Clause 3 — Changes of terminology

Part of Orders of the Day – in the House of Commons at 5:15 pm on 3 March 2008.

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Photo of Bill Cash Bill Cash Conservative, Stone 5:15, 3 March 2008

This is a complex matter, and I am not trying to disparage the hon. Gentleman's remarks in any way. He is trying to draw a distinction between definitions and terminology. If he looks at the schedule, he will see tables with "Provision of the European Communities Act 1972" at the head of one column, "Existing expression" at the head of the next and "Substituted expression" at the head of the third. There are three pages of substituted expressions.

To take one, crucial example, the words "Enforceable Community right" are turned into "Enforceable EU right". That is a substantive change, made by the substitution of expression. It is not simply a matter of terminology as such; there is a substantive effect. If the existing expression had been left, it would not be possible to implement the merger of the existing treaties.