§ Mr. Marlowasked the Lord Privy Seal what categories of European Community legislation, and what other resolutions or instruments of any other international body, are binding on Her Majesty's Government; and, in which cases they require the approval of Parliament.
§ Sir Ian Gilmour[pursuant to his reply, 19 November 1979; c. 12–13]: The following additional information to paragraph 2 might be helpful.
As well as the bodies there mentioned, certain other international bodies have defined powers, under international agreements to which the United Kingdom is a party, to adopt decisions which are binding on member States. The most notable example is the governing board of the International Energy Agency, which has the power to take binding decisions for the implementation of emergency measures in the event of an oil supply crisis. Such decisions would be put into effect by means of Orders in Council under section 3 of the Energy Act 1976, which requires that the orders be laid before Parliament after making, but does not subject them to any other parliamentary procedure. In addition, it may be possible for certain States to invoke the compulsory jurisdiction of international tribunals, such as the International Court of Justice, and bring proceedings against the United Kingdom which would lead to a decision by the tribunal binding on the parties.
40WLess far-reaching powers are possessed by bodies such as the International Development Association, the International Monetary Fund and the Council of Ministers of the Council of Europe—in relation to the functioning of the European Convention on Human Rights. Where necessary, appropriate provision has been made for the implementation of decisions of the first two of these bodies under Acts of Parliament such as the International Development Act 1964 and the Overseas Aid Act 1968, and the International Monetary Fund Acts 1968 and 1979.