European Union Committee
Encyclopedia
The European Union Committee is a select committee of the House of Lords
in the Parliament of the United Kingdom
. Its terms of reference are "To consider European Union documents and other matters relating to the European Union". Much of the scrutiny is conducted by the seven subcommittees, each dealing with a separate policy area. The full committee oversees the work of the subcommittees, approves their reports, scrutinises proposals that cross subject areas, and takes evidence from ministers and representatives of the EU presidency.
as well as tax issues.
Sub Committee A has recently considered Carousel Fraud, the funding of the EU budget, Solvency II
and European Trade Policy. In addition it reviews the EU Preliminary Draft Budget each year.
The Sub-Committee is also responsible for scrutinising research and technological development across the EU with a view to boosting the international competitiveness of the European economy is also covered. It also provides oversight in the House of Lords for the European Space Policy.
, common security strategy, and the European Security Strategy.
, animal health and welfare, and the environment (including climate change).
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
in the Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
. Its terms of reference are "To consider European Union documents and other matters relating to the European Union". Much of the scrutiny is conducted by the seven subcommittees, each dealing with a separate policy area. The full committee oversees the work of the subcommittees, approves their reports, scrutinises proposals that cross subject areas, and takes evidence from ministers and representatives of the EU presidency.
Membership
As of 17 March 2011, the members of the committee are as follows:- Lord RoperJohn Roper, Baron RoperJohn Francis Hodgess Roper, Baron Roper is a British politician.John Roper was educated at William Hulme's Grammar School , Reading School, Magdalen College, Oxford and the University of Chicago....
(Chairman) - Lord BownessPeter BownessPeter Spencer Bowness, Baron Bowness, CBE, DL is a British Conservative politician and member of the House of Lords.Bowness was educated at Whitgift School, South Croydon and the Law Society School of Law and College of Law...
- Lord Carter of ColesPatrick Carter, Baron Carter of ColesPatrick Robert Carter, Baron Carter of Coles is chairman of the review panel examining the future of NHS pathology. He recently reviewed the procurement of legal aid in England and Wales, and was chair of Sport England until September 2006...
- Lord DearGeoffrey Dear, Baron DearGeoffrey James Dear, Baron Dear, QPM, DL is a retired British police officer. He was described by the broadcaster Sir Robin Day as "the best known and most respected police officer of his generation"....
- Lord DykesHugh Dykes, Baron DykesHugh John Maxwell Dykes, Baron Dykes, born 17 May 1939 to Richard and Doreen Dykes is a British politician. He is a Foreign Affairs Spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords.-Education:...
- Lord Hannay of ChiswickDavid Hannay, Baron Hannay of ChiswickDavid Hugh Alexander Hannay, Baron Hannay of Chiswick, GCMG, CH is a British diplomat.He is married to Gillian Hannay and has four sons and eight grandchildren....
- Lord Foulkes of CumnockGeorge Foulkes, Baron Foulkes of CumnockGeorge Foulkes, Baron Foulkes of Cumnock, PC is a British Labour Party life peer. He has been a member of the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Scottish Parliament...
- Lord HarrisonLyndon Harrison, Baron HarrisonLyndon Henry Arthur Harrison, Baron Harrison is a British Labour Party politician. He was created a life peer in 1999. Lord Harrison speaks regularly in the House of Lords...
- Baroness Howarth of BrecklandValerie Howarth, Baroness Howarth of BrecklandValerie Georgina Howarth, Baroness Howarth of Breckland, is a British politician and a member of the House of Lords.In 2001, she was created a life peer with the title Baroness Howarth of Breckland, of Parson Cross in the County of South Yorkshire. She is one of the board members of the Children...
- Lord JoplingMichael Jopling, Baron JoplingThomas Michael Jopling, Baron Jopling, PC is a politician in the United Kingdom, and sits in the House of Lords as a member of the Conservative Party....
- Lord Maclennan of RogartRobert Maclennan, Baron Maclennan of RogartRobert Adam Ross "Bob" Maclennan, Baron Maclennan of Rogart PC is a British Liberal Democrat life peer. He was the last leader of the Social Democratic Party , serving during the negotiations that led to its merger with the Liberal Party in 1988...
- Baroness O'CathainDetta O'Cathain, Baroness O'CathainDetta O'Cathain, Baroness O'Cathain, OBE is an Irish-born British businesswoman and politician...
- Lord PlumbHenry Plumb, Baron PlumbCharles Henry Plumb, Baron Plumb DL is a British farmer who went into politics as a leader of the National Farmers Union. He later became active in the Conservative Party and was elected as a Member of the European Parliament...
- Lord RichardIvor Richard, Baron RichardIvor Seward Richard, Baron Richard, PC , is a British politician belonging to the Labour Party and former member of the Commission of the European Communities.-Background:...
