Parliament explained | European scrutiny | House of Lords 29 October 2015
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© House of Lords 2014 13 October 2015 The scrutiny of EU documents in the House of Lords Stuart Stoner Clerk to the European Union Select Committee Lords EU Committee scrutiny adviser
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Transcript of Parliament explained | European scrutiny | House of Lords 29 October 2015
© House of Lords 201413 October 2015
The scrutiny of EU documents in the House of Lords
Stuart StonerClerk to the European Union Select Committee
Lords EU Committee scrutiny adviser
© House of Lords 2014
The Committee structure
• EU Select Committee – “Select”
• Chaired by Lord Boswell of Aynho, since 2012-13 Session.
• Six (formerly seven) Sub-Committees
• Each Sub-Committee has (normally) 12 members: 4/3/3/2 division
• Rotation rule: Each member serves three sessions (Chairman longer).
© House of Lords 2014
The Committee structure• Financial Affairs (‘A’)
• Internal Market (‘B’)
• External Affairs (‘C’)
• Energy and Environment (‘D’)
• Justice (‘E’)
• Home Affairs (‘F’)
© House of Lords 2014
The Committee structure
• Overlaps with, but does not match, Government departmental structure
• E.g. Agriculture, Fisheries, Environment and Energy looks largely at DEFRA and DECC.
• Sub-Committees meet weekly when the House of Lords is sitting. E.g. Justice Sub-Committee meets 4.00pm-6.00pm on Wednesdays and circulates papers on Thursday afternoon.
© House of Lords 2014
The Committee staff
• Clerk – lead official, responsible for procedure
• Policy Analyst – policy expertise, researcher
• Committee Assistant – administrative work
• Legal Advisers (across all sub-committees)
• Clerks and Committee Assistants tend to rotate, Policy Analysts tend not to.
© House of Lords 2014
Committee work• Inquiries – The UK's Title V Opt-in; the
EU’s financial regulatory framework; the EU and Russia; the EU alcohol strategy; the civil use of drones; regional marine co-operation; the role of national parliaments in the EU.
• One-off hearings – scrutiny overrides; financial secretary to the Treasury on the EU Budget; EU Commissioners; the Minister for Europe and the Select Committee.
• Scrutiny!
© House of Lords 2014
Which items are ‘depositable’?• Non-legislative documents:
– Communications; Green Papers/ White Papers; Reports, Commission working papers, strategy documents
• Legislative proposals:– Draft directives– Draft regulations
• Other documents: Delegated/ implementing legislation,
“C” documents.• If in doubt, ask the Clerk!
© House of Lords 2014
© House of Lords 2014
Special cases• Override• Scrutiny waiver• Opt-in
– Freedom, security and justice– An extra layer of scrutiny – Parliament should
have the opportunity to comment on the exercise (or otherwise) of the opt-in
– 8 week rule• Delegated or implementing legislation
– EU subordinate legislation– Delegated legislation: consult the Clerk
© House of Lords 2014
Questions?
Contact me:Stuart Stoner
Clerk to EU Select [email protected]
020 7219 5864http://www.parliament.uk/hleu
Follow the Committee on Twitter: @LordsEUCom
