text_body: --- DIVISION TITLE ---
  
  European Union Bill - Clause 6 - Decisions requiring approval by Act and by referendum
  
  --- MOTION EFFECT ---
  
  @MP voted aye voted to clarify there is no requirement for both a referendum and an Act of Parliament before powers relating to EU patents can be transferred from the UK to the EU.
  @MP voted no voted not to clarify there is no requirement for both a referendum and an Act of Parliament before powers relating to EU patents can be transferred from the UK to the EU.
  
  The majority of MPs voted against clarify there is no requirement for both a referendum and an Act of Parliament before powers relating to EU patents can be transferred from the UK to the EU.
  
  Speaking during the debate Labour MP Emma Renyolds, who proposed the amendment which this division was on said[1]:
  
  :"Labour Members judge that this measure, if successful, would be an extremely important move to help British business protect its intellectual property rights, at least within the 12 member states entering into the enhanced co-operation procedure, as it stands."
  
  The Minister for Europe stated[2]:
  :"The policy on the patent is already subject to qualified majority voting, apart from two areas that are subject to unanimity. We propose that those should require an Act of Parliament, not a referendum."
  
  The Minister appears to be correct, matters related to intellectual property are covered in clause 7(c) of the European Union Bill[3]
  
  All the Labour amendment would have done, if anything, was clarify the situation. 
  
  The clause of the bill the amendment would have affected was clause 6[4] paragraph (4)(j). This clause lists one of the classes of areas where a "lock" is in place to prevent the UK giving powers to Europe without a referendum. 
  
  The paragraph originally stated:
  :  a decision under the provision of Article 333(2) of TFEU[5] (enhanced co-operation) that permits the adoption of the ordinary legislative procedure in place of a special legislative procedure, whereâ ..."
  
  The defeated amendment would have after '(enhanced co-operation)', inserted:
  :'except in the field of EU patents'. 
  
  
  
  
  * [1] [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2011-01-25a.171.3#g185.2 Emma Renyolds MP, House of Commons, 25 January 2011]
  
  * [2] [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2011-01-25a.171.3#g238.1 David Lidington, House of Commons, 25 January 2011]
  
  * [3] [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmbills/106/11106.1-7.html#j101 Clause 7 of the European Union Bill as at 11.01.2010]
  
  * [4] [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmbills/106/11106.1-7.html#j122 Clause 6 of the European Union Bill as at 11.01.2010]
  
  * [5] [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2008:115:0047:0199:EN:PDF The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union]  
  
  
  
  
  --- COMMENTS AND NOTES ---
  
  (put thoughts and notes for other researchers here)
  