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Based upon the work of a study-group of the Study of Parliament Group, this book examines the impact of EU membership on the Westminster Parliament. It considers the development and effectiveness of new procedures for parliamentary scrutiny and looks in detail at the handling of EU business by the two Houses in recent sessions. It contains detailed case studies of Parliament's dealings with the Common Agricultural Policy and with farm animal welfare and examines the significance for Parliament of the Maastricht Treaty, analysing the stormy debates surrounding its ratification. It also includes an appendix, outlining developments in the parliaments of the other EU countries. This book, written from a unique parliamentary perspective, is essential reading for everyone who is involved or interested in the continuing debate about Britain's future role in Europe.
List of contents
Preface - Notes on the Contributors - Introduction; P.Giddings & G.Drewry - PART 1: SETTING THE SCENE - The Development of the European Community, 1973-95; D.Miers - The Constitutional Background; A.Page - The Evolution of the Scrutiny System in the House of Commons; P.Baines - The House of Lords and the European Community: the Evolution of Arrangements for Scrutiny; D.Shell - PART 2: THE WESTMINSTER PARLIAMENT IN ACTION - The House of Commons and the European Community, 1990-91; P.Giddings & P.Baines - The House of Lords and the European Community, 1990-91; D.Shell - Parliament and the Common Agricultural Policy, 1990-92; P.Baines - Parliament and the Welfare of Farm Animals; P.Baines - The Road to Maastricht: Parliament and the Intergovernmental Conferences of 1991; R.Ware - Legislation and Ratification: the Passage of the European Communities (Amendment) Act 1993; R.Ware - PART 3: CONCLUSIONS - Scrutiny without Power? The Impact of the European Community on the Westminster Parliament; P.Giddings & G.Drewry - The Way Forward?; D.Millar - Appendix: Scrutiny of European Community Affairs by National Parliaments; D.Millar - Bibliography - Index
Summary
Based upon the work of a study-group of the Study of Parliament Group, this book examines the impact of EU membership on the Westminster Parliament.
