§ 3. Mr. BuckleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is on the agenda of the European Council of 28 and 29 June; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HurdI expect discussion to cover the two intergovernmental conferences, progress in the single market programme and major international issues. The Luxembourg presidency has not yet announced the formal agenda.
§ Mr. BuckleyWill the Heads of Government discuss why the United Kingdom is the only country in the European Community ever to have the Commissioner block regional development grant due to the misappropriation—if that is the proper word—of the Treasury in terms of the European Parliament? Will the Prime Minister or the Foreign Secretary raise the matter of fines that the United Kingdom Government wish to impose on European Governments for not carrying out Community law for the Treasury in that matter?
§ Mr. HurdI am not sure that I follow the hon. Gentleman's question. If he wishes to write to me, the Treasury or the Department of Trade and Industry about his complaint, I shall look into it.
On the hon. Gentleman's second point, one of our proposals to the intergovernmental conference is that countries that persistently refuse to carry out their obligations within the Community should suffer in the form of fines.
§ Mr. CashDoes my right hon. Friend accept that a statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister yesterday, on the early-day motion that has been mentioned today, has gone down extremely well with a very high proportion of Conservative Members? I take this opportunity to congratulate my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and other Ministers on their efforts to ensure that the British line stands firm on those vital matters. I totally repudiate the remarks by the shadow Foreign Secretary suggesting that the motion was inspired at No. 10 Downing street. It came from the Conservative Back Benches.
§ Mr. HurdI am delighted that my hon. Friend is delighted. I gracefully accept his congratulations.
§ Mr. RadiceWere the right hon. Gentleman a Back Bencher, would he have signed that early-day motion?
§ Mr. HurdI would have had a long talk with my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford (Mr. Cash) first.
§ Mr. BudgenDoes my right hon. Friend agree that it is the role of political leadership to explain to the country and to the House the issues of principle and detail? Is not 916 there a grave danger that the House and the country will be left without leadership on the vital issue of economic and monetary union?
§ Mr. HurdI know of few political subjects that have been so thoroughly discussed and debated in the past months as that one was. Of course, my hon. Friend is right—there will need to be a constant process of debate and coming and going. As I understand it, the House will have an opportunity between now and the summit to go over those issues again.