European Community Secondary Legislation

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 24 January 1974.

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Photo of Sir Ian Percival Sir Ian Percival , Southport 12:00, 24 January 1974

I am glad to be able to follow the hon. Member for Motherwell (Mr. Lawson) on the point on which he allowed me to intervene. The trouble is that nothing in the law-making processes of the EEC is quite like anything in the law-making processes to which we are accustomed here. Therefore, when one tries to draw an analogy, as I did, one is liable to be shot to pieces straight away because there is nothing comparable in the two institutions.

It is not practicable to talk about scrutinising proposals, using that word in the widest sense, that is if one simply means proposals which are being kicked about between the Council and the Commission. We must allow them to get to the stage of being committed to writing as formal proposals from the Council to the Commission which, if accepted by the Commission, will become law. When a matter reaches the stage of a proposal in that form, it is a public document. Everyone can see what is being proposed. It is, therefore, a document to which this House can give its attention, knowing that if that document is assented to by the Council it will become directly applicable as the law here or have implications to which we shall have to give effect in our law.