§ Mr. Peter BottomleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will bring forward proposals to add to the third paragraph of article 189 of the EC treaty a provision that directives shall have no legal consequences except in so far as they are implemented in national legislation;
(2) if he will propose for the intergovernmental commission a review of the European Court of Justice with an intention to limit a priori application of directives and to overcome the expression "independently of the legislation of member states" in the judgment Van Gend en Loos—ECJ 1963.
§ Mr. GoodladWe are considering ways of addressing concerns we have about some ECJ judgments, particularly where they have had unforeseen or disproportionate cost implications. But it is important that any changes to the treaty articles relating to the European Court of Justice should maintain or strengthen the rule of law in the Community, which is in the interests of all member states, including the United Kingdom.