European Community Documents (Debates) (Hansard, 7 April 1975)

§ Mr. Spearing
asked the Lord President of the Council if he will list in the Official Report the numbers and titles of the 35 EEC documents so far debated in the House, the dates when they were debated, and groupings and maximum time available, the actual time of commencement and end of each debate, the terms of Government motions, any amendments on the Order Paper and the decision of the House.

§ Mr. Edward Short
The information is given in the attached table.
Date of Debate: 3rd July 1974.
Title:
EEC—ECONOMIC POLICY.
Government Motion: … That this House takes note of Commission Documents Nos. R/1253 74, R/1474/74 and COM(74)696 …
Period of Debate: 8.18 p.m.-10.0 p.m.
Time Available: Second half of Supply Day from Opposition.
Amendments on Order Paper:

Mr. Douglas Jay.

Mr. Nigel Spearing.

Mr. Ray Fletcher.

Mr. Frank Allaun.

Mr. Dennis Skinner.

Mr. Roy Hughes.

Line 1, leave out from House' to end and add declines to approve Commission Documents Nos. R/1253/74, R/1474/74 and COM (74) 696 since these draft decisions require the United Kingdom to pursue policies that: "may in certain cases endanger full employment" increase "the number of workers likely to be forced to change their jobs" and requires the United Kingdom to maintain interest rates at a "a level appreciably higher than those prevailing on the international money markets"; thus prejudicing the retention by Parliament of those powers over the British economy needed to pursue effective regional, industrial, fiscal and full employment policies'.
Decision:
Division—Question accordingly agreed to.
Resolved, That this House takes note of Commission documents.
Date of Debate: 3rd July 1974.
Title:
EEG—REGIONAL POLICY.
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Government Motion: That this House takes note of Commission Documents Nos. R/2055/73 and R/2474/73".
Period of Debate: 10.10 p.m.-11.30 p.m.
Time Available: 1½ hours.
Amendments on Order Paper:

Mr. Douglas Jay.

Mr. Nigel Spearing.

Mr. Frank Allaun.

Line 1, leave out from 'House' to end and add 'declines to approve Commission Documents Nos. R/2055/73, since its objective is to correct only those structural and regional imbalances that might effect the realisation of Economic and Monetary Union: and declines to approve Community Document R/2474/73 since it removes from the United Kingdom Parliament power not only to determine the nature of assistance from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund and European Regional Development Fund, but also the power to determine which areas shall be so assisted, despite substantial contributions to these funds from United Kingdom taxpayers
Decision:
Division—Whereupon Mr. Deputy Speaker declared that the Question was not decided in the affirmative because it was not supported by the majority prescribed by Standing Order No. 31 (Majority for Closure).
Date of Debate: 11th November 1974.
Title:
SUGAR SUPPLIES
Government Motion: That this House takes note of Commission Documents Nos. R/1900/73 and R/1957/ 74.
Period of Debate: 8.39 p.m. to 11.25 p.m.
Time available: 2 hrs. 50 mins.
Amendments on Order Paper:

