Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to sub-paragraph 30(b)(iii) of Chapter Four of the White Paper, The future relationship between the UK and the EU, Cm. 9593, published on 12 July 2018, what the independent arbitration mechanism will be.

As set out in section 4.5.1 of the White Paper, the UK has proposed that in those few circumstances where informal discussion does not resolve a particular issue, a formal dispute should be raised in the Joint Committee.

Should efforts to resolve a dispute by negotiation fail after a defined period of time, it would make sense in some cases for either party to have the option of referring the issue to an independent arbitration panel, which would include members from both parties. The precise arrangements for the arbitration mechanism will be subject to negotiations with the EU.