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  European Union Bill (Programme)(No. 2) - Clause 1 - Interpretation of Part 1
  
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  The majority of MPs voted against adding the following text to the end of clause 1[1] of the European Union Bill:
  
  '(7A) References to "the Committee" are to the European Union Referendum Committee as established by section [European Union Referendum Committee] below.'.
  
  If the amendments under discussion had been approved, referendums would have had to be held in the UK to change important constitutional issues.
  
  Attacking the amendments, David Lidlington, Minister for Europe, said:
  
  '[the amendments] would deny both Parliament and the people the additional powers and controls which I believe Parliament and people in this country want to see.'
  
  Further, he said:
  
  'If accepted, the Opposition's amendments would leave it open as to whether a move to join the euro was significant, a move to give new competences to the European Union was significant, a move to give up our border controls and take part entirely in a European immigration system was significant, or a move to join a European public prosecutor system was significant.' The question of significance is important, because it is the criterion which determines whether a referendum would have been required.
  
  * [1] [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmbills/106/2011106.pdf European Union Bill â including Clause 1]
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  (put thoughts and notes for other researchers here)
  