Clause 2 - Recommendations by Electoral Commission relating to changes in number ofUnited Kingdom MEPs
European Parliament (Representation) Bill
10:45 am
Mr William Cash (Stone, Conservative)
The nearer the Minister gets to delivering the advice that she has received, the clearer the situation becomes. I suspect that the hon. Member for Somerset and Frome has picked up the same point.
We have now established that whatever has to be done must be done in pursuance of a treaty. That is the Community obligation that I described. As I also explained, that is not the same as the ambit of Community law, which includes regulations, directives and other matters, as well as any laws that are made from time to time by the European Commission.
If, as the Minister now concedes, that flows from the decision and the questions of anticipated change are to be attached to and dependent on the manner in which that decision is made and when, why does the Bill not say, instead of ''Community law'', ''in pursuance of a decision that has been made'' and then specify which one it is?
I raise that point, Mr. Cook—