Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent discussions he has had with international partners on the inclusion of Investor State Dispute Settlement in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations.

The Government has ongoing discussions on the inclusion of investor-state dispute settlement provisions in the Free Trade Agreement currently being negotiated between the EU and US, also known as the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. These discussions have included other EU member states, the European Commission, civil society groups, and other stakeholders. We want investment protection provisions that guarantee the right of governments to legislate in the public interest while ensuring access to justice for investors who are discriminated against or treated unfairly.

The UK has Bilateral Investment Treaties in force with 94 countries and has never faced a serious investor state dispute claim.