European Union Bill committee stage: day two

• Watch the debate: European Union Bill committee stage, day two
• Lords Hansard: read a transcript of the debate

All the amendments discussed were withdrawn. Clause 3 was agreed without a vote.

Committee stage day one

The European Union Bill begans its committee stage in the House of Lords on Tuesday 5 April. The House agreed to Clause 2 which concerns restrictions on Treaties and decisions relating to EU. This part of the Bill provides for a national referendum to be held before the Government can agree to any change to the EU Treaties that moves power or policy from the UK to the EU.

• Watch the debate: European Union Bill committee stage
• Watch the debate: committee stage continued
• Lords Hansard: Read a transcript of the debate 
• Lords Hansard: the debate continued
• Marshalled List of Amendments to be moved in Committee as at 1 April 2011
• Amendments to be moved in Committee [supplementary to the marshalled list] as at 4 April 2011
• Bills before Parliament: European Union Bill 

The House of Lords Constitution Committee published report on the European Union Bill (published 16 March) warns that adopting referendum provisions on such a large scale represents a radical step-change for the UK. This is inconsistent with the Government’s statement that referendums are most appropriately used to decide fundamental constitutional issues, the report says.

The Committee noted that the referendum provisions are unlikely to be used because the Government has said that it does not intend to use them during this parliament.

• Lords Constitution Committee 13th Report: European Union Bill
• Committee news: Committee reports that EU Bill could pose significant challenge to UK Constitution 

The House of Lords also agreed without voting to Clause 1, which concerns the definition of terms used in the Bill.

Committee stage continues on 26 April when further amendments will be discussed.

Further information

The European Union Bill aims to strengthen the UK procedures for agreeing to or ratifying certain EU decisions and Treaty changes.

The Bill also provides for the provides for the Parliamentary approval, for the purposes of section 5 of the European Union (Amendment) Act 2008, of the Transitional Protocol on MEPs agreed at an Inter-Governmental Conference held on 23rd June 2010. This means the 18 additional MEPs provided for in the current EU Treaty can take up their seats before the next European Parliament elections in 2014.

It also makes arrangements for the election of the extra UK MEP.

The European Union Bill completed its stages in the House of Commons on 10 March.

Detailed line by line examination of the separate parts (clauses and schedules) of the Bill takes place during committee stage.

• Passage of a Bill: Committee stage