§ 13. Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what extent his Department is undertaking studies of the implications for the United Kingdom of moves towards federalism in the Common Market.
§ Mr. RipponOur approach to this question is entirely pragmatic. It is not the Government's intention to draw up a blue print for a federal Europe.
§ 43. Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make available to hon. Members a list of European Economic Community draft instruments which have now been published.
§ Mr. RipponPublished draft Community instruments appear in the Official Journal. A copy of the Annual Index listing drafts published in the previous year is available in the Library.
§ 46. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is now able to give details of the discussions he has had regarding the arranging of the time, date and place for the European Economic Communities summit meeting in October; to what extent agreement has been reached upon the matters to be discussed; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RipponIt is the aim that the conference shall be held in Paris on 19th and 20th October, possibly continuing on 21st October. There is general agreement that the conference should discuss the internal development of the Community, its external relations and responsibilities and institutional questions.
§ Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he intends to seek to replace the powers of the House of Commons in respect of European Economic Community legislation which will not be exercisable under the Treaty of Accession by proposing increased powers for the European Parliament.
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§ Mr. RipponWhilst I do not accept the premise in the first part of the Question, Her Majesty's Government are fully aware of the importance of the development of the European Parliament. This is a matter for discussion with our future partners in the enlarged Communities.
§ Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is aware that it is now being decided that the European Parliament will operate in seven official languages, in the event of Great Britain and other countries joining the European Economic Community; and what estimate he has made of the cost this will involve for Great Britain in contributing to the expenses of the Parliament.
§ Mr. RipponThe Treaty of Accession provides that there will be seven official and working languages of the institutions of the enlarged Community.
Budget estimates of Community institutions, including the cost of secretariat services, are prepared by the institutions themselves for consideration by a committee of representatives of member States. Estimates relating to 1973 are still in preparation.