HC Deb 02 February 1978 vol 943 cc723-871

[1ST ALLOTTED DAY]

Motion made, and Question put forthwith pursuant to Order [26th January], That it be an Instruction to the Committee on the European Assembly Elections Bill that they have power to make provision in the Bill to secure that no treaty which provides for any increase in the powers of the Assembly of the European Communities is ratified by the United Kingdom unless it has been approved by an Act of Parliament.—[Mr. Merlyn Rees.]

Question agreed to.

Bill considered in Committee. [Progress, 12th January.]

[Mr. OSCAR MURTON in the Chair]

4.45 p.m.

Mr. Douglas Jay (Battersea, North)

On a point of order, Mr. Murton. You will have heard the point which I raised briefly and prematurely with Mr. Speaker. What I should like to know is whether we take first New Clause 8, which has been put down by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, or Amendment No. 191, which alters the Long Title in order to put the new clause in order. If we take the new clause first, how can it be in order to do so before we have amended the Long Title?

The Chairman

The answer to the right hon. Gentleman is that the whole subject is laid down under Standing Order No. 42.

Mr. Nigel Spearing (Newham, South)

Further to the point of order, Mr. Murton. Standing Order No. 42 does indeed cover this point. It states: if any such amendments shall not be within the long title of the Bill, they shall amend the long title accordingly, and report the same specially to the House. I think that the point made by my right hon. Friend the Member for Battersea, North (Mr. Jay) was not that the power of the Committee does not exist. He was arguing that, if it were to be done, it should be done before the new clause is taken on which it depends. I therefore submit that, while Standing Order No. 42 deals with the matter, it does not deal with the matter in the order and sequence to which my right hon. Friend refers.

The Chairman

Such Questions are always put at the end of all proceedings on the Bill.

  1. Clause 3
      2. cc724-55
    1. METHOD OF ELECTION 11,990 words, 2 divisions
  2. Clause 2
      3. cc755-92
    1. NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES 13,958 words, 2 divisions
  3. New Clause 8
      4. cc793-871
    1. PARLIAMENTARY APPROVAL OF TREATIES INCREASING ASSEMBLY'S POWERS 29,180 words, 1 division
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