PARLIAMENTARY SCRUTINY OF TRADE DEALS

That this House is concerned that UK international investment policy has not kept pace with commitments on human rights, the environment and international development, most especially that the formulation of existing Bilateral Investment Treaties may prevent partner countries from implementing policies to further progress in those areas, and that the process for parliamentary scrutiny in the UK is inadequate; believes the Government should develop an approach that complements the UK's other international commitments; recognises that governments around the world have already made significant changes to their policies; and calls on the Secretary of State for International Trade to undertake a full rethink of the UK's approach to international investment protection, including working towards the removal of Investor State Dispute Settlement mechanisms from these treaties and to ensure Parliament has the fullest opportunity to debate, vote on and amend trade and investment deals.