European Union Membership (Economic Implications) Bill (HC Bill 270)

1 Committee of Inquiry into withdrawal from the European Union

(1) The Chancellor of the Exchequer shall appoint a Committee of Inquiry to
report to him on the economic costs and benefits to the United Kingdom
arising from its membership of the European Union.

(2) 5The report should in particular include—

(a) the implications for the economy of the United Kingdom of
membership of the European Union,

(b) the impact costs and other public expenditure in the United Kingdom
as a result of its membership of the European Union.

(3) 10The Committee shall consist of seven members appointed by the Chancellor of
the Exchequer, of whom—

(a) two shall be nominated by organisations appearing to the Chancellor of
the Exchequer to be in favour of the United Kingdom’s continued
membership of the European Union,

(b) 15two shall be nominated by organisations appearing to the Chancellor of
the Exchequer to be opposed to the United Kingdom’s continued
membership of the European Union,

(c) two shall be nominated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer as persons
appearing to him to hold no opinion as to whether the United Kingdom
20should stay in or leave the European Union, and

(d) one shall be nominated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer as the
chairman of the Committee, being a person appearing to him to hold no
opinion as to whether the United Kingdom should stay in or leave the
European Union.

(4) The person nominated under subsection (3)(d) shall not act in any capacity as
chairman or as a member of the Committee unless at least five members of the
Committee approve his appointment.

(5) No person may be appointed under subsection (3) if he is or was—

(a) 5a member of the European Parliament, or

(b) an employee of the European Union or of any institution of the
European Union.

(6) The Chancellor of the Exchequer—

(a) shall make available to the Committee such financial or other assistance
10as the Committee may reasonably require to perform its functions, and

(b) may pay to the members of the Committee such remuneration and
allowances as he may determine.

(7) Subject to the provisions of this section the Committee may conduct its
proceedings in such manner as it considers appropriate.

2 15Report of the Committee

(1) The Committee shall report to the Chancellor of the Exchequer before 1st July
2012, who will provide forthwith a copy to the National Audit Office with a
request for the views of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon.

(2) The Chancellor of the Exchequer shall lay the report of the Committee, together
20with the views of the Comptroller and Auditor General, before each House of
Parliament as soon as practicable after he has received them.

3 Short title and extent

(1) This Act may be cited as the European Union Membership (Economic
Implications) Act 2011.

(2) 25This Act extends to Northern Ireland.