The cost of dealing with unnecessary bureaucracy in transatlantic trade can add tariffs of 10-20 per cent to the price of goods, an expense which is paid by the consumer.

It is suggested that by removing these through the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) the EU’s economy could benefit by €119billion a year – equivalent to an extra €545 for a family of four in the EU.

The greatest benefits for consumers have been anticipated in food and drink, cars, clothes and electrical goods, where there are existing high tariffs.

There are however many reasons to be concerned. This is not a free trade settlement: protecting Europe and the US, it specifically avoids reducing tariffs with the developing world, and a range of charities working in developing nations have expressed concern.

Worse, the Investor to State Dispute Settlement gives foreign investors, usually multi-nationals, the right to challenge the decisions of UK courts if decisions made in the UK courts lead to lower profits than expected.

These tribunals can review all decisions of the state, all decisions of governments, legislators and courts, including supreme courts and human rights courts and can award unlimited damages. This aspect of TTIP could specifically make it difficult for privatised parts of our NHS to be returned to public ownership.

It is for these reasons that during a recent debate on Public Services at the Liberal Democrat Party Conference, I spoke out against TTIP and I’m very pleased that the following amendment to our party policy was made – to repeal any parts of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 dealing with competition were they shown to make NHS services vulnerable to increased privatisation through international agreements on free markets in goods and services (ie TTIP). It is vital that those aspects of NHS delivery are exempted from the treaty.

Corporate greed produced the banking crisis – and while free trade has undoubtedly some clear advantages, only by bringing these secret negotiations into the public arena and lobbying the UK Government and our MEPs to ensure the establishment of proper checks and balances in this legislation will the advantages that such a treaty promises outweigh the need for protection against its potential dangers.

That’s why I’m supporting my colleagues MPs Andrew George, John Leech and Mark Williams and other MPs from all parties in signing Early Day Motion 793 which calls for a public debate and full scrutiny of Parliament in both houses on this issue – it is sorely needed.

Ros Kayes

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate West Dorset