Minutes of Proceedings European Scrutiny

House of Commons

European Scrutiny Committee

Minutes of Proceedings

Session 2004–05

Ordered by the House of Commons

to be printed 7 April 2005

The European Scrutiny Committee

The European Scrutiny Committee is appointed under Standing Order No.143 to examine European Union documents and—

a)   to report its opinion on the legal and political importance of each such document and, where it considers appropriate, to report also on the reasons for its opinion and on any matters of principle, policy or law which may be affected;

b)   to make recommendations for the further consideration of any such document pursuant to Standing Order No. 119 (European Standing Committees); and

c)   to consider any issue arising upon any such document or group of documents, or related matters.

The expression 'European Union document' covers —

i)   any proposal under the Community Treaties for legislation by the Council or the Council acting jointly with the European Parliament;

ii)   any document which is published for submission to the European Council, the Council or the European Central Bank;

iii)   any proposal for a common strategy, a joint action or a common position under Title V of the Treaty on European Union which is prepared for submission to the Council or to the European Council;

iv)   any proposal for a common position, framework decision, decision or a convention under Title VI of the Treaty on European Union which is prepared for submission to the Council;

v)   any document (not falling within (ii), (iii) or (iv) above) which is published by one Union institution for or with a view to submission to another Union institution and which does not relate exclusively to consideration of any proposal for legislation;

vi)   any other document relating to European Union matters deposited in the House by a Minister of the Crown.

The Committee's powers are set out in Standing Order No. 143.

The scrutiny reserve resolution, passed by the House, provides that Ministers should not give agreement to EU proposals which have not been cleared by the European Scrutiny Committee, or on which, when they have been recommended by the Committee for debate, the House has not yet agreed a resolution. The scrutiny reserve resolution is printed with the House's Standing Orders, which are available at www.parliament.uk.

Membership during the session

Jimmy Hood MP (Labour, Clydesdale) (Chairman)

Richard Bacon MP (Conservative, South Norfolk)

Liam Byrne MP (Labour, Birmingham Hodge Hill) (added 21.02.05)

William Cash MP (Conservative, Stone)

Michael Connarty MP (Labour, Falkirk East)

Wayne David MP (Labour, Caerphilly)

Jim Dobbin MP (Labour, Heywood and Middleton)

Nick Harvey MP (Liberal Democrat, North Devon)

David Heathcoat-Amory MP (Conservative, Wells)

Sandra Osborne MP (Labour, Ayr)

Anne Picking MP (Labour, East Lothian)

Angus Robertson MP (SNP, Moray)

John Robertson MP (Labour, Glasgow Anniesland)

Anthony Steen MP (Conservative, Totnes)

Bill Tynan MP (Labour, Hamilton South)

Proceedings of the Committee

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Prepared: 24 October 2005