Session 2015-16
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Other Bills before Parliament


 
 

Notices of Amendments: 3 September 2015                  

8

 

European Union Referendum Bill, continued

 
 

Alex Salmond

 

Stephen Gethins

 

Ms Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh

 

Patrick Grady

 

Stuart Blair Donaldson

 

Caroline Lucas

 

7

 

Clause  2,  page  2,  line  16,  at end insert—

 

“(d)    

the persons who on the date of the referendum would be entitled to vote

 

in a European parliamentary election by virtue of the European

 

Parliamentary Elections (Franchise of Relevant Citizens of the Union)

 

Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/1184) (citizens of the European Union other

 

than Commonwealth and Republic of Ireland citizens).”

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

This amendment would extend the franchise to EU nationals who would be entitled to vote in EU

 

parliamentary elections in the UK.

 

Alex Salmond

 

Stephen Gethins

 

Ms Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh

 

Patrick Grady

 

Stuart Blair Donaldson

 

Caroline Lucas

 

8

 

Clause  2,  page  2,  line  16,  at end insert—

 

“(1A)    

In subsection 1(a), “persons” include individuals who are aged 16 or 17 and

 

would otherwise meet the conditions to be entitled to vote as electors in a

 

parliamentary election.”

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

This amendment would extend the franchise to 16 and 17 year olds.

 

Alex Salmond

 

Stephen Gethins

 

Ms Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh

 

Patrick Grady

 

Stuart Blair Donaldson

 

Caroline Lucas

 

9

 

Clause  2,  page  2,  line  20,  at end insert—

 

“(3)    

 

(a)    

In subsection 1(a) “a parliamentary election” includes elections to the

 

Scottish Parliament,

 

(b)    

a person resident in England, Wales, Northern Ireland or Gibraltar who,

 

if resident in Scotland, met the conditions for inclusion in the electoral

 

register for Scottish elections, will be entitled to vote in the referendum.”

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

This amendment would extend the vote to 16 and 17 years olds and EU nationals.


 
 

Notices of Amendments: 3 September 2015                  

9

 

European Union Referendum Bill, continued

 
 

Alex Salmond

 

Stephen Gethins

 

Ms Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh

 

Patrick Grady

 

Stuart Blair Donaldson

 

Caroline Lucas

 

10

 

Clause  2,  page  2,  line  20,  at end insert—

 

“(3)    

In subsection 1(a) “a parliamentary election” includes elections to the Scottish

 

Parliament.”

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

This amendment would extend the vote to 16 and 17 years olds and EU nationals in Scotland.

 

Mike Gapes

 

21

 

Parliamentary Star - white    

Clause  2,  page  2,  line  20,  at end add—

 

“(3)    

Notwithstanding the provisions of the Representation of the People Act 1983, as

 

amended, or of any other statute, a British citizen resident overseas in a country

 

within the European Union will be eligible—

 

(a)    

to register to vote, and

 

(b)    

to vote in the referendum,

 

    

irrespective of the length of time that the citizen has been resident overseas.”

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

This amendment is intended to allow British citizens resident in other EU countries to vote in the

 

referendum.

 


 

Sir William Cash

 

Mr Owen Paterson

 

Mr Steve Baker

 

Mr Nigel Dodds

 

Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg

 

Kelvin Hopkins

 

Jim Shannon

 

Mr Richard Bacon

 

Mr Bernard Jenkin

 

Graham Stringer

 

Richard Drax

 

Kate Hoey

 

Sir Gerald Howarth

 

Mr Andrew Turner

 

NC1

 

To move the following Clause—

 

         

“Impartiality of broadcasters

 

(1)    

Notwithstanding any enactment or legal instrument, before the start of the

 

referendum period the Secretary of State shall by regulations make provision to

 

ensure the impartiality of broadcasters during the referendum period.

 

(2)    

Regulations made under this section must include provision for the appointment

 

by the Secretary of State of a referendum broadcasting adjudicator.

 

(3)    

Regulations made under this section must require the referendum broadcasting

 

adjudicator

 

(a)    

to draw up and publish guidance applicable to the referendum to ensure

 

the impartiality of broadcasters during the referendum period,

 

notwithstanding any relevant guidance currently in force or in draft; and


 
 

Notices of Amendments: 3 September 2015                  

10

 

European Union Referendum Bill, continued

 
 

(b)    

to make arrangements by which any allegations of breach of the guidance

 

on impartiality can be referred to and determined by the adjudicator and

 

where an allegation, in the adjudicator’s view, is vexatious or frivolous

 

to dismiss the allegation.

