PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
TRADE IN SERVICES AGREEMENT (9 November 2015)

That this House is opposed to the Trade in Services Agreement (TISA) currently being negotiated at EU level, which would lead to more public services being outsourced to private companies, would transfer powers to regulate the UK labour market from Parliament to private companies, and prioritise the profits of corporations over the rights and wellbeing of citizens; observes with great concern that TISA would force non-reversible privatisations of essential public services and increase deregulation; further observes that it would also prevent the introduction of new financial regulations to prevent or respond to another global economic crash; is sceptical of claims that TISA would lead to increased growth, and concerned that it would bring only higher profits for corporations and lower wages and protections for workers; believes that it is the job of elected governments to legislate for the labour markets in their countries, and that this power should not be handed over to corporations which have an intrinsic interest in reducing the costs and bargaining power of labour; observes that members of the EU are already members of the World Trade Organisation and able to access the single market; further believes that trade deals should not be negotiated without their terms being open to view by UK citizens, and deals should not be signed without public or Parliamentary consent; and calls on the Government to insist that the full terms of the treaty are published and subject to a vote in Parliament before the UK signs.

Sponsored by:
Mr Roger Godsiff (Labour)