Mr Nigel Spearing

Mr. Norman Buchan

Mr. Frank Hooley

Mr. Douglas Jay

Mr. John Mendelson

Line 1, leave out from 'Commission' to end and add 'Document No. R/1900/73 but declines to approve Commission Document R/1957/74 as it makes no provision either for continuing imports, at fair and stable prices, of at least 1.4 million tons of cane sugar from Commonwealth countries, or for the continued existence of and employment in the port sugar refining industry in the United Kingdom, or for securing long term supplies of domestically refined cane sugar at a fair price to consumer producer'.
Decision:
Main Question, as amended, put and agreed to.
323W
Resolved, That this House takes note of Commission Document R/1900/73, but declines to approve Commission Document R/1957/74 as it makes no provision either for continuing imports, at fair and stable prices, of at least 1.4 million tons of cane sugar from Commonwealth countries, or for the continued existence of and employment in the port sugar refining industry in the United Kingdom, or for securing long term supplies of domestically refined cane sugar as a fair price to consumer and producer.
Date of Debate: 25th November 1974.
Title:
EEC—AEROSOLS, FRUIT JUICES AND COSMETIC PRODUCTS
Government Motion: … That this House takes note of Commission Documents Nos. R/834/73, Com (69)71, R/2222/72 and R/2579/73.
Period of Debate: 10.16 p.m. to 11.37 p.m.
Time Available: 1½ hours.
Decision:
Question put and agreed to.
Resolved, That this House takes note of Commission documents.
Date of Debate: 28th November 1974.
Title:
EEC—CARRIAGE OF GOODS BY ROAD.
Government Motion: … That this House takes note of Commission Document No. R/ 1255/74.
Period of Debate: 8.47 a.m. to 9.40 a.m.
Time Available: 1½ hours.
Decision:
Question put and agreed to.
Resolved, That this House takes note of Commission document.
Date of Debate: 28th November 1974.
Title:
EEC—PREPACKED PRODUCTS.
Government Motion: … That this House takes note of Commission Documents Nos. Com(72)202 and R/2628/73.
Period of Debate: 9.43 a.m. to 10.25 a.m.
Time Available: 1½hours.
Decision:
Question put and agreed to.
Resolved, That this House takes note of Commission Documents Nos. Com(72)202 and R/2628/73.
Date of Debate: 3rd December 1974.
Title:
EEC—ENERGY POLICY.
Government Motion: … That this House takes note of Commission Documents Nos. R/l472/74 and R/127/74.
Period of Debate: 10.15 p.m. to 11.45 p.m.
324W
Time Available: 1½ hours.
Amendments on Order Paper:

Mr. Douglas Jay

Mr. Nigel Spearing

Mr. Neil Kinnock

Mr. Max Madden

Mr. Norman Buchan

Mr. Guy Barnett

Mr. J. Enoch Powell

Line 1, leave out from 'House' to end and add 'declines to approve Commission Documents R/1472/74 and R/127/74 as the former would, according to the Secretary of State for Energy, have "policy implications regarding United Kingdom sovereignty over its indigenous energy resources"; and because these Regulations would remove from this House the power to determine the future energy policy of the United Kingdom'.
Decision:
It being one and a half hours after the commencement of proceedings on the motion, the debate stood adjourned. Debate to be resumed tomorrow. (Debate Adjourned).
Date of Debate: 11th December 1974.
Title:
EEC—COLLECTIVE DISMISSALS.
Government Motion: … That this House approves Commission Document No. R/2976/73.
Period of Debate: 12.32 a.m.—2.18 a.m.
Time Available: 1½ hours.
Amendments on Order Paper:

Mr. Bryan Gould

Mr. Max Madden

Mr. Douglas Jay

Mrs. Audrey Wise

Mr. Nigel Spearing.

Line 1, leave out from Horse' to end and add "while approving the objectives of Commission Document No. R/2976/73, considers that it can only be noted since its contents are subject to amendment by documents not before this House'.
Decision:
Amendment agreed to.
Main Question, as amended, put and agreed to.
Resolved, That this House, while approving the objectives of Commission Document No. R/2976/73, considers that it can only be noted since its contents are subject to amendment by documents not before this House.
Date of Debate: 17th December 1974.
Title:
EEC — COMMUNITY LOANS—DOCUMENT R/2712/74.
Government Motion: Motion made and Question proposed,"… That this House do now adjourn.
Period of Debate: 10.52 p.m.—12.22 a.m.
Time Available:1½hours.
325W
Decision:
It being one and half hours after the commencement of proceedings on the Motion, the Motion for the Adjournment of the House lapsed, without question put.
Date of Debate: 19th December 1974.
Title:
DEVELOPMENT IN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES AND THE DRAFT GENERAL BUDGET.
Documents R/2829/74, R/2155/74,R;2340/74, R/2443/74.^*
Government Motion: .… That this House do now adjourn.
Period of Debate: 7.22 p.m.—12.0 a.m.
Time Available: 4 hours 38 minutes. Supply Day. One of allotment of six days. Rule suspended for two hours.
Decision:
It being twelve o'clock, The Motion for the Adjournment of the House lapsed, without question put.
^*These budgetary documents were on the Order Paper together with the White Paper: Developments in the European Communities, March-October 1974 (Cmnd. 5790).
Date of Debate: 16th January 1975 (1).
Title:
EEC—AGRICULTURAL PRICES.
Government Motion: … That this House takes note of Commission Documents Nos. R/3358/74, R/3470/74, and R/3408/74.
Period of Debate: 10.15 p.m.—11.45 p.m.
Time Available: 1½ hours.
Amendments on Order Paper:

Mr. Norman Buchan

Mr. Douglas Jay

Mr. Nigel Spearing

Mr. Bryan Gould

Mr. David Stoddart

Mr. Caerwyn Roderick.

