HC Deb 13 May 1998 vol 312 cc139-40W
Mr. Cash

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for New Forest, West (Mr. Swayne) of 18 March 1998,Official Report, column 611, for what reasons the Government will not incorporate Article K7 of the Treaty on European Union into United Kingdom law; and what the consequences of not incorporating Article K7 will be for the implementation of the Treaty of Amsterdam in the United Kingdom. [41753]

Mr. Doug Henderson

The European Communities (Amendment) Bill, the passage of which will allow the United Kingdom to ratify the Treaty of Amsterdam, incorporates into domestic law those parts of the Treaty of Amsterdam which give rise to Community rights and obligations. It does not incorporate the Treaty's provisions dealing with Pillars II and III (such as Article K7), since these are intergovernmental provisions which do not give rise to Community rights and obligations.