Trade Bill - Genocide Amendment vote 22nd March

 

Thank you to the many constituents who have recently got in touch regarding the genocide amendment in the Trade Bill.

The government is entirely committed to ensuring that its trade policy is consistent with our international human rights obligations and that we take the issue of genocide extremely seriously. I supported the amendment tabled by Sir Bob Neill, Chair of the Justice Select Committee, which was agreed in the House of Commons on 9 February.

I believe that Sir Bob Neill’s amendment offers the best way forward on this issue and amounts to a proportionate, sensible, and substantive compromise. It will ensure that if the responsible Committees publish a report which states there exist credible reports of genocide that may be occurring in the territory of a country with which we are proposing a new free trade agreement, Parliament will have an opportunity to insist on a debate and vote on the issue. The government would first respond in writing to set out its position and, if further requested by the Committee, the government would be bound by law to make time for a debate and vote in Parliament. The responsible Commons Committee will have the power, under the amendment, to draft the wording for the substantive motion for Commons debate, while in the Lords it would be a motion to take note of the responsible Lords Committee’s report.

The Neill Amendment also opens the way for both Houses to determine the appropriate committee procedures for such an inquiry. This respects the exclusive cognisance of both Houses of Parliament to regulate their own procedures. The government has said that it is willing to work with Parliament and relevant Select Committee chairs should they choose to establish new joint committees or sub-committees, or to engage the expertise of former members of the judiciary. While it is for Parliament to decide how best to engage such expertise, the government is willing to work with Parliament to develop a sensible and effective process provided it does not contravene our settled policy on genocide determination.

I could not support the other genocide amendment. It would not have any practical effect on stopping genocide or human rights abuses nor would it have any effect on our trade policy.

The Rule of Law is not strengthened by handing over what should be a decision for democratically elected officials to the courts.

You can also see one of my previous posts on the Trade Bill from January on the link below:

https://cherilynmackrorymp.blogspot.com/2021/01/trade-bill-amendments.html

If you would like to discuss this further or any other matter, then please do not hesitate to contact me.

cherilyn.mackrory.mp@parliament.uk