British Overseas Territories Bill

CONTENTS

1 Power to appoint Lords representing the interests of the British Overseas Territories 2 British Overseas Territories and the European Union: duties of the Secretary of State 3 Interpretation 4Expenses 5 Short title and commencement

Bill 168 54/1 British Overseas Territories Bill 1

A BILL

TO

Make provision about the representation of the British Overseas Territories in the European Union and in Parliament.

E IT ENACTED by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present BParliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

1 Power to appoint Lords representing the interests of the British Overseas Territories (1) Her Majesty shall have power by letters patent to appoint persons to be Lords representing the interests of the British Overseas Territories. (2) A person shall be qualified to be appointed under subsection (1) above only if 5 the Secretary of State considers that he is capable of representing the interests of the British Overseas Territories. (3) Every Lord representing the interests of the British Overseas Territories shall hold his office for not more than five years but may be re-appointed after the expiry of a five-year term. 10 (4) On any Lord representing the interests of the British Overseas Territories vacating his office, by death, resignation, or otherwise, Her Majesty may fill the vacancy by the appointment of another qualified person. (5) Every Lord representing the interests of the British Overseas Territories, unless he is otherwise entitled to sit as a member of the House of Lords, shall— 15 (a) rank as a baron under such style and title as may be appointed by the letters patent; and (b) unless disqualified by law, receive writs of summons to attend the House of Lords and sit and vote therein accordingly. (6) Every Lord representing the interests of the British Overseas Territories may 20 be removed from such office on the address of both Houses of Parliament.

Bill 168 54/1 2 British Overseas Territories Bill 2 British Overseas Territories and the European Union: duties of the Secretary of State It shall be a duty of the Secretary of State to— (a) facilitate the flow of information between any Community Institution and the British Overseas Territories; and 5 (b) take account of the interests of the British Overseas Territories in advance of decisions being reached in the Council of the European Community.

3 Interpretation In this Act— 10 “British Overseas Territories” means those territories listed in schedule 6 of the British Nationality Act 1981 (c. 61); “Community Institution” has the meaning given in Schedule 1 of the European Communities Act 1972 (c. 68); “Council of the European Community” has the same meaning as in 15 section 1 of the European Communities Act 1972.

4 Expenses There shall be paid out of money provided by Parliament any expenditure incurred by the Secretary of State for or in connection with the carrying out of any functions under this Act. 20

5 Short title and commencement (1) This Act may be cited as the British Overseas Territories Act 2006. (2) This Act shall come into force at the end of the period of two months beginning with the day on which it is passed. British Overseas Territories Bill 3

SCHEDULES British Overseas Territories Bill

A BILL

To make provision about the representation of the British Overseas Territories in the European Union and in Parliament.

Ordered to be brought in by Daniel Kawczynski, Andrew Rosindell, Mr Tobias Ellwood, Mr David Jones and Mr Stephen Crabb.

Ordered, by The House of Commons, to be Printed, 19th April 2006.

© Parliamentary copyright House of Commons 2006 Applications for reproduction should be made in writing to the Copyright Unit, Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, St. Clements House, 2-16 Colegate, Norwich, NR3 1BQ

PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS LONDON — THE STATIONERY OFFICE LIMITED Printed in the United Kingdom by The Stationery Office Limited £x.xx

Bill 168 (xxxxxx) 54/1

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