To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by Lord Bates on 19 January (HLWS1308) concerning the Economic and Financial Affairs Council meeting of 12 February, what position was taken by the UK during the exchange of views on the European Commission’s proposal to move to qualified majority voting...

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by Lord Bates on 19 January (HLWS1308) concerning the Economic and Financial Affairs Council meeting of 12 February, what position was taken by the UK during the exchange of views on the European Commission’s proposal to move to qualified majority voting...

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what areas of policy were transferred from unanimity to qualified majority voting by the Lisbon Treaty; whether the United Kingdom has opt-outs from any of those areas; and, if so, from which areas.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what areas of policy were transferred from unanimity to qualified majority voting by the Lisbon Treaty; whether the United Kingdom has opt-outs from any of those areas; and, if so, from which areas.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government which policy areas are entirely under the control of the national parliaments of European Union member states; and which are subject to (1) unanimity, and (2) qualified majority voting, in the Council of Ministers. [HL6026]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government which policy areas are entirely under the control of the national parliaments of European Union member states; and which are subject to (1) unanimity, and (2) qualified majority voting, in the Council of Ministers. [HL6026]

Lords debate on motion to agree the second report from the Procedure Select Committee (HL 51 2009-10). Agreed to on question. (Debated with Lords motion to agree the third report from the Procedure Select Committee (HL 82 2009-10)).

Lords debate on motion to agree the second report from the Procedure Select Committee (HL 51 2009-10). Agreed to on question. (Debated with Lords motion to agree the third report from the Procedure Select Committee (HL 82 2009-10)).

Moved by That the 2nd Report from the Select Committee (HL Paper 51) be agreed to. Relevant Documents: 2nd Report from the Procedure Committee

Moved by That the 2nd Report from the Select Committee (HL Paper 51) be agreed to. Relevant Documents: 2nd Report from the Procedure Committee

My Lords, I had not intended to speak but on behalf of the European Union Committee, I thank the Procedure Committee and the Leader of the House for all the work that they have put in to bring these proposals forward. That has required a lot of work and a...

My Lords, I had not intended to speak but on behalf of the European Union Committee, I thank the Procedure Committee and the Leader of the House for all the work that they have put in to bring these proposals forward. That has required a lot of work and a...

I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Roper, and I am grateful that he was here just in case anybody else should have asked questions about the Lisbon treaty, with which I have to say I am not particularly familiar. I beg to move.

I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Roper, and I am grateful that he was here just in case anybody else should have asked questions about the Lisbon treaty, with which I have to say I am not particularly familiar. I beg to move.

My Lords, in speaking to this Motion, I shall speak also to the second Motion in my name relating to the committee’s 3rd Report. The bulk of these two reports is taken up with proposals arising out of the Lisbon treaty, which came into force on 1 December 2009, and...

My Lords, in speaking to this Motion, I shall speak also to the second Motion in my name relating to the committee’s 3rd Report. The bulk of these two reports is taken up with proposals arising out of the Lisbon treaty, which came into force on 1 December 2009, and...

I draw attention to paragraph 5.18 on page 12 regarding the guidance on Questions, which states: ""Questions do not ask about the internal affairs of another country"." I am very daunted by the footnote, which refers to Erskine May, 23rd edition, because this is clearly derived from a previous decision....

I draw attention to paragraph 5.18 on page 12 regarding the guidance on Questions, which states: ""Questions do not ask about the internal affairs of another country"." I am very daunted by the footnote, which refers to Erskine May, 23rd edition, because this is clearly derived from a previous decision....

I certainly undertake to look at that again but, as I said my opening remarks, there is nothing new in the rules. As the footnote says, it is covered by Erskine May. I am not quite sure when the 23rd edition was published—I will have to come back to the...

I certainly undertake to look at that again but, as I said my opening remarks, there is nothing new in the rules. As the footnote says, it is covered by Erskine May. I am not quite sure when the 23rd edition was published—I will have to come back to the...

To ask Her Majesty's Government which policy areas remain subject to national veto under the Treaties of Rome, as amended.

To ask Her Majesty's Government which policy areas remain subject to national veto under the Treaties of Rome, as amended.

My Lords, I think I am entirely within the rules, which are to tidy up what has been said before. This is a new amendment in view of new circumstances that were not there when this subject was originally debated. I trust it is helpful to your Lordships. In any...

My Lords, I think I am entirely within the rules, which are to tidy up what has been said before. This is a new amendment in view of new circumstances that were not there when this subject was originally debated. I trust it is helpful to your Lordships. In any...

My Lords, for the past 33 years I have had the privilege of being a guest of the Irish nation, and I was present for 12 days of the referendum campaign and read their literature. I notice from the two speeches that we have just heard that the Irish referendum...

My Lords, for the past 33 years I have had the privilege of being a guest of the Irish nation, and I was present for 12 days of the referendum campaign and read their literature. I notice from the two speeches that we have just heard that the Irish referendum...

My Lords, the noble Lord keeps referring to Brussels. It is in fact the member states acting unanimously, is it not?

My Lords, the noble Lord keeps referring to Brussels. It is in fact the member states acting unanimously, is it not?

My Lords, more precisely, it is on proposals advanced in secret by the unelected Commission, passed in secret by the bureaucrats from the nation states in the shape of COREPER and passed, again in secret, in the Council of Ministers, who are the Ministers from the national states. The point...

My Lords, more precisely, it is on proposals advanced in secret by the unelected Commission, passed in secret by the bureaucrats from the nation states in the shape of COREPER and passed, again in secret, in the Council of Ministers, who are the Ministers from the national states. The point...

My Lords, I am fascinated to discover that the Commission has allocated exactly €235 million for this information campaign under the original Article 235, now subtly renumbered Article 352. This is clearly a very deep conspiracy. I think it sounds rather like the Da Vinci Code.

My Lords, I am fascinated to discover that the Commission has allocated exactly €235 million for this information campaign under the original Article 235, now subtly renumbered Article 352. This is clearly a very deep conspiracy. I think it sounds rather like the Da Vinci Code.

My Lords, the noble Lord says that every time there has been a consultation, this view has been expressed. I assume, therefore, that he is referring to the referendums on the previous treaty as well as on this one. If that is the case, he ought to remember that on...

My Lords, the noble Lord says that every time there has been a consultation, this view has been expressed. I assume, therefore, that he is referring to the referendums on the previous treaty as well as on this one. If that is the case, he ought to remember that on...

My Lords, we have had a long discussion and noble Lords will bear with me for a moment if I touch on a matter that has not yet been touched on. Some people have always been in a state of denial and, as far as I can see, always will...

My Lords, we have had a long discussion and noble Lords will bear with me for a moment if I touch on a matter that has not yet been touched on. Some people have always been in a state of denial and, as far as I can see, always will...

My Lords, I support the amendment. The Foreign Secretary said in his Statement the other day: "““The rules of the treaty and of the EU are clear. All 27 member states must ratify the treaty for it to come into force … There is no question of ignoring the Irish...

My Lords, I support the amendment. The Foreign Secretary said in his Statement the other day: "““The rules of the treaty and of the EU are clear. All 27 member states must ratify the treaty for it to come into force … There is no question of ignoring the Irish...

My Lords, I am sorry that noble Lords do not like to be told the legal position. I would have thought that the rule of law would be a welcome doctrine in this House.

My Lords, I am sorry that noble Lords do not like to be told the legal position. I would have thought that the rule of law would be a welcome doctrine in this House.