§ Q3. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Prime Minister if he will make a further statement on his talks with leaders of the EEC member countries on the need to establish more effective public accountability within the Community.
§ The Prime MinisterFollowing the decisions taken at the European Council in Rome, the Presidents of the Council and the Commission have been in touch with the President of the European Assembly, Sir. During his recent visit to this country I made clear to the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, who is currently the President of the Council of Ministers, the importance I attach to rapid progress on this matter.
§ Mr. HamiltonCan my right hon. Friend assure us that he will press this matter very hard when he visits Luxembourg next month? Is he aware that the European Parliament thinks it can cover this problem by setting up a subcommittee of the Budgets Committee? Is this not simply trifling with a very serious problem?
§ The Prime MinisterI agree about the importance of this matter and that is why we took the initiative on it, with the full support of the Federal German Chancellor, with whom I have had discussions on this subject. I think that what we said impressed the Council of Ministers, who gave us a fair wind. We are looking to the Assembly to carry this matter forward. It is not for me to comment on the inner workings of the Assembly since I am not a member; nor do I expect to become one. The Council of Ministers takes this matter very seriously and if there is anything we can do at the next meeting of the Council, or at subsequent meetings, we shall do it.
§ Mr. RidleyDoes not public accountability start at home? Are the Government going to produce new proposals for public expenditure in view of the House's rejection of their current proposals last night?
§ The Prime MinisterWe shall debate this matter later today. Were we to consider doing as the hon. Member suggests, we should like the help of the Opposition to make some suggestions about what they would cut or increase in public spending. I have read the reports of our debates right through and can find no evidence of what they would do. In fact, we were told that they were not going to tell us.
This inquiry relates to control of expenditure in the European Community. We began it at home. Our Public Accounts Committee, on which many hon. Members have served happily and well and on which they have worked together to secure economies, goes back well over 100 years. We want something similar in Europe.