Clause 2 — Treaties amending or replacing TEU or TFEU

Part of european union bill (programme) (No. 3) – in the House of Commons at 6:30 pm on 11 July 2011.

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Photo of Wayne David Wayne David Shadow Minister (Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs) 6:30, 11 July 2011

With due respect, I think it is a good one. Purely in terms of procedure, as the Government have conceded, there needs to be an assessment of how this innovative constitutional legislation works in practice. That is a good idea, and I welcome the Minister’s concession on it. However, the logical extension of that is an affirmative resolution at the start of the next Parliament. If the Bill is working well, that resolution should be agreed to. If it is not, there should be an opportunity to reconsider. I therefore hope that the House will look favourably upon Lords amendment 15. It is modest, sensible and pragmatic, and above all else it reflects the principles of parliamentary sovereignty to which we all adhere.