Written question asked by Baroness Hoey (Labour) on Wednesday, 10 April 2019, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 15 April 2019. It was answered by Geoffrey Cox (Conservative) on Tuesday, 16 April 2019 on behalf of the Attorney General.

GATT

Question: To ask the Attorney General, whether he has provided advice to the Prime Minister on whether the Government is able to trigger article 24 of the WTO General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: I regularly meet ministerial colleagues to discuss important issues of common interest, including on matters relating to the UK’s exit from the EU. I am unable to disclose the legal content of those discussions because whether or not the Law Officers have given advice and the content of any such advice is, by convention, not disclosed outside Government. The Convention protects my ability as chief legal adviser to the Government to give full and frank legal advice about some of the most contentious and difficult issues the Government will be considering.

Secondary information