[Sir Alan Haselhurst in the Chair] — Clause 1 — Incorporation of provisions of the Treaty of Nice

Part of Orders of the Day — European Communities (Amendment) Bill — 1st Allotted Day – in the House of Commons at 5:15 pm on 11 July 2001.

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Photo of Menzies Campbell Menzies Campbell Shadow Secretary of State (Foreign Affairs) 5:15, 11 July 2001

I would accept that the hon. Gentleman's argument had some force if he were not supporting shadow Ministers who say that there should be no extension of qualified majority voting in any circumstances, and that a line must be drawn in the sand. If there are circumstances in which it can be shown that it is in our interest to cross that line, I cannot understand why it is necessary to maintain a blanket ban on any extension.

It is perfectly reasonable to have an argument, as we did on Second Reading, about whether it is appropriate to have QMV with regard to discrimination, but I part company with the Conservative party, and in particular with its Front Benchers, over the idea that we should take a blanket approach and not have an argument on the merits.