European Union (Amendment) Bill

Let me make three points. If the version of the consolidated treaties that the hon. Gentleman is brandishing is the same as the one as I have in my hand, it is dated 20 November 2006, so it is completely out of date. Secondly, I stressed the word ““consistency”” in the quote that he cited, not the word ““ensure””. Thirdly, the hon. Gentleman rightly said that I am occasionally known for being legalistic. May I suggest that he does some research on the arcane way in which the European Union uses the word ““shall””? I have done such research, and on many occasions in European Union treaties, shall means not ““must””, but ““has the power to””. Bizarre as that is, it is the legalistic interpretation of the word, and the hon. Gentleman, as the shadow Minister for Europe, really ought to know that.