HC Deb 31 July 1978 vol 955 cc32-3W
Mr. Knox

asked the Attorney-General how many cases have been referred to the European Court of Justice by (a) the House of Lords and (b) other British courts in each of the years since British accession to the Common Market.

The Attorney-General

The House of Lords has referred no matters to the Court of Justice of the European Communities.

British courts have made references in one case in each of the years 1974, 1975 and 1976; in five cases in 1977; and in three cases in 1978.

A Northern Irish court has also made a reference in 1978.

Mr. Lee

asked the Attorney-General if he will publish a list of references to the Court of the Community since 1st January 1973, showing how many and which references have resulted in an alteration of the decision of the United Kingdom courts; and how many references currently await determination by the Court of the Community.

The Attorney-General

United Kingdom courts have referred questions to the Court of Justice of the European Communities for preliminary ruling in the cases listed below. A reference to the Court of Justice is a step in the proceedings before the national court, taken before that court has reached a decision. Thus, while the decision of the national

Year Case Referred by
1973 Nil —
1974 41/74: Van Duyn v. Home Office Chancery Division of the High Court
1975 51/75: EMI Records Ltd. v. CBS United Kingdom Ltd. Chancery Division of the High Court
1976 17/76: Brack v. Insurance Officer National Insurance Commissioner
1977 30/77: The Queen v. Bouchereau Metropolitan Stipendiary Magistrate
41/77: The Queen v. a National Insurance Commissioner, ex parte Warry. Queen's Bench Division of the High Court.
* 103/77: Royal Scholten-Honig (Holdings) Ltd. v. Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce. Commercial Court, Queen's Bench Division of the High Court.
* 145/77: Tunnel Refineries Ltd. v. Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce. Commercial Court, Queen's Bench Division of the High Court.
146/77: British Beef Co. Ltd. v. Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce. Commercial Court, Queen's Bench Division of the High Court.
1978 1/78: Kenny v. Insurance Officer National Insurance Commissioner
*7/78: The Queen v. Thompson, Johnson and Woodwiss. Court of Appeal, Criminal Division.
* 83/78: Pigs Marketing Board (Northern Ireland) v. Redmond. Resident Magistrate, Northern Ireland
* 118/78: C. Meijer B.V. v. Department of Trade, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Commissioners of Customs and Excise. Commercial Court, Queen's Bench Division of the High Court.