COUNCIL OF EUROPE (Hansard, 7 February 1949)

§ 14. Mr. Eric Fletcher
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on what basis it is proposed that the British delegates to the consultative body of the proposed Council of Europe will be appointed.

§ 13. Mr. H. Hynd
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British delegation to the European Assembly will be composed on an all-party basis; and whether he will give any other details about its composition.

§ 22. Colonel J. R. H. Hutchison
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how he proposes that British representatives to the European Assembly shall be chosen; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. McNeil
No decision has yet been taken on the composition of the British delegation to the Council of Europe. The constitution of the Council itself has not yet been determined. A statement however will be made as soon as is appropriate.

§ Mr. Fletcher
Can my right hon. Friend say whether it is intended, as far as His Majesty's Government are concerned, that the decision in the Assembly will be taken on the basis of the majority of those present and voting?

§ Sir Waldron Smithers
Will the Minister of State ask the Prime Minister or the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to give an undertaking that the Chancellor of The Duchy of Lancaster will not be a delegate?

Mr. McNeil
No, Sir.

§ Mr. R. A. Butler
May I ask the right hon. Gentleman how soon a decision on this matter is likely to be taken by His Majesty's Government?

Mr. McNeil
I regret that I cannot give an accurate answer. As the right hon. Gentleman understands, this is quite complicated, since it has to go back to Governments and then Governments must offer their view to a conference of all the Governments concerned.

§ Mr. Benn Levy
As this is a decision of far-reaching constitutional importance, is it one which the House will have an 10 opportunity of debating, before it is a fait accompli?

Mr. McNeil
Perhaps my hon. Friend will put that question to the Leader of the House.

§ Mr. Butler
With regard to the constitution of the delegation to the Assembly, I understand that His Majesty's Government had a definite view which did not prevail and that a different view has prevailed, and that the report has now been issued. His Majesty's Government must therefore have had definite ideas as to how their delegation was to be constituted. I must ask the right hon. Gentleman to give an answer on this subject as soon as he reasonably can.

§ 15. Mr. E. Fletcher
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what will be the powers and functions of the proposed Council of Europe; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. McNeil
Agreement was reached at the last meeting of the Consultative Council of the Brussels Treaty on certain principles which should govern the constitution of the proposed Council of Europe, and the Permanent Commission of the Brussels Treaty is engaged on the basis of those principles in drawing up rather more detailed recommendations which, once approved by Governments, will be put forward as a basis of discussion in a wider conference of European States. The extent to which the Permanent Commission has progressed with this work has been already explained in a communiqué issued last Saturday, and nothing can usefully be added at this stage.