Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Lord Redwood (Conservative). It was answered on Tuesday, 29 November 2005 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

European Constitution

Question: As the EU presses on with the defence agency, criminal law code and the strengthening of foreign policy in many other crucial elements of the constitution, should not the Prime Minister keep his word to this House and the British people by holding a referendum in this country before the constitution returns to the EU agenda next year? The promise was unequivocal: we were told that we would have a referendum irrespective of what other countries did.

Answer: That was a worthy attempt, but the position of the British Government has been set out several times in the House and elsewhere. The draft constitutional treaty would be ratified by means of a referendum in the United Kingdom, but the right hon. Gentleman is right to recognise that there needs to be a legal basis for decisions taken by the European Commission and, indeed, by the other institutions of the EU. That continues to be the case, notwithstanding the period of reflection for the constitutional treaty.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 440 c122
Session: 2005-06
Oral question type: Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
Subjects: European Constitution Treaty EU countries France Referendums Netherlands
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk