Clause 17 - Section 16: supplementary
European Parliament (Representation) Bill
4:30 pm
Mr William Cash (Stone, Conservative)
I beg to move amendment No. 64, in
clause 17, page 9, line 26, leave out from 'regulations' to end of line 29 and add
'may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament'.
The amendment covers ground that we have covered before with respect to the subject matter of the regulations under clause 16. Clause 17 states that a statutory instrument containing such regulations shall be subject to annulment. I have just said something that surprises even me. I am astonished that a provision of this importance should be subject to the annulment procedure. It is obvious that it should be subject to affirmative resolution at the very least. The people of Gibraltar have no opportunity to participate in the debates in the Committee, on the Floor of the House or in the other place. Again it comes back to the Government's overbearing attitude.
I am truly astonished—I say that not out of synthetic concern—at the bloody-minded arrogance, if I may use the word, that lies behind the provision.