Who is the Cabinet Secretary and how are they appointed?
The Cabinet Secretary is the Head of the Home Civil Service. They are appointed by the Prime Minister following a recruitment process.
How much information does the Government give Parliament about its position in advance of treaty negotiations? Is it bound to provide Parliament with information on its 'red lines' and strategies? This note looks at some past examples of White and Green Papers ahead of treaty negotiations.
Treaty negotiations: when has the Government published its position? (2 MB , PDF)
Following the vote on 23 June 2016 to leave the European Union there has been a lot of parliamentary interest in treaty negotiations – particularly the Government’s provision of information to Parliament about its negotiating position and ‘red lines’ ahead of negotiations.
Treaty negotiation is a matter for the UK Government. There is no formal requirement or mechanism in the UK for parliamentary scrutiny before or during treaty negotiations (when changes could still be made to the text), although Ministers will commonly ‘communicate with the relevant select committee’ before signing a treaty [HL Deb 31 January 2008 c796].
The Government also sometimes publishes information about its negotiating position. This paper provides some examples of green and white papers and other consultation the UK Government has used to set out its position in negotiating EU and other international treaties:
They do not always set out a negotiating strategy and they vary in the amount of detail provided.
Treaty negotiations: when has the Government published its position? (2 MB , PDF)
The Cabinet Secretary is the Head of the Home Civil Service. They are appointed by the Prime Minister following a recruitment process.
A debate has been scheduled in Westminster Hall for 2.30pm on 3 December on family farming in Devon. The debate will be opened by Sir Geoffrey Cox MP.
What actions has the UN Secretary General, Security Council, General Assembly, International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court taken during the 2023/24 Israel-Hamas conflict?