UK Parliament — House of Commons

There shall be three general committees, called European Committees, to which shall stand referred for consideration on motion, unless the House otherwise orders, such European Union documents as defined in Standing Order No. 143 (European Scrutiny Committee) as may be recommended by the European Scrutiny Committee for further consideration.

If a motion that specified European Union documents as aforesaid shall not stand referred to a European Committee is made by a Minister of the Crown at the commencement of public business, the question thereon shall be put forthwith.

Each European Committee shall consist of thirteen Members nominated by the Committee of Selection in respect of any European Union document which stands referred to it, and the Committee of Selection may nominate the same membership in respect of several documents.

In nominating the members of a European Committee, the Committee of Selection shall have regard to the qualifications of the Members nominated and to the composition of the House; and where practicable it shall nominate at least two members of the European Scrutiny Committee and at least two members of the select committee appointed under Standing Order No. 152 (Select committees related to government departments) whose responsibilities most closely relate to the subject matter of the document or documents.

The quorum of a European Committee shall be three, excluding the chair.

Any Member, though not nominated to a European Committee, may take part in the committee's proceedings and may move amendments to any motion made as provided in paragraphs (9) and (10) below, but such Member shall not make any motion, vote or be counted in the quorum; provided that a Minister of the Crown who is a Member of this House but not nominated to the committee may make a motion as provided in paragraphs (9) and (10) below.

The European Committees, and the principal subject matter of the European Union documents to be referred to each, shall be as set out below; and in making recommendations for further consideration, the European Scrutiny Committee shall specify the committee to which in its opinion the documents ought to be referred; and, subject to paragraph (2) of this order, the documents shall be referred to that committee accordingly-

The chair may permit a member of the European Scrutiny Committee appointed to the committee under paragraph (4) above to make a brief statement of no more than five minutes, at the beginning of the sitting, explaining that committee's decision to refer the document or documents to a European Committee.

The chair may permit Ministers of the Crown to make statements and to answer questions thereon put by Members, in respect of each motion relative to a European Union document or documents referred to a European Committee of which a Minister shall have given notice; but no question shall be taken after the expiry of a period of one hour from the commencement of the first such statement: Provided that the chair may, if he sees fit, allow questions to be taken for a further period of not more than half an hour after the expiry of that period.

Following the conclusion of the proceedings under the previous paragraph, the motion referred to therein may be made, to which amendments may be moved; and, if proceedings thereon have not been previously concluded, the chair shall interrupt the consideration of such motion and amendments when the committee shall have sat for a period of two and a half hours, and shall then put forthwith successively-

the question on any amendment already proposed from the chair; and

the main question (or the main question, as amended).

The chair shall thereupon report to the House any resolution to which the committee has come, or that it has come to no resolution, without any further question being put.

If any motion is made in the House in relation to any European Union document in respect of which a report has been made to the House in accordance with paragraph (10) of this order, the Speaker shall forthwith put successively-

the question on any amendment selected by him which may be moved;

the main question (or the main question, as amended);

and proceedings in pursuance of this paragraph, though opposed, may be decided after the expiration of the time for opposed business.

With the modifications provided in this Order, the following Standing Orders shall apply to European Committees- No. 85 (Chair of general committees); No. 88 (Meetings of general committees); and No. 89 (Procedure in general committees).

There shall be one or more standing committees, to be called standing committees on European Community documents, for the consideration of European Community documents (as defined in Standing Order No. 3 (Exempted business)) referred to them.

Any Member, not being a member of such a standing committee, may take part in the deliberations of the committee, but shall not vote or be counted in the quorum.

Where notice has been given of a motion relating to a European Community document, a motion may be made by a Minister of the Crown at the commencement of public business, that the said document be referred to such a committee, and the question thereupon shall be put forthwith; and if, on the question being put, not less than twenty Members rise in their places and signify their objection thereto, Mr. Speaker shall declare that the noes have it.

Each committee shall consider each such document referred to it on a motion made by a Minister of the Crown to which amendments may be moved, and the chairman shall interrupt proceedings, if not previously concluded, when the committee shall have sat for two and a half hours after the commencement of those proceedings. Thereafter, notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order No. 64 (2) (Meetings of Standing Committees), he shall forthwith put successively-

the question on any amendment already proposed from the Chair;

the question on any other amendments selected by the Chair which may be moved;

the main question (or the main question, as amended).

The committee shall thereupon report the document to the House, together with any resolution to which they have come, without any further question being put.

If any motion is made in the House in relation to any document reported to the House in accordance with paragraph (4) of this order, Mr. Speaker shall forthwith put successively-

the question on any amendment selected by him which may be moved;

the main question (or the main question, as amended);

and proceedings in pursuance of this paragraph, though opposed, may be decided after the expiration of the time for opposed business.