HC Deb 18 January 1978 vol 942 cc446-7
17. Mr. Reid

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Scottish Education Department and the Scottish Assembly will have direct involvement in educational decision-making within the European Community following the creation in the EEC of the new Directorate General XII for education.

Mr. McElhone

It is the United Kingdom that is a member State of the Community and it would be inappropriate for any part of the United Kingdom to have separate representation. My Department has participated fully in the work of the EEC Education Committee since its beginning in 1974.

Mr. Reid

Is this not another case where, once the Assembly is set up, Edinburgh will have to talk directly to Brussels, with the London link withering away? Will the hon. Gentleman take steps, after the Assembly is established, to ensure that papers on matters both devolved and within the competence of the EEC are sent directly to the appropriate Scottish body without having to go through an English Minister first?

Mr. McElhone

We shall no doubt discuss this matter tonight, when we debate education on the Scotland Bill. I repeat that it is the United Kingdom that is the body representing us in Erussels.

Mrs. Winifred Ewing

No.

Mr. McElhone

If the hon. Lady wants to talk about a Scottish presence, I remind her that I myself represented the United Kingdom last June in Strasbourg when we had the conference of European Education Ministers.

Mr. Dalyell

Will my hon. Friend confirm that representation of this kind by the Edinburgh Assembly would be unacceptable to our European partners?

Mr. McElhone

I must agree with my hon. Friend.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

Is it not clear that the absence of the Secretary of State and the Under-Secretary of State from the Government Front Bench today indicates that all of Scotland's special interests can be represented in Europe under the present arrangements that the Government have?

Mr. McElhone

I agree.

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