<p>The Government is committed to keeping Parliament up to date throughout the negotiations for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). The Minister of State for Trade and Investment, my noble Friend Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint, writes to the European Scrutiny Committee Chairs of both Houses and the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on EU-US trade and investment to update on significant developments. We will also consider statements and other steps to keep Parliament informed of developments as the negotiations progress.</p><p>If, as is expected, the final agreement of the TTIP contains areas of both EU and member state competence each member state will be party to the agreement and therefore ratify the agreement according to their own domestic processes. As part of the UK ratification process the agreement would need to be laid before Parliament for 21 days prior to ratification. In addition, it would need to be considered by the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments and the Lords Committee on Secondary Legislation, before being debated in both Houses.</p>