EU powers review has begun, minister says

A review of which powers could be repatriated from Brussels to Westminster has begun, the government has announced.

Europe Minister David Lidington told MPs the work was in its early stages and that he would welcome "constructive suggestions from the opposition as well as any part of this House" as it is carried forward.

The announcement was made during foreign and commonwealth questions on 25 October 2011 - the day after David Cameron suffered the biggest rebellion against a Conservative PM over Europe.

Ministers won the vote on 24 October but a total of 81 Tories defied party orders and backed a motion calling for a referendum on the UK's relationship with the European Union. A further 12 abstained.

The coalition agreement promises a review of which powers could be transferred back to the UK from Europe, but not a referendum.

However, the European Union Act passed by Parliament earlier this year introduces a "referendum lock" on any further transfer of powers to Brussels.

Addressing MPs in the Commons Mr Lidington told MPs: "The work… is in its early stages at the moment because we gave priority in our first year in office to implementing the referendum lock to try to repair the damage down by the [last] government in public trust in the EU by denying the people a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty which they had been promised."

"That work will continue," he added.

But Labour's shadow foreign secretary said the government had "no intention" of returning powers to the UK, claiming that any talk of doing so was merely to "placate" the Conservative backbenches.

Earlier on, Mr Lidington said the government wanted to ensure the interests of the 27 member states were "properly safeguarded" in the event of closer economic and fiscal integration in Europe.