- Earl of SandwichJohn Montagu, 11th Earl of SandwichJohn Edward Hollister Montagu, 11th Earl of Sandwich is a British entrepreneur, politician and nobleman.Montagu is the eldest son of Victor Montagu, who disclaimed the earldom of Sandwich in 1964, and his first wife Maud Rosemary...
- Lord TeversonRobin Teverson, Baron TeversonRobin Teverson, Baron Teverson is a Liberal Democrat Whip and currently Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Energy and Climate Change .The son of Crofton Teverson, he was educated at Exeter University...
- Lord TomlinsonJohn Tomlinson, Baron TomlinsonJohn Edward Tomlinson, Baron Tomlinson , is a British Labour Co-operative politician. He is currently a life peer in the House of Lords, and was previously a Member of Parliament from 1974 to 1979, and an Member of the European Parliament from 1984 to 1999.Born in London, Tomlinson was educated...
- Lord TrimbleDavid TrimbleWilliam David Trimble, Baron Trimble, PC , is a politician from Northern Ireland. He served as Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party , was the first First Minister of Northern Ireland , and was a Member of the British Parliament . He is currently a life peer for the Conservative Party...
- Baroness Young of HornseyLola Young, Baroness Young of HornseyLola Young, Baroness Young of Hornsey, OBE is a British artist, author, and Crossbench peer.Young was educated at the Parliament Hill School for Girls in London and went then to the New College of Speech and Drama, where she received a diploma in dramatic art in 1975, and a teaching certificate...
Sub-committees
The UK Government sends European Commission proposals to the EU Select Committee throughout the year, and these are sifted by subject area and importance for the seven Sub-Committees to scrutinise carefully on an ongoing basis. The Chairman of the select committee pursues any issues arising in correspondence with the responsible minister, and from time to time directly with the Commission. The seven sub-committees are as follows:Sub-committee A: Economic and Financial Affairs, and International Trade
Sub-Committee A considers issues relating to economic and financial affairs within the European UnionEuropean Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
as well as tax issues.
Sub Committee A has recently considered Carousel Fraud, the funding of the EU budget, Solvency II
Solvency II
The Solvency II Directive is an EU Directive that codifies and harmonises the EU insurance regulation. Primarily this concerns the amount of capital that EU insurance companies must hold to reduce the risk of insolvency....
and European Trade Policy. In addition it reviews the EU Preliminary Draft Budget each year.
- Lord HarrisonLyndon Harrison, Baron HarrisonLyndon Henry Arthur Harrison, Baron Harrison is a British Labour Party politician. He was created a life peer in 1999. Lord Harrison speaks regularly in the House of Lords...
(Chairman), Labour - Lord Browne of MadingleyJohn Browne, Baron Browne of MadingleyEdmund John Philip Browne, Baron Browne of Madingley, FRS FREng is President of the Royal Academy of Engineering and was group Chief Executive of BP until his resignation on 1 May 2007...
, Crossbench - Lord Hamilton of EpsomArchie Hamilton, Baron Hamilton of EpsomArchibald Gavin Hamilton, Baron Hamilton of Epsom, PC is a British Conservative Party politician.-Background and education:...
, Conservative - Lord Haskins, Crossbench
- Baroness HooperGloria Hooper, Baroness HooperGloria Dorothy Hooper, Baroness Hooper, is a British lawyer and a life peer in the House of Lords.The daughter of Frederick Hooper and Frances Maloney, she was educated at La Sainte Union Convent High School, Southampton and at the Royal Ballet School...
, Conservative - Lord JordanWilliam Jordan, Baron JordanWilliam Brian Jordan, Baron Jordan, CBE , known as Bill Jordan, is a British economist and politician.The son of Walter and Alice Jordan, he was educated at the Barford Road Secondary modern school in Birmingham....
, Labour
- Baroness MaddockDiana Maddock, Baroness MaddockDiana Margaret Maddock, Baroness Maddock and Lady Beith is a Liberal Democrat politician.Maddock was educated at the University of Portsmouth and leader of the Liberal Democrats on Southampton City Council...
, Liberal Democrat - Lord MarlesfordMark Schreiber, Baron MarlesfordMark Shuldham Schreiber, Baron Marlesford is a British politician .-Life:...
, Conservative - Lord MoserClaus Moser, Baron MoserClaus Adolf Moser, Baron Moser, KCB, CBE is a British statistician who has made major contributions in both academia and the Civil Service...
, Crossbench - Lord TrefgarneDavid Trefgarne, 2nd Baron TrefgarneDavid Garro Trefgarne, 2nd Baron Trefgarne, PC , is a British Conservative politician.The son of George Morgan Trefgarne, 1st Baron Trefgarne, Trefgarne succeeded his father as 2nd Baron Trefgarne in 1960 at the age of 19, having attended Haileybury and Imperial Service College. He took his seat...
