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European Union (Amendment) Bill

My Lords, this has been such an important debate. I am grateful to everyone who has participated, particularly the former commissioners, my noble friend Lord Tugendhat and the noble Lord, Lord Kinnock. To echo the words of the noble Lord, Lord Maclennan of Rogart, I was particularly pleased that the noble Lord, Lord Williamson, participated. The one question I do not think the Minister answered was when the Government changed their mind. They went into these discussions about control of the budget with Mr Peter Hain saying clearly that they could not accept the European Parliament jointly exercising the budgetary function; that was clearly laid down, whether it was a ““red line”” or whatever. I do not think the Minister has explained to us satisfactorily when it all suddenly changed and what had been unacceptable became acceptable. Anyway, she has done her best with the brief she has, and we will carefully examine all the points she has made. The noble Lord, Lord Maclennan, mentioned greater democratic control. I dare say the other place would have loved to have been able to rewrite the Budget of Mr Brown and Mr Darling; had it been left to the Parliament, I am sure it would have done. One therefore has to ask oneself: what does one mean by greater parliamentary control and greater democratic control? The noble Lord, Lord Kinnock, reassured me on a number of points. He promised—and I am going to hold him to this—that the change would result in amendment reduction and the reorientation of the common agricultural budget. He believes it, and that is wonderful to behold—but he has believed a few things in the past and then changed his mind, as he reminded us on Second Reading.