Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Campbell of Alloway (Conservative). It was answered by Baroness Ashton of Upholland (Labour) on Tuesday, 9 October 2007.

EU: Competition Policy

Question: My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper, having declared my interest on 3 July. The Question was as follows: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, notwithstanding their assurances given on 25 June and 3 July, they will reassess the possibility that the omission from the protocol agreed at the June European Council of the reference in the Treaty of Rome to free and undistorted competition may be interpreted by the European Court of Justice as a change of policy.

Answer: My Lords, there is no need to reassess the situation. It is clear that the words used in the proposed protocol are substantially the same as the words used in the existing EC treaty. Moreover, the protocol is legally binding. Therefore, there has been no change of policy.

Secondary information