HL Deb 18 June 1974 vol 352 cc900-2WA
LORD O'HAGAN

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What powers over E.E.C. matters it is possible for them to reconfer on the British Parliament without altering the Treaty of Accession to the E.E.C. or the Treaty of Rome.

THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS)

The Government are seeking, in the context of renegotiation, to establish the precise impact of the Treaties in a number of important fields. To the extent it proves necessary, we shall seek assurances that our plans in these fields will not be hampered by unduly restrictive interpretations of the Treaties. We have reserved the right to propose changes in the Treaties if we find that in practice the existing rules, as they are interpreted, interfere with the powers over the British economy which we need to pursue effective regional, industrial and fiscal policies.

As was made clear in another place on June 11, the Government are also aiming to ensure, through the operation of the Scrutiny Committees recently appointed in both Houses, that Parliament will have the opportunity to debate important items of draft E.E.C. legislation before the Government approve them in the Council.

House adjourned at twenty-two minutes before eight o'clock.