Scrutiny of European Matters
in the House of Commons: Government Memorandum from the Leader
of the House of Commons
1 Introduction
1. The Government is keen to enhance the way in which
Parliament engages with European matters. There is much of which
we can be proud: the efficient way in which the European Scrutiny
Committee sifts the large number of European documents coming
before it, alerting the House to those of significance; the detailed
scrutiny of European matters which has been done by the Foreign
Affairs Committee and some other Departmental Select Committees;
and the scrutiny reserve, by which the Government has undertaken,
in all but special cases, not to agree to European proposals until
the House has completed its scrutiny. These are strengths to maintain
and build on.
2. But the sad fact is that European Scrutiny is
something of a minority interest: the great majority of Members
take little interest in the reports of the European Scrutiny Committee
or in the debates which it recommends. Meetings of the European
Standing Committees to which it refers some documents are badly
attended and seen to be irrelevant. European issues are seen as
something separate and avoidable, while they should be in the
mainstream of our political life. This is reflected in the media's
coverage of European matters, and in the views of the public.
There is a worrying and widening gap between our citizens and
the institutions of the European Union; and this is not good for
our democracy.
3. The House of Commons has a key role to play in
bringing the European Union closer to our citizens. On the one
hand, it can engage the British public in its scrutiny of European
matters: disseminating information, seeking views, and pressing
these views on Government. On the other, it can engage with Europe:
scrutinising EU policy, holding Commissioners to account, working
together with Members of the European Parliament and other national
parliaments. The House of Lords also has an important part to
play, and particular expertise to offer. We must make sure that
the work that Parliament already does on European scrutiny is
done to better effect. And we need to respond to the new challenges,
and the new responsibilities for national parliaments, which may
come out of the IGC process.
4. How the House can best engage with European matters
is for the House to decide. This memorandum puts forward some
ideas, which the Government hopes the Modernisation Committee,
and the House more widely, will consider. These ideas have been
discussed in outline with the European Scrutiny Committee, and
were greeted positively. It is hoped that the Modernisation Committee
will work in tandem with the European Scrutiny Committee in developing
its proposals.
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