§ (1) There shall be three Standing Committees, called European Standing Committees, to which shall stand referred for consideration on Motion, unless the House otherwise 394 orders, such European Community Documents as defined in Standing Order No. 127 (Select Committee on European Legislation) as may be recommended by the Select Committee on European Legislation for further consideration.
§ (2) If a Motion that specified European Community Documents as aforesaid shall not stand referred to a European Standing Committee is made by a Minister of the Crown at the commencement of public business, the Question thereon shall be put forthwith.
§ (3) Each European Standing Committee shall consist of ten Members nominated for the duration of a Session by the Committee of Selection; and in nominating such Members, the Committee of Selection shall—
- (i) have regard to the qualifications of the Members nominated and to the composition of the House; and
- (ii) have power to discharge Members from time to time, and to appoint others in substitution.
§ (4) The quorum of a European Standing Committee shall be two, excluding the Chairman.
§ (5) Any Member, though not nominated to a European Standing Committee, may take part in the Committee's proceedings, but such Member shall not make any Motion, vote or be counted in the quorum; provided that a Minister of the Crown who is a Member of this House but not nominated to the Committee may make a Motion as provided in paragraph (7) and (8) below; and the Government may appoint the precedence of Notices of Motion to be considered in each Committee.
§ (6) The several European Standing Committees, and the principal subject matter of the European Community Documents to be referred to each, shall be as set out below; and in making recommendations for further consideration, the Select Committee on European Legislation shall specify the Committee to which in its opinion the Documents ought to be referred; and subject to paragraph (2) of this Order, the Documents shall be referred to that Committee accordingly.
| European Standing Committees | Principal subject matter |
| Matters within the responsibility of the following Departments— | |
| A | Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; Environment; and Forestry Commission (and analogous responsibilities of Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland Offices) |
| B | Trade and Industry; Transport (and analogous responsibilities of Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland Offices) |
| C | Other Departments. |
§ (7) The Chairman may permit a Minister of the Crown to make a statement and to answer questions thereon put by Members, in respect of each Motion relative to a European Community Document or Documents referred to a European Standing Committee of which a Minister shall have given notice; but no question shall be taken after the expiry of a period of one hour from the commencement of the said statement.
§ (8) Following the conclusion of the proceedings under the previous paragraph, the Motion referred to therein may be made, to which Amendments may be moved; and, if proceedings thereon have not been previously concluded, the Chairman shall interrupt the consideration of such Motion and Amendments when the Committee shall have sat for a period of two and a half hours, and shall then put forwith successively:
- (a) the Question on any Amendment already proposed from the Chair; and
- (b) the main Question (or the main Question, as amended).
§ The Committee shall thereupon report to the House any Resolution to which it has come, without any further Question being put.
§ (9) If any Motion is made in the House in relation to any European Community Document in respect of which a Resolution has been reported to the House in accordance with paragraph (8) of this Order, Mr. Speaker shall forthwith put successively— 395
- (a) the Question on any Amendment selected by him which may be moved;
- (b) the main Question (or the main Question, as amended);
§ and proceedings in pursuance of this paragraph, though opposed, may be decided after the expiration of the time for opposed business.
§ (10) With modifications provided in this Order, the following Standing Orders shall apply to European Standing Committees:
- No. 85 (Chairmen of standing committees);
- No. 88 (Meetings of standing committees);
- No. 89 (Procedure in standing committees); and
§ B. the following consequential Amendments to Standing Orders be made:
§ in Standing Order No. 14 (Exempted business),
§ line 15, after 'documents' insert '(other than in pursuance of paragraph (9) of Standing Order No. 102 (European Standing Committees))'.
§ line 37, leave out from 'Orders' to end of line 46 and insert 'No. 89 (Procedure in standing committees) and No. 102 (European Standing Committees) "European Community Documents" shall be as defined in Standing Order No. 127 (Select Committee on European Legislation)'.
