Brussels

HC Deb 26 January 1977 vol 924 cc1479-80

8. Mr. Gordon Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many official visits he has made to Brussels in the last 12 months.

Mr. Millan

I have been twice to Brussels and Luxembourg, and my predecessor also made two visits in that period.

Mr. Wilson

Is the Minister aware that that is a fairly abysmal record? The withdrawal of the Scottish Commissioner from Brussels has caused great concern within Scotland. Will the Minister give an undertaking that, because of the removal of a Scot at the higher reaches of the Common Market and the fact that, statistically speaking, it may be many more years before one is reappointed to that position, he will give priority to attending whatever meetings at Council Minister level take place at Brussels to represent the Scottish interests until the Scottish Assembly takes over these direct links?

Mr. Millan

As far as I am aware, the Scottish Assembly is not taking over any direct links. George Thomson was not a Scottish Commissioner; he was a Scot who was a United Kingdom Commissioner.

Mr. Dalyell

Is my right hon. Friend aware that Scottish Ministers and Scottish regional authorities have created a very favourable impression in their work in the Commission? Might there not be a return ticket, as Commissioner Gundelach was a great success when he visited Bathgate in June, particularly with the shop stewards at British Leyland? Now that he has the sensitive agricultural and fishing portfolio, could not arrangements be made for perhaps two or three public meetings to explain these sensitive and delicate issues in public?

Mr. Millan

That would be a matter for Mr. Gundelach. I have already discussed with Mr. Gundelach fishing problems as they affect Scotland.

Mr. Russell Johnston

Reverting to the first question that the Secretary of State answered, will he say—if and when a Scottish Assembly is established—when he or his office visualises exclusively representing Scottish interests in Brussels, or whether he sees the Assembly developing some sort of relationship comparable to that made by the German Länder?

Mr. Millan

Formal relationships will remain with the United Kingdom Government. No doubt the United Kingdom Government, as appropriate, will want to involve members of the Executive of the Scottish Assembly. Nothing in the Bill would exclude them from doing that. But the formal relationship will remain with the United Kingdom and there can be no question of the Assembly's being directly represented in Brussels in that way.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

Is the Minister aware how wide of the mark is the question put to him by the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Mr. Wilson)? Is it not a fact that not only is the British judge in Luxembourg a Scotsman but that the British Ambassador to the Common Market is also a Scotsman?

Mr. Millan

Yes, I am well aware of that. Both are very estimable Scotsmen and do a good job. I have met them both.