE ON TRADE AGREEMENTS
Recommendation in relation to ratification
1_ The report under section (Parliamentary approval of trade agreements)(6) must include—
(a) an account of the Committee’s consultation with—
(i) each devolved authority,
(ii) public bodies, businesses, consumer groups, trade unions and non-governmental organisations which, in the opinion of the Committee, have a relevant interest,
(iii) the public, and
(iv) equivalent bodies in the other signatory states;
(b) an assessment of the qualitative and quantitative impact of the proposed trade agreement on—
(i) the economy, broken down by the different parts of the United Kingdom and different regions of England,
(ii) the environment,
(iii) human rights standards,
(iv) labour standards,
(v) individuals with protected characteristics under section 4 of the Equalities Act 2010,
in the United Kingdom;
(c) an assessment of the qualitative and quantitative impact of the proposed trade agreement on—
(i) the economy,
(ii) the environment,
(iii) human rights standards,
(iv) labour standards,
(v) individuals with protected characteristics under section 4 of the Equalities Act 2010,
in any other state which is a proposed signatory to the agreement.
2_ The report under subsection (6) of section (Parliamentary approval of trade agreements) must include an assessment of the extent to which the provisions of the proposed agreement conflict with, or are consistent with—
(a) the provisions of international treaties ratified by the United Kingdom;
(b) the provisions of the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 25 September 2015;
(c) the provisions of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights;
(d) domestic human rights law;
(e) international human rights law and international humanitarian law;
(f) the United Kingdom’s obligations on workers’ rights and labour standards as established by the United Kingdom’s commitments under the International Labour Organisation’s fundamental conventions including but not limited to the Declaration on Fundamental Rights at Work;
(g) obligations relating to animal sentience by which the United Kingdom is bound, or any principles relating to animal sentience to which the United Kingdom adheres, and any provision in domestic law (including retained EU law) relating to animal welfare standards and the welfare of animals in the production of food and the wider supply chain practice;
(h) the principle of eliminating poverty;
(i) the United Kingdom’s environmental obligations in international law;
(j) the offences in section 1 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour);
(k) the sovereignty of Parliament;
(l) the legal authority of UK courts;
(m) the rule of law;
(n) the principle of equality before the law.”