Intergovernmental Conference

HC Deb 01 March 1995 vol 255 cc1037-8

13. Mr. Charles Kennedy

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy towards a post-legislative referendum on the outcome of the next intergovernmental conference; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. David Davis

We do not exclude the use of referendums for decisions of major constitutional significance, but we do not expect the outcome of next year's intergovernmental conference to involve such decisions.

Mr. Kennedy

That is very interesting. Can the Minister clarify that a little more, because the Prime Minister was somewhat more explicit in his famous Frost interview at the beginning of the year, when he said quite clearly that if issues of constitutional import arose, he would not hesitate to use the British veto? Is that the Government's position in the run-up to the IGC? If so, why are so many people in the Tory party suggesting, not least via the airwaves today, that we will have a referendum?

Mr. Davis

The Prime Minister put exactly the position of the British Government. The hon. Gentleman has it right.

Sir Terence Higgins

The question referred to a post-legislative referendum; does my hon. Friend know what that is? In any case, is not it just as bad as a pre-legislative one?

Mr. Davis

A post-legislative referendum would he called only in the event of major constitutional change. My right hon. Friend has made it clear that such an occurrence would not arise after the IGC.

Ms Quin

Did the Minister agree with the Prime Minister when he said that he was not in favour of a referendum in a parliamentary democracy and did not propose to put one before the people; or did he agree with the same Prime Minister when he said that, if the circumstances were appropriate, he would hold a referendum? With which of the Prime Minister's two opposing views does the Minister agree?

Hon. Members

Just say yes.

Mr. Davis

The hon. Lady makes a semantic point. It is extraordinary because, last Friday, during the debate on a referendum, she said that she thought the opt-outs were foolish. One of the options open to the Government arises solely because of those opt-outs, so she cannot give anyone lessons in semantics.