§ in Standing Order No. 84 (Constitution of standing committees),
§ leave out from the beginning of line 8 to `measures'in line 9;
§ in Standing Order No. 86 (Nomination of standing committees),
§ line 3, leave out 'and';
§ line 5, at end, insert 'and
§ (d) a European Standing Committee';
§ line 10, leave out from 'instruments' to 'or' in line 12;
§ in Standing Order No. 87, line 6, after 'amendment' insert 'other than a motion or an amendment in a European Standing Committee under Standing Order No. 102 (European Standing Committees)';
§ in Standing Order No. 88 (Meetings of standing
§ committees), line 2, after 'been' insert 'or stands'
§ in Standing Order No. 89 (Procedure in standing committees), line 2, after 'Committee,' insert 'and Standing Order No. 102 (European Standing Committees)';
§ leave out from beginning of line 11 to 'shall' in line 13, and insert, 'of a motion relative to a European Community Document or Documents or an amendment thereto given under Standing Order No. 102 (European Standing Committees).
§ line 25, at end insert 'or (in the case of European Standing Committees) by paragraph (4) of Standing Order No. 102 (European Standing Committees)'.—[Sir Geoffrey Howe.]
§ Amendment proposed to the Question: Leave out paragraphs (1) and (2) and insert—
§ '(1) There shall be three standing committees, called European Standing Committees, for the consideration of European Community documents (as defined in Standing Order No. 127 (Select Committee on European Legislation)), referred to them.
§ (2) Where notice has been given of a motion relating to a European Community document, a motion may be made by a Minister of the Crown at the commencement of public business, that the said document be referred to such a committee, and the Question thereupon shall be put forthwith; and if, on the Question thereupon shall be put forthwith; and if, on the Question being put, not fewer than forty Members rise in their places and signify their objection thereto, Mr. Speaker shall declare that the noes have it.'.—[Mr. Spearing.]
§ Question put, That the amendment be made:—
§ The House divided: Ayes 49, Noes 138.
397| Division No. 335] | [7.24 pm |
| AYES | |
| Allen, Graham | Barnes, Harry(Derbyshire NE) |
| Banks, Tony(Newham NW) | Barron, Kevin |
| Buckley, George J. | Nellist, Dave |
| Budgen, Nicholas | Neubert, Michael |
| Cash, William | O'Brien, William |
| Clay, Bob | O'Neill, Martin |
| Coombs, Anthony(Wyre F'rest) | Orme, Rt Hon Stanley |
| Dalyell, Tam | Patchett, Terry |
| Dixon, Don | Pike, Peter L. |
| Flynn, Paul | Primarolo, Dawn |
| Godman, Dr Norman A. | Raffan, Keith |
| Golding, Mrs Llin | Salmond, Alex |
| Graham, Thomas | Sillars, Jim |
| Hargreaves, A.(B'ham H'll Gr') | Skinner, Dennis |
| Home Robertson, John | Spearing, Nigel |
| Howells, Dr. Kim (Pontypridd) | Taylor, Teddy(S'end E) |
| Hughes, John(Coventry NE) | Thompson, Patrick(Norwich N) |
| Hughes, Simon(Southwark) | Wells, Bowen |
| Illsley, Eric | Welsh, Andrew(Angus E) |
| Irvine, Michael | Wise, Mrs Audrey |
| Knapman, Roger | Woodcock, Dr. Mike |
| Knowles, Michael | Wray, Jimmy |
| Leighton, Ron | |
| Lofthouse, Geoffrey | Tellers for the Ayes: |
| McKay, Allen(Barnsley West) | Mr. Bob Cryer and Mr. Jimmy Hood. |
| Marshall, Jim(Leicester S) | |
| Michie, Bill(Sheffield Heeley) |
| NOES | |
| Arbuthnot, James | Greenway, Harry (Ealing N) |
| Arnold, Jacques (Gravesham) | Greenway, John (Ryedale) |
| Arnold, Sir Thomas | Griffiths, Peter (Portsmouth N) |