Line 2, at end add but declines to approve proposals for Regulations still subject to possible and unforeseeable alteration by the Council of Ministers before enactment, which would raise even further the price of a number of major foodstuffs, including milk, butter, pigmeat and beef, and which accepts the principle of permanent intervention buying of beef by member states including the United Kingdom'.
Decision:
Whereupon MR. SPEAKER declared that the Question was not decided in the affirmative because it was not supported by the majority prescribed by Standing Order No. 31 (Majority for Closure).
Date of Debate: 16th January 1975 (2).
Title:
EEC—CONSUMER PROTECTION.
Government Motion: … That this House takes note of Commission Document No. R/1270/74.
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Period of Debate: 11.56 p.m.—1.25 a.m.
Time Available: 1½ hours.
Decision:
Question put and agreed to.
Resolved, That this House takes note of Commission document.
Date of Debate: 4th February (1).
Title:
EEC—FARMING AREAS.
Government Motion: … That this House takes note of Commission Document No. R/27/75 but declines to approve any restriction on the subsidy payments to pensioners.
Period of Debate: 10.1 p.m.—11.25 p.m.
Time Available: 1½ hours.
Decision:
Question put:—
The House proceeded to a Division.
No Member being willing to act as Teller for the Noes, Mr. DEPUTY SPEAKER declared that the Ayes had it.
Resolved, That this House takes note of Commission Document R/27/75 but declines to approve any restriction on the subsidy payments to pensioners.
Date of Debate: 4th February 1975 (2).
Title:
EEC—BEEF AND VEAL IMPORTS.
Government Motion: … That this House takes note of Commission Document No. R/82/75.
Period of Debate: 11.32 p.m.—12.25 p.m.
Time Available: 1½ hours.
Decision:
Question put and agreed to.
Resolved, That this House takes note of Commission document.
Date of Debate: 6th February 1975.
Title:
EEC—DOCTORS AND DENTISTS.
Government Motion: … That this House takes note of the draft EEC Directive on doctors and dentists contained in COM(69)127 and R/2610/74 and in particular observes that:

(i) The Directives raise important questions of principle which relate to the special circumstances of medical practice in the United Kingdom

(ii) the effect of the Directives on the movement of doctors into and out of the National Health Service is not clear."
Period of Debate: 10.14 p.m.—11.40 p.m.
Time Available: 1½ hours.
Decision:
Question put and agreed to.
Ordered,
That this House takes note of the draft EEC Directives on doctors and dentists contained 327W in COM(69)127 and R/2610/74 and in particular observes that:
(i) The Directives raise important questions of principle which relate to the special circumstances of medical practice in the United Kingdom:

(ii) the effect of the Directives on the movement of doctors into and out of the National Health Service is not clear."
Date of Debate: 11th February 1975.
Title:
EEC—ENERGY POLICY.
Government Motion: … That this House takes note of EEC Commission documents Nos. R/446/74 and R/3333/74 and the Government's intention, whilst co-operating in the development of a Community energy policy, of ensuring that such a policy is consistent with the aims, of the United Kingdom's domestic energy policy.
Period of Debate: 4.36 p.m.—9.58 p.m.
Time Available: 5 hours 22 minutes. Allotted Day (of six days).
Amendments on Order Paper:

Mr. Bryan Gould.

Mr. Douglas Jay.

Mr. Max Madden.

Mr. Nigel Spearing.

Mr. Norman Atkinson.

Mr. Norman Buchan.

