How should the UK's parliaments scrutinise international agreements?

The Constitution Unit

Many of the highest-profile political issues – including trade, security, and immigration – are now shaped by international treaties and agreements. These agreements are negotiated by ministers and officials, and recent years have seen complaints that the UK’s parliaments lack the scrutiny tools they need. So why does parliamentary scrutiny of international agreements matter? Does the current system allow for adequate scrutiny? And if not, what needs to change?

Speakers:

Lord (Peter) Goldsmith KC – Chair of the House of Lords International Agreements Committee

Arabella Lang – Head of Public Law at the Law Society

Clare Adamson MSP – SNP MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, and Convener of the Scottish Parliament’s Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee.

Chair: Lisa James – Senior Research Fellow, Constitution Unit

Further reading:

• 'Treaty scrutiny in Westminster: addressing the accountability gap' (House of Lords International Agreements Committee, 11 September 2025).

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