§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether their commitment to a strong independent European Court of Justice ("A Partnership of Nations", paragraph 36) means that they accept that it must remain the exclusive function of the Court to ensure that, in the interpretation and application of the treaty establishing the European Community, the law is observed.
§ Lord CheshamThe role of the European Court of Justice in ensuring that in the interpretation and application of the treaty the law is observed is clearly set out in Article 164 of the treaty. National courts are also competent to apply EC law.