text_body: --- DIVISION TITLE ---
  
  Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill - Disapplication of European Communities Act 1972 - rejected
  
  --- MOTION EFFECT ---
  
  
  
  
  The majority No voters rejected a new clause[1] to the [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmbills/141/06141.i-ii.html Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill]. If passed the new clause would have meant any law passed in the UK relating to the European Union (EU) could not be overridden by EU law. However, it was defeated.
  
  Parliament passed the [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1972/ukpga_19720068_en_1#aofs European Communities Act] in 1972 which made Britain a member of the European Economic Community (now the EU). Under this Act laws made by European Treaties have legal effect in UK law[2]. Consequently, the proposed clause aimed to ensure laws made in the UK about the EU could be enacted ''in spite of'' the European Communities Act.
  
  The main aims of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill were to allow ministers to amend [http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/help/Types_of_Primary_Legislation.htm primary legislation] without debate in parliament and reduce the amount of legislation required to implement [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directive_%28European_Union%29 EU directives][3]. The Conservatives who introduced this clause thought the Bill would be a good opportunity to reduce the influence of EU law on UK law. A similar clause was also introduced into the House of Lords by Lord Waddington but was also defeated[4].
  
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  * [1] [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2006-05-16d.945.0 Bill Cash MP], House of Commons, 16 May 2006
  * [2] [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1972/ukpga_19720068_en_1#pt1-l1g2 European Communities Act 1972, Section 2]
  * [3] [http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2008/dec/16/legislative-and-regulatory-reform-act-2006 A-Z of legislation: Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006], The Guardian, 19 January 2009
  * [4] [http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/division.php?date=2006-07-10&number=1&dmp=1065&house=lords Disapplication of European Communities Act 1972 amendment], House of Lords, 10 July 2006
  
  
  
  --- COMMENTS AND NOTES ---
  
  (put thoughts and notes for other researchers here)
  