 

(4)    

Guidance published under subsection (3)(a) shall apply to—

 

(a)    

the holder of a licence under the Broadcasting Act 1990 or 1996 and

 

(b)    

the British Broadcasting Corporation.

 

(5)    

Regulations made under this section shall require the referendum broadcasting

 

adjudicator within one day of receipt of an allegation that a broadcaster has

 

breached the guidance on impartiality to determine whether the guidance has

 

been breached and publish its determination and, where a breach has taken place,

 

to require the broadcaster to remedy the breach within one day.

 

(6)    

Regulations made under this section are to be made by statutory instrument which

 

is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of

 

Parliament.”

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

The intention of this amendment is to ensure impartiality of television and radio broadcasters

 

during the referendum campaign and to allow for swift adjudication where an allegation of bias is

 

made.

 


 

Alex Salmond

 

Stephen Gethins

 

Ms Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh

 

Patrick Grady

 

Stuart Blair Donaldson

 

Caroline Lucas

 

NC3

 

To move the following Clause—

 

         

“Declaration of intent for withdrawal from the EU

 

The Secretary of State will present to Parliament a declaration of intent for

 

withdrawal from the European Union if—

 

(a)    

a majority of total votes cast in the referendum in the United Kingdom

 

are against the United Kingdom remaining a member of the European

 

Union, and

 

(b)    

a majority of the votes cast in the referendum in each of England,

 

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are against the United Kingdom

 

remaining a member of the European Union.”

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

This amendment would require the Secretary of State to present to Parliament a declaration of

 

intent to withdraw from the EU only on the basis of a double-majority covering the whole UK and

 

each of the four constituent nations of the UK

 



 
 

Notices of Amendments: 3 September 2015                  

11

 

European Union Referendum Bill, continued

 
 

Philip Davies

 

Mr David Nuttall

 

NC4

 

To move the following Clause—

 

         

“Referendum result

 

In the event that the referendum result is in favour of the United Kingdom leaving

 

the European Union—

 

(a)    

notice of withdrawal under Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon must be

 

served by the Government on the European Council within 28 days of the

 

referendum;

 

(b)    

withdrawal must be completed within two years of serving notice as per

 

(1) above; and

 

(c)    

there shall not be another referendum on the United Kingdom’s

 

membership of the European Union before withdrawal from the

 

European Union has been completed.”

 


 

Hywel Williams

 

NC7

 

Parliamentary Star - white    

To move the following Clause—

 

         

“Protection of structural funds in the event of withdrawal from the European

 

Union

 

The Secretary of State may not appoint a date for the referendum under section

 

1(2) before a scheme has been laid before each House of Parliament for the

 

continued provision of funding by Her Majesty’s Government to those regions of

 

the UK that qualify for European Union structural funds, to be equivalent in

 

timescale and conditions as the European Union structural funds available at the

 

date of the referendum.”

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

The purpose of this Clause is to ensure that, in the event of withdrawal from the European Union,

 

additional funds will be provided by the UK Government to those regions of the UK that qualify

 

for structural funds, in the same timescales and under the same conditions as the European Union

 

structural funds.

 


 

Hywel Williams

 

NC8

 

Parliamentary Star - white    

To move the following Clause—

 

         

“Return of Powers

 

The Secretary of State may not appoint a date for the referendum under section

 

1(2) before a scheme has been laid before each House of Parliament for the

 

further devolution of legislative competence to the National Assembly of Wales,


 
 

Notices of Amendments: 3 September 2015                  

12

 

European Union Referendum Bill, continued

 
 

the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Scottish Parliament in relation to matters

 

currently subject to European Union Regulations or Directives.”

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

The purpose of this Clause is to ensure that, in the event of any powers being returned to the United

 

Kingdom that were previously held by the European Union as a result of the referendum or any

 

agreement, a report be published on which of these powers should most appropriately be given to

 

the devolved governments (and those powers subsequently transferred).

 


 

Hywel Williams

 

NC9

 

Parliamentary Star - white    

To move the following Clause—

 

         

“Protection of the Farming Community

 

The Secretary of State may not appoint a date for the referendum under section

 

1(2) before a scheme has been laid before each House of Parliament for the

 

continued provision of funding by Her Majesty’s Government to the devolved

 

administrations in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales equivalent to the support

 

provided in promotion of agriculture by the Common Agricultural Policy as at the

 

date of the referendum.”

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

The purpose of this Clause is to ensure that, in the event of the UK Government withdrawing from

 

the European Union, funding which would have been made available to each constituent part of

 

the UK through membership of the Common Agricultural Policy is provided to each government

 

for use as it sees most appropriate (in promotion of agriculture).

