James Cleverly highlights the importance of providing clear information on both the status quo and how it would be improved with the free trade agreements before the public consultation takes place.
James Cleverly (Braintree) (Con)
In my experience of public consultations, it is often the case that the people responding are not particularly well informed of the status quo, so will my right hon. Friend ensure that, as we move forward into this new way of working, we inform the public both of the situation as it currently is and of how it would be improved with the free trade agreements that are to be signed?
Dr Fox
I am extremely grateful to my hon. Friend for that question, as it is perhaps something I should have included in my statement. He is entirely right that, again to go back to the TTIP example, the public did not feel they were suitably informed. For each of the potential trade agreements we will make available to the public a summary of what a free trade agreement actually is; the chapters that it constitutes; the specific nature of the country in question in terms of its market; and what the opportunities will be. The more information we are able to give to all those stakeholders who will want to be part of the consultation, the better the collective decision we are likely to reach.