Conclusions and recommendations
1. We
recommend that the Cabinet Manual should include a clear reference
to Parliament's current role in decisions to commit forces to
armed conflict abroad. (Paragraph 3)
2. There is an urgent
need for greater clarity on Parliament's role in decisions to
commit British forces to armed conflict abroad. We therefore recommend
that the Government should as a first step bring forward a draft
detailed parliamentary resolution, for consultation with us among
others, and for debate and decision by the end of 2011. Much
work in this direction has already been completed, and the process
for decision should be relatively swift. (Paragraph 6)
3. We also welcome
the Foreign Secretary's commitment to enshrine Parliament's role
in law. This is, however, likely to be a longer-term project,
to be considered in depth after a parliamentary resolution has
been agreed, or if this route fails to bear fruit. We will monitor
progress in this area closely, and await the Government's proposals
with interest. (Paragraph 7)
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