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Establish a Committee of Inquiry into the economic implications for the |
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United Kingdom of membership of the European Union. |
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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 | Committee of Inquiry into withdrawal from the European Union |
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(1) | The Chancellor of the Exchequer shall appoint a Committee of Inquiry to |
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report to him on the economic costs and benefits to the United Kingdom |
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arising from its membership of the European Union. |
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(2) | The report should in particular include— |
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(a) | the implications for the economy of the United Kingdom of |
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membership of the European Union, |
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(b) | the impact costs and other public expenditure in the United Kingdom |
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as a result of its membership of the European Union. |
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(3) | The Committee shall consist of seven members appointed by the Chancellor of |
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(a) | two shall be nominated by organisations appearing to the Chancellor of |
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the Exchequer to be in favour of the United Kingdom’s continued |
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membership of the European Union, |
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(b) | two shall be nominated by organisations appearing to the Chancellor of |
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the Exchequer to be opposed to the United Kingdom’s continued |
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membership of the European Union, |
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(c) | two shall be nominated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer as persons |
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appearing to him to hold no opinion as to whether the United Kingdom |
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should stay in or leave the European Union, and |
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(d) | one shall be nominated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer as the |
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chairman of the Committee, being a person appearing to him to hold no |
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opinion as to whether the United Kingdom should stay in or leave the |
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(4) | The person nominated under subsection (3)(d) shall not act in any capacity as |
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chairman or as a member of the Committee unless at least five members of the |
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Committee approve his appointment. |
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(5) | No person may be appointed under subsection (3) if he is or was— |
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(a) | a member of the European Parliament, or |
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(b) | an employee of the European Union or of any institution of the |
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(6) | The Chancellor of the Exchequer— |
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(a) | shall make available to the Committee such financial or other assistance |
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as the Committee may reasonably require to perform its functions, and |
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(b) | may pay to the members of the Committee such remuneration and |
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allowances as he may determine. |
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(7) | Subject to the provisions of this section the Committee may conduct its |
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proceedings in such manner as it considers appropriate. |
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2 | Report of the Committee |
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(1) | The Committee shall report to the Chancellor of the Exchequer before 1st July |
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2012, who will provide forthwith a copy to the National Audit Office with a |
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request for the views of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon. |
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(2) | The Chancellor of the Exchequer shall lay the report of the Committee, together |
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with the views of the Comptroller and Auditor General, before each House of |
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Parliament as soon as practicable after he has received them. |
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(1) | This Act may be cited as the European Union Membership (Economic |
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(2) | This Act extends to Northern Ireland. |
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