Line 4, at end add 'but nevertheless believes that, for the time being, no Minister should agree to any proposal that would remove from this House the power to control the energy policy of the United Kingdom, taxation of petroleum products, or use of oil from the North Sea'.
Decision:
Question put and agreed to.
Resolved, That this House takes note of EEC Commission Documents Nos. R/446/74 and R/3333/74 and of the Government's intention, whilst co-operating in the development of a Community energy policy, of ensuring that such a policy is consistent with the aims of the United Kingdom's domestic energy policy.
Date of Debate: 20th February 1975.
Title:
EEC—MILK.
Government Motion: … That this House takes note of Commission documents COM (71) 64 and COM (71) 1012 and of the Government's purpose to secure necessary adjustments to meet United Kingdom requirements.
Period of Debate: 10.00 p.m.-11,28 p.m.
Time available: 1½ hours.
Decision:
Question put and agreed to.
Resolved, That this House takes note of Commission Documents COM(71) 64 and COM(71) 1012 and of the Government's purpose to secure necessary adjustments to meet United Kingdom requirements.
328W
Date of Debate: 27th February 1975.
Title:
EEC—BUDGET CONTRIBUTIONS.
Government Motion: … That this House takes note of Commission Document R/340/75.
Period of Debate: 4.15 p.m.-6.54 p.m.
Time Available: 1 hr. 39 mins.—half of Allotted Day.
Amendments on Order Paper:

Mr. Douglas Jay

Mr. Bryan Gould

Mr. Nigel Spearing

Mr. Max Madden

Mr. Brian Sedgemore

Mr. Martin Flannery

Line 1, at end add but observes that these proposals do not fulfil the requirement of new and fairer methods of financing the Community Budget, called for in the Labour Party Manifesto, and urges the Government to secure amended proposals which achieve these objectives'.
Decision:
Question put and agreed to.
Resolved, That this House takes note of Commission Document R/340/75.
Date of Debate: 27th February 1975.
Title:
EEC—REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
Government Motion: … That this House takes note of Commission Document R/2055/73, taking account of further developments brought to the attention of the House.
Period of Debate: 6.55 p.m.-7.00 p.m.
10.10 p.m.-11.28 p.m.
Time Available: 1½ hrs.
Decision:
Question put and agreed to.
Resolved, That this House takes note of Commission Document R/2055/73, taking account of further developments brought to the attention of the House.
Date of Debate: 12th March 1975.
Title:
EUROPEAN MONETARY CO-OPERATION FUND.
Government Motion: …That this House takes note of Commission Document R/3594/74 and of the Government's intention, while co-operating in the improvement of monetary consultations in the EEC, to question the suitability of the organisational measure proposed.
Period of Debate: 2.47 a.m.-4.14 a.m.
Time Available: 1½ hrs.
Decision:
Question put and agreed to.
Resolved, That this House takes note of Commission Document R/3594/74 and of the Government's intention, while co-operating in the improvement of monetary consultations in the EEC, to question the suitability of the organisational measures proposed.
329W

§ Mr. Spearing
asked the Lord President of the Council if he will list the numbers and titles of those EEC documents which the Scrutiny Committee have recommended for debate and which so far have

Reference Numbers Titles Recommended by the Scrutiny Committee on

R/2746/743 Multinational companies in the context of Community regulations. 12th June (2nd Report) 1974 Session.

R/599/74 Directive on forestry measures. 6th August (10th Report) 1974 Session.

COM(72)1338 Regulation on the tariff treatment applicable to goods obtained by travelers from airport shops or on board aircraft, ships or hovercraft operational between two or more member States. 13th August (11th Report) 1974 Session.

R/684/73 Amendments to the proposal for a third Directive on harmonization of provisional laid down by law, regulation or administrative action relating to turnover tax and excise duty on imports in travel. 13th August (11th Report)1974 Session.

R/1746/73 Directive on harmonization of legislation concerning turnover tax; common system of value added tax; uniform basis of assessment. 136th August (11th Report)1974 Session and 10th December (3rd Report) 1974–1975 Session.

R/2268/74

R/1361/73 Directive co-ordinating procedures for the award of public supply contracts. 13th August (11th Report) 1974 Session.

R/2155/74 Draft General Budget 1975. 26th November (1st Report) 1974–75 Session and 4th March (1st Report) 1974–1975 Session.

R/2340/74

R/2443/74

COM(72)225 Harmonisation of Excise Duties and similar taxes. 10th December (3rd Report) 1974–75 Session.

