European Union Bill — Inconsequential wording change : supporting to permitting — 8 Jun 2011 at 18:25

The majority of members of the House of Lords voted to make an inconsequential change to the wording of the European Union Bill^[1].

The majority of Contents agreed to make the following amendment to Clause 1 of the European Union Bill^[2]:

‘leave out out "supporting" and insert "permitting"’ from this text:

'A reference to a Minister of the Crown voting in favour of or otherwise supporting a decision is a reference to a Minister of the Crown voting in favour of or otherwise supporting the decision in the European Council or the Council.'

Clause 1 offers explanatory notes that aid the understanding and intended meaning of terms used in Part 1 of the bill.

The debate reveals the amendment was proposed "in a purely formal way", in an effort to seek reassurances, so apparently was not intended to be, and doesn't appear to be, substantive.

• [1] Parliament's webpage on the European Union Bill (now an Act)
• [2] European Union Bill – including Clause 1

Debate in Parliament | Source |