Recognition of Professional Qualifications: Switzerland Agreement

Monday 4th September 2023 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (David Rutley)]

The Government have today laid the following statement as an Un-numbered Act Paper, pursuant to section 21(2) of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010:

On 14 June 2023, the UK and Switzerland signed an agreement that provides for recognition of professional qualifications obtained in the other country.

The intention is for this agreement to enter into force on 1 January 2025, following the completion of domestic processes by both parties.

The Government laid this agreement in Parliament on 20 June 2023 under Command Paper CP 869, accompanied by an explanatory memorandum.

In accordance with section 21 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 (CRaG), I wish to inform the House that the 21 sitting day period that relates to this agreement pursuant to section 20(1) CRaG is to be extended. The 21 sitting day period is to be extended by four sitting days, meaning that the sitting period for this agreement will end on 13 September 2023.

This extension follows a request from the House of Lords International Agreements Committee for further time to consider the agreement. The Government believe that 21 sitting days provides sufficient opportunity for Parliament to scrutinise treaties laid under CRaG. In this instance, the agreement was laid on 20 June 2023, with the 21 sitting day period concluding over 11 weeks later, on 6 September 2023. In this instance, the Government recognise the specific circumstances of the Committee’s request, which includes that this extension will not affect the timeline for entry into force of this agreement, and are content to accommodate it.

[HCWS999]