EU: Economic Governance

Lord Richard Excerpts

Wednesday 27th October 2010 Lords Chamber

[Lord Liddle]

My Lords—

[Lord Richard]

My Lords—

[Lord De Mauley]

My Lords, there is time to hear from all noble Lords.

[Lord Richard]

My Lords, did I hear the Minister saying that the Government would consider changes to the treaty that did not involve a transfer of sovereignty from this country to the EU? Did he say that? If he did, what are the implications of that for the Prime Minister’s commitment that there would be a referendum on the Lisbon treaty if there were any changes to it? There is a distinction between any changes to the treaty and changes that transfer sovereignty from Britain to the EU. Which is it?

[Lord Sassoon]

My Lords, there will be a referendum on all proposed treaty changes that would transfer competence to Brussels. In terms of whether we look at treaty changes, if any treaty changes come forward and are proposed at the council tomorrow or at any other time, the UK Government will of course look at them and consider whether they propose to move competences. Depending on which category they fall into, we will act accordingly.