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Proceeding contribution from Lord Richard (Labour) in the House of Lords on Wednesday, 15 June 2011. It occurred during Debate on bill on European Union Bill.


European Union Bill

Yes, but the Government have assured us time and again during the course of the Bill that there will be no further transfers of powers to Brussels from the United Kingdom and there will be no change in the issues which can be dealt with by majority voting as opposed to those which at present require unanimity. None of that is going to happen in this Parliament, yet the Bill is drawn in such a way that legislation is now being passed in relation to those matters. I do not think that makes any sense at all. If this is a parliamentary system of government, as it is supposed to be, surely it is for the next Parliament to decide whether it wishes this structure to continue. If we go on with this legislation, it seems to me only right that we should have some kind of sunset clause which demands that the next Government, when they come in, have the opportunity to decide whether they wish to go on with this. In those circumstances, I strongly support the amendment.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
728 c817 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
EU law Legislation European communities Referendums Sovereignty Treaties Treaty on European Union UK membership of EU Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union Treaty of Lisbon Sunset clauses
Legislation
European Communities Act 1972
European Union Bill 2010-12
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk