UK Parliament — House of Commons

There shall be a select committee, to be called the European Scrutiny Committee, to examine European Union documents and-

to report its opinion on the legal and political importance of each such document and, where it considers appropriate, to report also on the reasons for its opinion and on any matters of principle, policy or law which may be affected;

to make recommendations for the further consideration of any such document pursuant to Standing Order No. 119 (European Committees); and

to consider any issue arising upon any such document or group of documents, or related matters.

The expression 'European Union document' in this order and in Standing Order No. 16 (Proceedings under an Act or on European Union documents), No. 89 (Procedure in general committees) and No. 119 (European Committees) means-

any proposal under the Community Treaties for legislation by the Council or the Council acting jointly with the European Parliament;

any document which is published for submission to the European Council, the Council or the European Central Bank;

any proposal for a common strategy, a joint action or a common position under Title V of the Treaty on European Union which is prepared for submission to the Council or to the European Council;

any proposal for a common position, framework decision, decision or a convention under Title VI of the Treaty on European Union which is prepared for submission to the Council;

any document (not falling within (ii), (iii) or (iv) above) which is published by one Union institution for or with a view to submission to another Union institution and which does not relate exclusively to consideration of any proposal for legislation;

any other document relating to European Union matters deposited in the House by a Minister of the Crown.

The committee shall consist of sixteen Members.

The committee and any sub-committee appointed by it shall have the assistance of the Counsel to the Speaker.

The committee shall have power to appoint specialist advisers either to supply information which is not readily available or to elucidate matters of complexity within the committee's order of reference.

The committee shall have power to send for persons, papers and records, to sit notwithstanding any adjournment of the House, to adjourn from place to place, and to report from time to time.

The quorum of the committee shall be five.

The committee shall have power to appoint sub-committees and to refer to such sub-committees any of the matters referred to the committee.

Every such sub-committee shall have power to send for persons, papers and records, to sit notwithstanding any adjournment of the House, to adjourn from place to place, and to report to the committee from time to time.

The committee shall have power to report from time to time the evidence taken before such sub-committees.

The quorum of every such sub-committee shall be two.

The committee shall have power to seek from any committee specified in paragraph (12) of this order its opinion on any European Union document, and to require a reply to such a request within such time as it may specify.

The committees specified for the purposes of this order are those appointed under Standing Order No. 152 (Select committees related to government departments) including any sub-committees of such committees, the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, the Committee of Public Accounts, and the Environmental Audit Committee.

Unless the House otherwise orders, each Member nominated to the committee shall continue to be a member of it for the remainder of the Parliament.

There shall be a select committee to consider draft proposals by the Commission of the European Communities for legislation and other documents published for submission to the Council of Ministers or to the European Council whether or not such documents originate from the Commission, and to report its opinion as to whether such proposals or other documents raise questions of legal or political importance, to give its reasons for its opinion, to report what matters of principle or policy may be affected thereby, and to what extent they may affect the law of the United Kingdom, and to make recommendations for the further consideration of such proposals and other documents by the House.

The committee shall consist of sixteen members.

The committee and any sub-committee appointed by it shall have the assistance of the Counsel to Mr. Speaker.

The committee shall have the power to appoint specialist advisers for the purpose of particular inquiries, either to supply information which is not readily available or to elucidate matters of complexity within the committee's order of reference.

The committee shall have power to send for persons, papers and records; to sit notwithstanding any adjournment of the House; to adjourn from place to place; and to report from time to time.

The quorum of the committee shall be five.

The committee shall have power to appoint sub-committees and to refer to such sub-committees any of the matters referred to the committee.

Every such sub-committee shall have power to send for persons, papers and records; to sit notwithstanding any adjournment of the House; to adjourn from place to place; and to report to the committee from time to time.

The Committee shall have power to report from time to time the minutes of evidence taken before such sub-committees.

The quorum of every such sub-committee shall be two.

The committee or any sub-committee appointed by it shall have leave to confer and to meet concurrently with any committee of the Lords on the European Communities or any sub-committee of that committee for the purpose of deliberating and of examining witnesses.

Unless the House otherwise orders, each Member nominated to the committee shall continue to be a member of it for the remainder of the Parliament.