 


 

Sir William Cash

 

NC11

 

Parliamentary Star - white    

To move the following Clause—

 

         

“Limit of the expenditure of registered political parties

 

(1)    

Notwithstanding Schedule 14 of the 2000 Act and any other enactment, for the

 

purposes of the referendum there will be a cumulative limit on the expenditure

 

which political parties registered under Part II of the 2000 Act can spend

 

cumulatively on campaigning during the referendum.

 

(2)    

For the purpose of subsection (1) the cumulative limit is £14,000,000.

 

(3)    

Each political party’s share of the cumulative limit shall be determined in

 

proportion to its share of the total votes cast at the general election that took place

 

on 7 May 2015.

 

(4)    

On the basis set out at subsection (3) the Electoral Commission shall calculate and

 

notify each political party of its share of the cumulative limit.

 

(5)    

No registered political party shall spend any money in respect of the referendum

 

campaign until the notification required at subsection (4) has been issued.


 
 

Notices of Amendments: 3 September 2015                  

13

 

European Union Referendum Bill, continued

 
 

(6)    

Each political party is responsible for its own expenditure and must not breach

 

the limit notified by the Electoral Commission in respect of its own expenditure.”

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

The purpose of this amendment is to impose an expenditure limit on the cumulative total amount

 

that political parties can spend during the referendum campaign.

 


 

Sir William Cash

 

NC12

 

Parliamentary Star - white    

To move the following Clause—

 

         

“Course of action in the event of the result of the Referendum that the UK

 

leave the EU

 

Notwithstanding the European Communities Act 1972, the Vienna Convention

 

on the Law of Treaties and Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon, in the event that

 

the outcome of the referendum is that the United Kingdom should not remain a

 

member of the European Union the United Kingdom may determine its own

 

course of action on its own terms and the means by which it shall achieve the

 

course of action.”

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

The purpose of the clause is to ensure that, if the outcome of the referendum is that the UK should

 

not remain a member of the EU, the UK can determine how to leave the EU.

 


 

Alex Salmond

 

Stephen Gethins

 

Ms Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh

 

Patrick Grady

 

Stuart Blair Donaldson

 

Caroline Lucas

 

5

 

Clause  1,  page  1,  line  9,  at end insert “or a date within three months before or after

 

May 5.”

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

This would ensure the referendum vote could not be held on a day three months before or after the

 

date of the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish elections.

 

Secretary Philip Hammond

 

Philip Davies

 

Mr David Nuttall

 

12

 

Clause  1,  page  1,  line  9,  at end insert “and

 

(c)    

must not be 4 May 2017.”


 
 

Notices of Amendments: 3 September 2015                  

14

 

European Union Referendum Bill, continued

 
 

Alex Salmond

 

Stephen Gethins

 

Ms Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh

 

Patrick Grady

 

Stuart Blair Donaldson

 

Caroline Lucas

 

6

 

Clause  1,  page  1,  line  9,  at end insert—

 

“(c)    

must not be the same day as local government elections in England,

 

Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.”

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

This amendment would ensure the referendum vote could not be held on the same day as local

 

government elections.

 

Ms Harriet Harman

 

Hilary Benn

 

Ms Rosie Winterton

 

Mr Pat McFadden

 

Heidi Alexander

 

15

 

Parliamentary Star - white    

Clause  1,  page  1,  line  9,  at end insert—

 

“(c)    

must not coincide with local or mayoral elections planned for 4 May

 

2017.”

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

This amendment would rule out holding the referendum on the same day as the 2017 local

 

elections.

 

Secretary Philip Hammond

 

23

 

Parliamentary Star - white    

Clause  1,  page  1,  line  10,  leave out subsections (4) and (5) and insert—

 

“(4)    

The question that is to appear on the ballot papers is—

 

“Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or

 

leave the European Union?”

 

(5)    

The alternative answers to that question that are to appear on the ballot papers

 

are—

 

“Remain a member of the European Union

 

Leave the European Union”.

 

(6)    

In Wales, there must also appear on the ballot papers—

 

(a)    

the following Welsh version of the q uestion—

 

A ddylai’r Deyrnas Unedig aros yn aelod o’r Undeb Ewropeaidd

 

neu adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd?” and

 

(b)    

the following Welsh versions of the alternative answers—

 

“Aros yn aelod o’r Undeb Ewropeaidd

 

Gadael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd”.”

 

Member’s explanatory statement

 

This amendment changes the English and Welsh versions of the referendum question in line with

 

the advice of the Electoral Commission. It also puts the alternative answers to the question

 

recommended by the Electoral Commission onto the face of the Bill.

 

Philip Davies

 

Mr David Nuttall

 

13

 

Clause  1,  page  1,  line  11,  at end insert “or leave the European Union?”


 
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