HC Deb 22 November 1978 vol 958 cc1255-6
76. Mr. Dykes

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he intends to visit the European Parliament in the near future.

Mr. Tomlinson

My right hon. Friend has at present no plans to visit the European Assembly.

Mr. Dykes

In the same way that the salary and expenses of Members of the European Assembly should be known well before the direct elections, would it not be good for the Government to press for the present nomadic existence of the Parliament to cease, since it is somewhat bizarre? Would not the best site be Luxembourg rather than Brussels?

Mr. Tomlinson

A permanent site for the Assembly is a matter for decision by common accord of the Governments of the member States. That will not easily be reached.

Mr. Prescott

Is my hon. Friend aware that more and more parties and States in Europe are making it clear that they believe that the European Assembly should not be given any extra powers? Will he spell that out to the House? Is he aware that the European Assembly's demand for more resources to be spent on the Regional Fund will lead to an increase in non-obligatory expenditure and therefore to an increase in the powers of the Assembly?

Mr. Tomlinson

I am happy to reaffirm the view which I have expressed many times before, that I do not believe that direct elections will confer additional powers on the European Assembly. We all wish additional resources to be made available to implement the Community's regional policy. But that does not imply that greater power should be given to the Assembly for controlling those resources.