HC Deb 02 July 1979 vol 969 cc1069-70

Ordered, That there shall be a Select Committee to consider draft proposals by the Commission of the European Communities for legislation and other documents published for submission to the Council of Ministers or to the European Council whether or not such documents originate from the Commission, and to report their opinion as to whether such proposals or other documents raise questions of legal or political importance, to give their reasons for their opinion, to report what matters of principle or policy may be affected thereby, and to what extent they may affect the law of the United Kingdom, and to make recommendations for the further consideration of such proposals and other documents by the House.

Ordered, That the Committee do consist of Sixteen members.

Ordered, That the Committee have power to appoint persons with expert knowledge for the purpose of particular inquiries, either to supply information which is not readily available or to elucidate matters of complexity within the Committee's Order of Reference.

Ordered, That the Committee have power to send for persons, papers and records; to sit notwithstanding any Adjournment of the House; to adjourn from place to place; and to report from time to time the Minutes of Evidence taken before them and any Memorandum submitted to them.

Ordered, That the Committee have power to report from time to time.

Ordered, That Five be the quorum of the Committee.

Ordered, That the Committee have power to appoint Sub-committees and to refer to such Sub-committees any of the matters referred to the Committee.

Ordered, That every such Sub-committee have power to send for persons, papers and records; to sit notwithstanding any Adjournment of the House; to adjourn from place to place; and to report to the Committee from time to time.

Ordered, That the Committee have power to report from time to time the Minutes of the Evidence taken before such Sub-committees, and any Memoranda submitted to them.

Ordered, That Two be the quorum of every such Sub-committee.

Ordered, That the Committee or any Sub-committee appointed by them have leave to confer and to meet concurrently with any Committee of the Lords on the European Communities or any Sub-committee of that Committee for the purpose of deliberating and of examining witnesses, and have leave to agree with the Lords in the appointment of a Chairman for any such meeting.

Ordered, That these Orders be Standing Orders of the House until the end of this Parliament.—[Mr. John Stradling Thomas.]

Message to the Lords with such of the said orders as are necessary to be communicated to their Lordships.