House of Commons Amendments

House of Commons

Session 2007 - 08
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Other Bills before Parliament

Committee of the whole House: 25th February 2008
1231

European Union (Amendment) Bill, continued

Provision of information to voters

4    (1)
This paragraph applies if the Electoral Commission have not, before the

appropriate day, designated an organisation under section 108 of the 2000 Act

(organisations to whom assistance is available under section 110 of that Act)

in relation to each possible outcome of the referendum.

      (2)
The Electoral Commission shall take steps to provide such impartial

information for persons entitled to vote in the referendum as will promote a

proper and fair understanding and awareness among those persons about the

arguments for each answer to the referendum question.

      (3)
The Electoral Commission shall ensure that expenditure in money or money’s

worth in any form by those persons responsible for promoting the arguments

for each answer to the referendum question is as far as possible of equal value

and shall require those persons to produce audited accounts to ensure

compliance with this paragraph within the permitted period for proceedings

under paragraph 3 of Schedule (Referendum on the Treaty of Lisbon).

      (4)
No public expenditure nor any expenditure in money or money’s worth from

the European Union or its institutions shall be provided or spent in pursuance

of the referendum campaign.

      (5)
In this paragraph “the appropriate day” means—

(a)
the day specified for the purposes of this paragraph in an order under

subsection (6) of section 109 of the 2000 Act;

(b)
if no such order is made and one or more applications under that

section are made in relation to each possible outcome of the

referendum before the 29th day of the referendum period, the 43rd day

of the referendum period; and

(c)
in any other case in which no such order is made, the 29th day of the

referendum period.

      (6)
Information provided in pursuance of this paragraph must be provided by

whatever means the Electoral Commission think is most likely to secure (in the

most cost-effective way) that the information comes to the notice of everyone

entitled to vote in the referendum.

      (7)
The Electoral Commission shall publish rules and guidelines for and shall

monitor compliance by the broadcasting authorities regulated in the United

Kingdom by Charter or statute as providers of programme services in relation

to the referendum so as to ensure that the provision of those services complies

with the same impartiality as is required of the Electoral Commission itself

under paragraph 4(2).

Combination of polls

5    (1)
A Minister of the Crown may by order make provision for, or in connection

with, the combination of polls at the referendum with those at an election or at

another referendum, or both.

      (2)
An order under this paragraph may include provision creating criminal

offences.

Payment of the charges and expenses of relevant officers by the Electoral Commission

6    (1)
A Minister of the Crown may by order make provision for the payment by the

Electoral Commission of any of the following—

(a)
the charges in respect of services properly rendered, or expenses

properly incurred, in connection with the referendum by a relevant

officer; and

Committee of the whole House: 25th February 2008
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European Union (Amendment) Bill, continued

(b)
the sum equal to any increase in the superannuation contributions

required to be paid by a local authority in respect of a person in

consequence of a fee paid as part of those charges.

      (2)
The order may include provision as to—

(a)
the services and expenses, or descriptions of services and expenses, in

respect of which payment may be made;

(b)
the maximum amount to be paid or reimbursed in respect of such

services and expenses, or descriptions of services and expenses;

(c)
payments in advance; and

(d)
accounts to be submitted.

      (3)
Before making an order under this paragraph, the Minister in question must

consult the Electoral Commission.

      (4)
The consent of the Treasury is required for the making of an order under this

paragraph.

      (5)
In this paragraph “relevant officer” means—

(a)
a counting officer; or

(b)
a person appointed by the Chief Counting Officer or a counting officer

to discharge all or any of his functions.

Accounts relating to expenditure under paragraph 6

7    (1)
As soon as reasonably practicable after the holding of the referendum the

accounting officer of the Electoral Commission and—

(a)
prepare and sign an account of the payments made by the Commission

in accordance with an order under paragraph 6; and

(b)
submit a copy of the account, as signed, to the Comptroller and

Auditor General.

      (2)
The account must be in such form as the Treasury direct and must set out—

(a)
the aggregate amount of charges and expenses falling within

subparagraph 6(1)(a) in respect of which those payments have been

made; and

(b)
the aggregate amount of sums falling within paragraph 6(1)(b) in

respect of which they have been made.

      (3)
The Comptroller and Auditor General must—

(a)
examine and certify the account submitted to him under this

paragraph; and

(b)
lay a copy of the account, as certified, and of his report on it before

each House of Parliament.

