European Parliament (Elections) (Hansard, 29 October 1975)

§ 42. Sir A. Meyer
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth 1588 Affairs what representations he has received about direct elections to the European Parliament and on the electoral system to be used in such elections.

§ 43. Mr. George Gardiner
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to be able to announce the Government's conclusions on the question of direct elections to the European Parliament.

§ Mr. Hattersley
If the hon. Member means formal representations from individuals or organisations, the answer is "None, Sir". The whole question is currently the subject of discussions in the Community, and we are giving it careful study. The Government's position will be announced in due course.

§ Sir A. Meyer
Since this is not an issue where our short-term national interests apparently oblige us to put at risk the cohesion of the Community, could we not, for once, show ourselves to be positive and constructive by pressing for early direct elections on the basis of fair representation?

§ Mr. Hattersley
The hon. Gentleman will know that we are committed by the treaty to which we are now party eventually to take part in direct elections. He will also know that the arranging of direct elections and the taking of decisions about them are a complicated business. Many questions have to be answered about organisation, size of constituency and many other things. I am sure that the House does not want us to rush towards a complicated decision that in the end might turn out to be against the interests of this Parliament and this country.

Mr. R. C. Mitchell
Does the Minister believe that direct elections are possible by 1978? Furthermore, whatever else the Government may decide, will my right hon. Friend give an assurance that we shall not try to harmonise election procedures for direct elections but stick to our own procedures?

§ Mr. Hattersley
Anybody who believes in the possibility of the holding of elections by 1978 is being very optimistic indeed. I do not wish to comment on any of the details of how those elections should be held. They will have to be discussed when we take a considered 1589 view over the next months and years. Until we can look at the matter as a whole, I do not wish to make any comment on individual suggestions.

§ Mr. Gardiner
In such a complicated matter, would it not be wise to recognise that, whatever the final decision, preparations for direct elections will have to be spread over a considerable period of time? Therefore, would it not be wise for the Government to set up some kind of machinery now and to begin to consider the matter and its implications so that the British public can be adequately informed?

§ Mr. Hattersley
As to future processes and the way in which decisions should be carried out, there will have to be means by which the parties are consulted and by which people's views may be built into Government recommendations. I am not sure whether the time is exactly ripe for that, but I am sure that the spirit behind the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question is right.

§ Mr. Fernyhough
Does my right hon. Friend agree that so long as the European Parliament is as weak and uninfluential as it is, it does not matter whether members are elected or nominated? Will he bear in mind one important argument? If there are direct elections, will he see that nominations are not confined to Members of the House of Commons or of the House of Lords?

§ Mr. Hattersley
The wisdom of the last part of my hon. Friend's supplementary commends itself to me, although I am reluctant to comment on individual suggestions about elections to the European Parliament. As for the power and influence of the European Parliament; we have to understand that it exists according to the treaties and that we are committed to direct elections. In addition, there are a number of useful jobs that the Parliament can do. Indeed, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, in a speech in Liverpool some weeks ago, suggested that the European Parliament might have some powers over Government expenditure—not so much a question of control, but of examining whether moneys had been spent prudently—a power such as that already exercised by Committees of the House. If we want that kind of scrutiny, we shall have to 1590 take the European Parliament seriously, and that Her Majesty's Government certainly intend to do.