The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee is considering the current constitutional arrangements for UK’s Overseas Territories in the 21st century.
The UK has 14 Overseas Territories that continue to have a constitutional link to the UK and are represented internationally by the UK. Of the Overseas Territories, ten are permanently inhabited by British nationals (British Overseas Citizens). The Committee recognises and respects that each Overseas Territory is unique, and that there is not a ‘one size fits all’ framework for the relationship between each territory and the UK.
The Committee invites evidence on the following matters:
- Are the UK’s current constitutional arrangements as regards the Overseas Territories satisfactory and appropriate in the 21st Century?
- What is the UK Government’s relationship with the Overseas Territories, including:
- Does the UK Civil Service engage effectively with the Overseas Territories?
- Are Overseas Territories appropriately considered within different departments across Whitehall?
- What is the UK Parliament’s relationship with the Overseas Territories, including:
- Does the legislative process in the UK currently operate effectively in relation to Overseas Territories, both in theory and in practice?
- Are the interests of the Overseas Territories effectively represented within the UK Parliament?
- How is legislation made in the Overseas Territories and what role does the UK Government and UK Parliament have in these processes?
- Are effective mechanisms in place for the interests of the Overseas Territories to be represented internationally?
Are the rights and interests of British Overseas Citizens effectively protected by the current constitutional arrangements?
The Committee welcomes submissions by 5pm on Monday 4 September, 2023