§ Lord Pearson of Rannochasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the text of the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights, as unanimously approved by the 15 European Union Heads of State and 40WA governments at the informal European Council in Biarritz, will be similarly and separately submitted for approval to the British Parliament; and, if so, when. [HL4250]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal)The Minister for Europe gave oral evidence on the charter to the Lords Scrutiny Committee on the European Union on 5 April and, most recently, on 10 October. In June, I participated in a debate on Sub-Committee E's report on the charter. The draft text was placed in the Library earlier this month. As the charter will be proclaimed as a political declaration at Nice, there will be no need for parliamentary ratification.