, Conservative - Lord Vallance of TummelIain Vallance, Baron Vallance of TummelIain David Thomas Vallance, Baron Vallance of Tummel, FRSA is a British businessman and a Liberal Democrat politician, currently the party's spokesperson for Trade and Industry....
, Liberal Democrat - Lord Woolmer of LeedsKenneth Woolmer, Baron Woolmer of LeedsKenneth John Woolmer, Baron Woolmer of Leeds is a British university lecturer and politician. Coming into politics through local government in West Yorkshire, Woolmer was elected to Parliament for the Labour Party in 1979...
, Labour
Sub-Committee B: Internal Market, Energy, and Transport
Sub-Committee B considers all issues arising from the internal market; energy, including coal, oil, gas, nuclear, and renewables; and transport issues, such as measures to liberalise the transport market in the EU and harmonising safety standards for road, rail, air and maritime transport.The Sub-Committee is also responsible for scrutinising research and technological development across the EU with a view to boosting the international competitiveness of the European economy is also covered. It also provides oversight in the House of Lords for the European Space Policy.
- Baroness O'CathainDetta O'Cathain, Baroness O'CathainDetta O'Cathain, Baroness O'Cathain, OBE is an Irish-born British businesswoman and politician...
(Chairman), Conservative - Lord BradshawWilliam Bradshaw, Baron BradshawWilliam Peter Bradshaw, Baron Bradshaw , commonly known as Bill Bradshaw, is a British academic and politician...
, Liberal Democrat - Lord Clinton-Davis, Labour
- Lord FearnRonnie Fearn, Baron FearnRonald Cyril Fearn, Baron Fearn OBE is a British politician and Liberal Democrat member of the House of Lords.He was educated at King George V Grammar School, Southport and had a career in banking. He is also a Sefton Metropolitan Borough councilor and a former Merseyside county councilor...
, Liberal Democrat - Lord HaskelSimon Haskel, Baron HaskelSimon Haskel, Baron Haskel is a British politician from the Labour Party.-References:...
, Labour - Lord James of BlackheathDavid James, Baron James of BlackheathDavid Noel James, Baron James of Blackheath CBE is a British businessman and corporate troubleshooter and Conservative life peer.-Career:...
, Conservative
- Lord Paul, Labour
- Lord PlumbHenry Plumb, Baron PlumbCharles Henry Plumb, Baron Plumb DL is a British farmer who went into politics as a leader of the National Farmers Union. He later became active in the Conservative Party and was elected as a Member of the European Parliament...
, Conservative - Lord Rowe-BeddoeDavid Rowe-Beddoe, Baron Rowe-BeddoeDavid Sydney Rowe-Beddoe, Baron Rowe-Beddoe is a British politician, a life peer and a crossbench member of the House of Lords.-Early life:David Rowe-Beddoe is the son of Sydney Rowe-Beddoe and Dolan Evans....
, Crossbench - Lord Ryder of WensumRichard Ryder, Baron Ryder of WensumRichard Andrew Ryder, Baron Ryder of Wensum, OBE, PC , is a British Conservative Party politician. A former Member of Parliament and government minister, he was made a Life Peer in 1997 and is now a member of the House of Lords. He is a nephew of the late Sue Ryder, the Baroness Ryder of Warsaw,...
, Conservative - Baroness ValentineJo Valentine, Baroness ValentineJosephine Clare Valentine, Baroness Valentine, known as Jo Valentine is a member of the British House of Lords.Valentine was educated at St Paul's Girls' School and St Hugh's College, Oxford, where she read Maths and Philosophy....
, Crossbench - Lord WalpoleRobert Walpole, 10th Baron WalpoleRobert Horatio Walpole, 10th Baron Walpole, JP is a British politician and one of ninety elected hereditary peers of the House of Lords....
, Crossbench
Sub-Committee C: Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Development Policy
EU foreign affairs, defence, and development policy are within the remit of Sub-Committee C. Included within this remit are relations between the EU and non-EU nations and with non-governmental organisations. The Sub-Committee also considers EU EnlargementEnlargement of the European Union
The Enlargement of the European Union is the process of expanding the European Union through the accession of new member states. This process began with the Inner Six, who founded the European Coal and Steel Community in 1952...
, common security strategy, and the European Security Strategy.
Sub-Committee D: Agriculture, Fisheries, and Environment
Sub-Committee D considers the Common Agriculture Policy, Common Fisheries PolicyCommon Fisheries Policy
The Common Fisheries Policy is the fisheries policy of the European Union . It sets quotas for which member states are allowed to catch what amounts of each type of fish, as well as encouraging the fishing industry by various market interventions...
, animal health and welfare, and the environment (including climate change).