| Atkins, Robert | Grist, Ian |
| Atkinson, David | Hague, William |
| Baker, Rt Hon K. (Mole Valley) | Hamilton, Neil (Tatton) |
| Baker, Nicholas (Dorset N) | Hanley, Jeremy |
| Baldry, Tony | Hannam, John |
| Beggs, Roy | Harris, David |
| Bendall, Vivian | Hayhoe, Rt Hon Sir Barney |
| Bennett, Nicholas (Pembroke) | Heathcoat-Amory, David |
| Bevan, David Gilroy | Hind, Kenneth |
| Boscawen, Hon Robert | Hordern, Sir Peter |
| Bottomley, Peter | Howarth, Alan (Strat'd-on-A) |
| Bottomley, Mrs Virginia | Howarth, G. (Cannock & B'wd) |
| Bowis, John | Howe, Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey |
| Bright, Graham | Howells, Geraint |
| Brooke, Rt Hon Peter | Hughes, Robert G. (Harrow W) |
| Brown, Michael (Brigg & Cl't's) | Hunt, David (Wirral W) |
| Browne, John (Winchester) | Jack, Michael |
| Burns, Simon | Jackson, Robert |
| Carlisle, John, (Luton N) | Janman, Tim |
| Carlisle, Kenneth (Lincoln) | Jopling, Rt Hon Michael |
| Carrington, Matthew | Kellett-Bowman, Dame Elaine |
| Channon, Rt Hon Paul | Key, Robert |
| Chapman, Sydney | Kilfedder, James |
| Chope, Christopher | King, Roger (B'ham N'thfield) |
| Clark, Hon Alan (Plym'th S'n) | Kirkhope, Timothy |
| Colvin, Michael | Knight, Greg (Derby North) |
| Conway, Derek | Knight, Dame Jill (Edgbaston) |
| Coombs, Simon (Swindon) | Lamont, Rt Hon Norman |
| Cope, Rt Hon John | Lawrence, Ivan |
| Cormack, Patrick | Lee, John (Pendle) |
| Curry, David | Lester, Jim (Broxtowe) |
| Davies, Q. (Stamf'd & Spald'g) | Lightbown, David |
| Davis, David (Boothferry) | Lilley, Peter |
| Douglas-Hamilton, Lord James | Lloyd, Peter (Fareham) |
| Dover, Den | Lord, Michael |
| Dunn, Bob | Lyell, Rt Hon Sir Nicholas |
| Emery, Sir Peter | MacKay, Andrew (E Berkshire) |
| Fallon, Michael | Maclean, David |
| Favell, Tony | McLoughlin, Patrick |
| Finsberg, Sir Geoffrey | Mans, Keith |
| Forsyth, Michael (Stirling) | Maples, John |
| Forsythe, Clifford (Antrim S) | Martin, David (Portsmouth S) |
| Forth, Eric | Mates, Michael |
| Fox, Sir Marcus | Mitchell, Andrew (Gedling) |
| Freeman, Roger | Morrison, Rt Hon P (Chester) |
| Gale, Roger | Moss, Malcolm |
| Garel-Jones, Tristan | Moynihan, Hon Colin |
| Glyn, Dr Sir Alan | Needham, Richard |
| Goodlad, Alastair | Page, Richard |
| Goodson-Wickes, Dr Charles | Paice, James |
| Patten, Rt Hon John | Steen, Anthony |
| Pawsey, James | Stewart, Allan(Eastwood) |
| Peacock, Mrs Elizabeth | Stewart, Andy(Sherwood) |
| Portillo, Michael | Summerson, Hugo |
| Redwood, John | Taylor, Ian(Esher) |
| Renton, Rt Hon Tim | Taylor, Rt Hon J. D.(S'ford) |
| Riddick, Graham | Taylor, John M(Solihull) |
| Roberts, Sir Wyn(Conwy) | Tebbit, Rt Hon Norman |
| Rost, Peter | Tracey, Richard |
| Sackville, Hon Tom | Trotter, Neville |
| Sainsbury, Hon Tim | Wheeler, Sir John |
| Shaw, Sir Giles(Pudsey) | Wilkinson, John |
| Shaw, Sir Michael(Scarb') | Wood, Timothy |
| Shelton, Sir William | Young, Sir George(Acton) |
| Shepherd, Colin(Hereford) | |
| Smith, Tim(Beaconsfield) | Tellers for the Noes: |
| Spicer, Sir Jim(Dorset W) | Mr. Irvine Patrick and Mr. Tim Boswell. |
| Stanbrook, Ivor |
§ Amendment accordingly negatived.
§ Amendment made to the Question: No. 4, as a further consequential Amendment to Standing Order No. 84 (Constitution of standing committees), line 1 at the beginning insert:
§ 'Subject to the provisions of paragraph (1) of Standing Order No. 102 (European Standing Committees)'.—[Mr. Spearing.]
§ Main Question, as amended, put and agreed to.