§ Lord O'HAGANasked Her Majesty's Government:
To what extent (in their view) sponsorship by outside bodies is compatible with elected membership of the European Parliament; whether they are in favour of a register of interests in the European Parliament; and what discussions they have had with the Commission of the EEC in the Council of Ministers and the European Council, and with the Socialist Group in the European Parliament on these matters.
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSProvided the sponsorship is open and conforms with the provision of the Act annexed to the Council of Ministers Decision of 20th September 1976, the Government see no incompatibility of this kind. The Government are strongly in favour of a register of outside interests in which Members of the European Assembly would as a matter of honour record all such payments received; and have made their views known as necessary.