Gibraltar

8    (1)
A Minister of the Crown may by order make such provision as he considers

appropriate for the purposes of, or in connection with, one or both of the

following—

(a)
the holding of the referendum in Gibraltar; and

(b)
the regulation there of the conduct of the referendum.

      (2)
The provision that may be included in an order under this paragraph includes,

in particular—

(a)
provision about any matter as respects which the Political Parties,

Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (c. 41) makes provision for the

United Kingdom in connection with referendums;

Committee of the whole House: 25th February 2008
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European Union (Amendment) Bill, continued

(b)
provision for applying any provision made under section 7(2) of this

Act to Gibraltar with modifications;

(c)
provision about donations to political parties and others who

campaign, or are proposing to campaign, for one or other of the

possible outcomes to the referendum;

(d)
provision imposing obligations in relation to the referendum on the

providers of programme services;

(e)
provision conferring functions in relation to the referendum on any

public authority in Gibraltar that is responsible for regulating those

providers;

(f)
provision conferring jurisdiction on courts in Gibraltar that are

specified in the order or which are determined in the manner so

specified;

(g)
provisions conferring jurisdiction in relation to matters arising in

Gibraltar on courts in the United Kingdom;

(h)
provision for expenses incurred by specified persons in accordance

with the order to be charged on and paid out of the Consolidated Fund.

      (3)
Before making an order under this paragraph the Minister in question must

consult both—

(a)
the Government of Gibraltar; and

(b)
the Electoral Commission.

      (4)
An order under this paragraph may—

(a)
provide for conduct to constitute a criminal offence under the law of

Gibraltar;

(b)
extend and apply to Gibraltar, with or without modification, the

provisions of any enactment or subordinate legislation relating to any

matter mentioned in subparagraph (2);

(c)
modify any such enactment or subordinate legislation (including any

imposing criminal liability) so far as it has effect in relation to any part

of the United Kingdom;

(d)
modify or apply or incorporate, with or without modification, the

provisions of any legislation in force in Gibraltar relating to elections

or referendums or to any such matter.

      (5)
The capacity of the Gibraltar legislature to make law in relation to any matter

in relation to which provision may be made under this paragraph is not affected

by the existence of the power conferred by this paragraph.

      (6)
But subparagraph (5) is not to be construed as restricting the operation in

relation to a law made by the Gibraltar legislature of the Colonial Laws

Validity Act 1865 (c. 63) (under which colonial laws are void if repugnant to

provision made under an Act of Parliament).

Supplementary provision

9
This Act does not affect the power of the Secretary of State to make provision

under section 129 of the 2000 Act (orders regulating the conduct of

referendums) for or in connection with the referendum.

10
Section 126 of the 2000 Act (identification of promoter and publisher of

referendum materials) does not apply to any material published for the

purposes of the referendum if the publication is required under or by virtue of

an order under section 129 of that Act.

Committee of the whole House: 25th February 2008
1234

European Union (Amendment) Bill, continued

Orders under this Schedule

11  (1)
Every power to make an order under this Schedule shall be exercisable by

statutory instrument.

      (2)
An order under paragraph 5 or 8 may be made only if a draft of the order has

been—

(a)
laid before Parliament; and

(b)
approved by a resolution of each House.

      (3)
An order under this Schedule may—

(a)
apply or incorporate, with or without modification, the provision of an

enactment or subordinate legislation relating to donations, elections or

referendums;

(b)
make different provision for different cases, including different

provision for different parts of the United Kingdom and different

provision for Gibraltar;

(c)
make provision subject to such exemptions and exceptions as the

Minister making the order thinks fit; and

(d)
make such incidental, supplemental, consequential and transitional

provision as that Minister thinks fit.

Interpretation of Schedule

12  (1)
In this Schedule—

“donation” means anything which is or corresponds to a donation within the

meaning of Part 4 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act

2000 (c. 41); and

“programme services” means any services which would be programme

services within the meaning of the Broadcasting Act 1990 (c. 42) if

Gibraltar were part of the United Kingdom.’.

Orders of the House [28th AND 29th JANUARY 2008]

That the following provisions shall have effect.



(1)
In this Order, ‘allotted day’ means a day on which the first business

is—

(a)
a motion in the name of a Minister of the Crown to approve

the Government’s policy towards the Treaty of Lisbon in

respect of specified matters,

(b)
proceedings on the European Union (Amendment) Bill, or

(c)
a motion to vary or supplement this Order.

