HL Deb 25 October 1993 vol 549 cc70-1WA
Lord Stoddart of Swindon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What advice they received and from what sources concerning the interpretation of "municipal" in Article 8 of the Maastricht Treaty as meaning local and regional elections and not general elections to Parliament and Westminster; and

Whether Parliament or the European Court of Justice will decide whether the word "municipal" in Article 8 shall embrace general elections to Parliament and Westminster as well as local and regional elections.

Earl Ferrers

The interpretation of the expression "municipal elections" in Article 8b.1 of the treaty is ultimately a matter for the European Court of Justice. We have received no external advice on this matter. We are clear, however, that the use of the term "municipal" in this context excludes parliamentary elections.