S/1239/74 Development Aid. 10th December (3rd Report) 1974–75 Session.

S/1310/74

R/2195/74 Energy for Europe—Research and Development. Radioactive Waste. 10th December (3rd Report) 1974–75 Session. and 18th March (14th Report) 1974–75 Session.

R/162/75

R/2193/74 Operation of intervention system in fisheries sector 10th December (3rd Report)1974–75 Session.

R/3113/73 Lead in Petrol. 14th January (6th Report) 1974–75 Session.

R/2713/73 Air for sea fishing. 21st January (7th Report) 1974–75 Session.

COM(68)567 National Taxation System for Commercial Vehicles. 28th January (8th Report) 1974–75 Session.

R/1617/72 Aircraft Industry Policy. 28th January (8th Report) 1974–75 Session.

R/42/75 Amendment to the list in Annex 1 to the Treaty establishing the ECSC. 4th March (12th Report) 1974–75 Session.

R/1795/72 Driving Licence and Roadworthiness Tests. 11th March (13th Report) 1974–1975 Session.

R/1614/74

R/731/1/75 Economic Policy Guidelines. 25th March (15th Report) 1974–75 Session.

R/1372/73 Regional Aids 25th March (15th Report) 1974–75 Session.

R/650/75

I would add that each report of the Scrutiny Committee does contain a paragraph listing those instruments which have been recommended by the Committee or its predecessors for further consideration by the House, but which at the time of going to print, have not yet received such further consideration.

Reference Numbers	Titles	Recommended by the Scrutiny Committee on
R/2746/743	Multinational companies in the context of Community regulations.	12th June (2nd Report) 1974 Session.
R/599/74	Directive on forestry measures.	6th August (10th Report) 1974 Session.
COM(72)1338	Regulation on the tariff treatment applicable to goods obtained by travelers from airport shops or on board aircraft, ships or hovercraft operational between two or more member States.	13th August (11th Report) 1974 Session.
R/684/73	Amendments to the proposal for a third Directive on harmonization of provisional laid down by law, regulation or administrative action relating to turnover tax and excise duty on imports in travel.	13th August (11th Report)1974 Session.
R/1746/73	Directive on harmonization of legislation concerning turnover tax; common system of value added tax; uniform basis of assessment.	136th August (11th Report)1974 Session and 10th December (3rd Report) 1974–1975 Session.
R/2268/74
R/1361/73	Directive co-ordinating procedures for the award of public supply contracts.	13th August (11th Report) 1974 Session.
R/2155/74	Draft General Budget 1975.	26th November (1st Report) 1974–75 Session and 4th March (1st Report) 1974–1975 Session.
R/2340/74
R/2443/74
COM(72)225	Harmonisation of Excise Duties and similar taxes.	10th December (3rd Report) 1974–75 Session.
S/1239/74	Development Aid.	10th December (3rd Report) 1974–75 Session.
S/1310/74
R/2195/74	Energy for Europe—Research and Development. Radioactive Waste.	10th December (3rd Report) 1974–75 Session. and 18th March (14th Report) 1974–75 Session.
R/162/75
R/2193/74	Operation of intervention system in fisheries sector	10th December (3rd Report)1974–75 Session.
R/3113/73	Lead in Petrol.	14th January (6th Report) 1974–75 Session.
R/2713/73	Air for sea fishing.	21st January (7th Report) 1974–75 Session.
COM(68)567	National Taxation System for Commercial Vehicles.	28th January (8th Report) 1974–75 Session.
R/1617/72	Aircraft Industry Policy.	28th January (8th Report) 1974–75 Session.
R/42/75	Amendment to the list in Annex 1 to the Treaty establishing the ECSC.	4th March (12th Report) 1974–75 Session.
R/1795/72	Driving Licence and Roadworthiness Tests.	11th March (13th Report) 1974–1975 Session.
R/1614/74
R/731/1/75	Economic Policy Guidelines.	25th March (15th Report) 1974–75 Session.
R/1372/73	Regional Aids	25th March (15th Report) 1974–75 Session.
R/650/75
I would add that each report of the Scrutiny Committee does contain a paragraph listing those instruments which have been recommended by the Committee or its predecessors for further consideration by the House, but which at the time of going to print, have not yet received such further consideration.