§ Sir Robert SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact 351W of the draft EU constitution on her Department's powers to regulate the exploitation of oil and gas reserves from the UK continental shelf. [R] [135323]
§ Mr. TimmsThe Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the draft Constitution on the Department's powers to regulate recovery of hydrocarbons from the UK continental shelf. This assessment notes that Article III-157 of the draft EU Constitutional Treaty would give the EU competence in energy matters related to the establishment of the internal market, including natural resources, with voting by qualified majority. Also, that Article III-130(2)(c) provides for unanimity on:
measures significantly affecting a Member State's choice between different energy sources and the general structure of its energy supply".