§ 11. Mr. Warbeyasked the Minister without Portfolio if he is aware that the official publication, "The Common Market in Action", contains a diagram that gives an inaccurate picture of the functions and powers of the Commission of the European Economic Community; and if he will accordingly withdraw the publication.
§ The Minister without Portfolio (Mr. W. F. Deedes)I am not aware of any inaccuracy in this diagram.
§ Mr. WarbeyIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that on page 9 of this booklet, which is supposed to be impartial, the diagram shows that the Commission has powers only to make proposals to the Council of Ministers and to give information to the Parliaments? Why has the Minister left out an arrow indicating the power of the Commission to make statutory regulations binding on the citizens of member-States without the intervention of their Parliaments or their law courts? Are the Government anxious to conceal the undemocratic aspects of this body?
§ Mr. DeedesNo. If the hon. Gentleman will follow the cross-reference on the diagram to page 10, where the powers of the Commission are spelt out, he will see a satisfactory summary of the point he wants illustrated.