(2)
On an allotted day proceedings shall be taken in accordance with the

Table.

(3)
Standing Orders Nos. 83D and 83E (Programme orders: conclusion

of proceedings) and 83I (Programme orders: supplementary

provisions) shall apply to proceedings to which this Order applies as

if they were subject to a programme order.

(4)
On an allotted day no debate under S.O. No. 24 (emergency debates)

may take place until after the conclusion of proceedings specified in

the Table.

(5)
The rule of the House against anticipation shall not apply to

proceedings specified in the Table.

(6)
If a Minister of the Crown moves a motion to vary or supplement this

Committee of the whole House: 25th February 2008
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European Union (Amendment) Bill, continued

Order (including, in particular, so as to make provision about Lords

Messages)—

(a)
if the amendment does not reduce the amount of time

allotted overall to consideration of matters connected with

the Treaty of Lisbon, the Question shall be put forthwith, and

(b)
otherwise, proceedings on the motion shall be brought to a

conclusion not later than three-quarters of an hour after

commencement

TABLE

Allotted

day
Proceedings
Latest time for conclusion

1
(A) Motion—‘That this House approves the
3½ hours after

Government’s policy towards the Treaty of
commencement

Lisbon in respect of provisions concerning the

following matters: fighting cross-border

crime; justice; policing; human trafficking;

and asylum and migration policy.’

(B) Committee on the Bill: any selected
2½ hours after

amendments to Clause 1 and the Question,
commencement

That Clause 1 stand part of the Bill; any

selected amendments to Clause 2 relating to

the matters specified in paragraph (A).

2
(A) Motion—‘That this House approves the
4½ hours after

Government’s policy towards the Treaty of
commencement

Lisbon in respect of provisions concerning

energy.’

(B) Committee on the Bill—any selected
1½ hours after

amendments to Clause 2 relating to energy.
commencement

3
(A) Motion—‘That this House approves the
4½ hours after

Government’s policy towards the Treaty of
commencement

Lisbon in respect of provisions concerning

human rights.’

(B) Committee on the Bill—any selected
1½ hours after

amendments to Clause 2 relating to human
commencement

rights.

4
(A) Motion—‘That this House approves the
4½ hours after

Government’s policy towards the Treaty of
commencement

Lisbon in respect of provisions concerning the

single market.’

(B) Committee on the Bill—any selected
1½ hours after

amendments to Clause 2 relating to the single
commencement

market.

5
(A) Motion—‘That this House approves the
4½ hours after

Government’s policy towards the Treaty of
commencement

Lisbon in respect of provisions concerning

foreign, security and defence policy.’

(B) Committee on the Bill—any selected
1½ hours after

amendments to Clause 2 relating to foreign,
commencement

security and defence policy.

6
(A) Motion—‘That this House approves the
4½ hours after

Government’s policy towards the Treaty of
commencement

Lisbon in respect of provisions concerning

international development.’

(B) Committee on the Bill—any selected
1½ hours after

amendments to Clause 2 relating to
commencement

international development.

7
(A) Motion—‘That this House approves the
4½ hours after

Government’s policy towards the Treaty of
commencement

Lisbon in respect of provisions concerning the

effectiveness of the EU institutions and EU

decision-making.’

(B) Committee on the Bill—any selected
1½ hours after

amendments to Clause 2 relating to the
commencement

matters specified in paragraph (A).

8
(A) Motion—‘That this House approves the
4½ hours after

Government’s policy towards the Treaty of
commencement

Lisbon in respect of provisions concerning

climate change.’

(B) Committee on the Bill—any selected
1½ hours after

amendments to Clause 2 relating to climate
commencement

change, remaining amendments to Clause 2

and the Question, That Clause 2 stand part of

the Bill.

9
Committee on the Bill—Clauses 3 to 7.

10
Committee on the Bill—Clauses 3 to 7, so far
The moment of

as not completed on Allotted Day 9.
interruption

11
Committee on the Bill—Clause 8, the
The moment of

Schedule, New Clauses and New Schedules.
interruption

12
Remaining proceedings on the Bill.
6 hours after

commencement

Committee of the whole House: 25th February 2008
1236

European Union (Amendment) Bill, continued