Part I
- (b) a reference for a preliminary ruling has been made by the Judicial Committee in connection with that reference, and
- (c) neither of those references has been decided or otherwise disposed of.
(2) If the Parliament resolves that it wishes to reconsider the Bill—
- (a) the Presiding Officer shall notify the Advocate General, the Lord Advocate and the Attorney General of that fact, and
- (b) the person who made the reference in relation to the Bill under section 33 shall request the withdrawal of the reference.
(3) In this section “a reference for a preliminary ruling” means a reference of a question to the European Court under Article 177 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, Article 41 of the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community or Article 150 of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community.
Power to intervene in certain cases. 35.—(1) If a Bill contains provisions—
- (a) which the Secretary of State has reasonable grounds to believe would be incompatible with any international obligations or the interests of defence or national security, or
- (b) which make modifications of the law as it applies to reserved matters and which the Secretary of State has reasonable grounds to believe would have an adverse effect on the operation of the law as it applies to reserved matters,
he may make an order prohibiting the Presiding Officer from submitting the Bill for Royal Assent.
(2) The order must identify the Bill and the provisions in question and state the reasons for making the order.
(3) The order may be made at any time during—
- (a) the period of four weeks beginning with the passing of the Bill,
- (b) any period of four weeks beginning with any subsequent approval of the Bill in accordance with standing orders made by virtue of section 36(5),
- (c) if a reference is made in relation to the Bill under section 33, the period of four weeks beginning with the reference being decided or otherwise disposed of by the Judicial Committee.
(4) The Secretary of State shall not make an order in relation to a Bill if he has notified the Presiding Officer that he does not intend to do so, unless the Bill has been approved as mentioned in subsection (3)(b) since the notification.
(5) An order in force under this section at a time when such approval is given shall cease to have effect.
Stages of Bills. 36.—(1) Standing orders shall include provision—
- (a) for general debate on a Bill with an opportunity for members to vote on its general principles,
- (b) for the consideration of, and an opportunity for members to vole on, the details of a Bill, and
- (c) for a final stage at which a Bill can be passed or rejected.
