text_body: --- DIVISION TITLE ---
  
  European Union (Referendum) Bill - Clause 1 - Parliamentary Approval of Referendum Date
  
  --- MOTION EFFECT ---
  
  
  @ MP voted no against limiting the role of Parliament in setting the date for a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU
  @ MP voted aye to limit the role of Parliament in setting the date for a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU
  
  The majority of MPs voted to reject a proposed technical restriction on the role of Parliament in setting the date for the referendum. It appears the effect of the proposal would have been to explicitly limit Parliament to approving, or not, a day proposed via a ministerial order, rather than proposing a new date. 
  
  The rejected amendment[1] was, according to Hansard moved by Chris Williamson MP. The amendment sheet[2] records it was proposed by William Bain MP.  The effect of the proposed change was to leave out subsection (6) from clause (1) of the European Union (Referendum) Bill and insert â
  
  :"(6) An order under this section shall be made by statutory instrument.
  
  :"(7) An order under subsection (3) may not be made unless each House of Parliament has passed a resolution that the referendum shall take place on a day specified in the resolution and the day specified in the resolution is the same as in the order.
  
  :"(8) An order under subsection (5) may not be made unless a draft of the order has been laid before, and approved by, a resolution of each House of Parliament.â.
  
  
  Subsection 3 relates to the date of the referendum and subsection 5 relates to the wording of the question in Welsh. 
  
  The original subsection (6) stated[3]:
  
  :"An order under this section shall be made by statutory instrument and may not be made unless a draft of the order has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament."
  
  A point of order was raised by MP Nicholas Dakin, one of the tellers in the Aye lobby, relating to this division[4] :
  
  "On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. I am afraid that I must report an error in the number reported as having voted in the Aye Lobby in the Division on amendment 71, which took place at 9.52 this morning. The Ayes were seven, not eight as reported. (Laughter.)"
  
  It appears neither William Bain MP or Chris Williamson MP explained the intent of this amendment during the debate which preceded the vote. 
  
  * [1] [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2013-11-29b.528.2#g528.7 Text of the amendment from Hansard 29 November 2013]
  * [2] [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/2013-2014/0011/amend/pbc0112911m.1345-1351.html Amendment sheet, on which the amendment which was the subject of this vote is listed as No. 71]
  * [3] [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/2013-2014/0011/amend/pbc0112911m.1345-1351.html Text of the European Union (Referendum) Bill as at 29 November 2013]
  * [4] [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2013-11-29b.537.3#g568.0 Nicholas Dakin MP, (Scunthorpe, Labour), House of Commons 29 November 2013] 
  * [5] [http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2013-14/europeanunionreferendum/documents.html European Union (Referendum) Bill page on the Parliament website] 
  
  
  
  --- COMMENTS AND NOTES ---
  
  (put thoughts and notes for other researchers here)
  