Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of whether parliamentary approval is required for implementation of the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement.

While the UK is still a member of the EU, all rights and obligations will apply. We continue to support the EU’s trade agenda and the UK will participate constructively in EU decision making on trade issues.

The Government considers that the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is a “mixed agreement” consisting of both EU and Member State competence. Provided the European Council agrees, this means that CETA can only take full effect once the UK has decided to ratify it. As part of that ratification process, the complete draft text of the agreement would be laid before Parliament for 21 sitting days. In addition, the Government will ensure the proposals for a Council decision on signature, and subsequently conclusion, will be subject to scrutiny in both houses of the UK Parliament.