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Establish
a Commission to carry out regular audits of the economic costs and
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benefits of the UK’s membership
of the European Union; and for connected
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Be
it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by
and with the advice and
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consent of the Lords Spiritual
and Temporal, and Commons, in this present
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Parliament assembled, and by
the authority of the same, as follows:—
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1
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Committee
of inquiry into costs and benefits of the UK’s membership
of the
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(1)
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The Chancellor of the Exchequer
must appoint a committee of inquiry to report
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to him on the matters set out
in section 2—
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(a)
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within six months of the date
on which this Act is passed, and
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5
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(b)
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subsequently, every five years.
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(2)
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The committee of inquiry shall
be called the EU Membership Audit
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Commission (“the Commission”).
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(3)
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The Chancellor of the Exchequer
shall appoint seven members to serve on the
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Commission, one of whom shall
be appointed as chairman.
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10
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(4)
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In appointing members under
subsection (3), the Chancellor of the Exchequer
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must seek to ensure that—
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(a)
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there is a balance of those in
favour and those against the UK’s
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continued membership of the EU;
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(b)
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the chairman is someone who is
broadly neutral on the matter;
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15
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(i)
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a member of the European Parliament,
or
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(ii)
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an employee of the European
Commission.
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(a)
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shall
make available to the Commission such administrative and other support
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20
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as
the Commission reasonably requires to fulfill its functions;
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(b)
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may
pay to members of the Commission such remuneration and allowances
as
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it
considers appropriate.
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(6)
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Subject
to the provisions of this section, the Commission may conduct its
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proceedings in such manner as
it considers appropriate.
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The terms of reference of the
Commission shall be to examine the costs and
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benefits of the UK’s continued
membership of the European Union, taking into
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5
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account the impact of membership
on the UK’s—
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(a)
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economy (including consideration
of public expenditure and receipts
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resulting directly from membership),
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(b)
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national security and defence,
and
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(c)
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constitutional arrangements.
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10
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3
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Report
of the Commission
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(1)
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The Commission shall report
to the Chancellor within twelve months of its
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(2)
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The Chancellor of the Exchequer
shall provide a copy of the Commission’s
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report to the National Audit
Office and invite the views of the Comptroller and
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15
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(3)
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The Chancellor of the Exchequer
shall lay before each House of Parliament a
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copy of the Commission’s
report and any report containing the views of the
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Comptroller and Auditor General.
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(4)
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A Minister of the Crown shall,
as soon as is practicable after the laying of
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reports under subsection (3),
make a motion in each House of Parliament
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expressing a view on the contents
of the Commission’s report.
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There
shall be paid out of money provided by Parliament any expenditure
incurred by
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the
Treasury by virtue of this Act.
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25
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This Act may be cited as the
European Union (Audit of Benefits and Costs of
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