§ Lord Stoddart of Swindonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in the light of the decision of the European Court of Justice in the Factortame case that the Merchant Shipping Act 1988 is in breach of European law, they will amend the European Communities Act 1972, so as to ensure that no body other than the British Parliament has the power to declare one of its Acts null and void.
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (The Earl of Caithness)The Government have no plans to amend the European Communities Act 1972 as a result of the European Court's judgment in theFactortame case, as it does not raise any new constitutional issues.