European Union Bill — Minister Empowered to Determine Referendum on Increased EU Powers and Competences Not Required — 13 Jul 2011 at 18:44

The majority of members of the House of Lords voted against allowing a Minister to decide a decision to increase the powers and competencies of the EU is not of major economic and constitutional significance and so does not warrant a referendum. This applies only to decisions made under the principle treaties of the European Union and not to amendments to the treaties themselves.

Members of the House of Lords were considering the European Union Bill^[1]. The motion rejected in this vote was:

• Motion B1
• As an amendment to Motion B, at end insert "but do propose Amendment 13B in lieu"
• 13B: Clause 6, page 5, line 49, at end insert-
• ( ) Where this section requires that the referendum condition is met before a decision is approved, the referendum condition will only be mandatory where a Minister of the Crown lays before Parliament a statement indicating that in the Minister's opinion the issue in question is of major economic and constitutional significance."

Motion B^[2] which was being amended, stated:

• That this House do not insist on its Amendments 6 to 13 to which the Commons have disagreed for their Reason 13A

Reason 13A was given as:

• Because the decisions concerned would involve an increase in the competences or powers of the European Union in relation to the United Kingdom and should therefore require approval by referendum as well as by Act.

==

• [1] Parliament's webpage on the European Union Bill (now an Act)
• [2] Amendment sheet containing motion B and amendment 13B

Debate in Parliament | Source |