§ 25. Mr. SteenTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to extend his charter mark scheme to the European Commission.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science (Mr. Robert Jackson)None, but considerable interest in the charter was expressed at the recent European "Service for the Citizen" conference held in London under the United Kingdom presidency of the Community and at the meeting of directors-general for public administration in European Community states which took place at the same time in London.
§ Mr. SteenAs the public are increasingly affected by rules and regulations from the European Community should we not use the last few weeks of our presidency to press for the citizens charter to be extended to the Brussels bureaucracy? Will my hon. Friend don the mantle of St. George to do that important job?
§ Mr. JacksonI hope that my hon. Friend has noted the conclusions of the Edinburgh summit which apply the citizens charter approach to the European Community. The basic principle of subsidiarity has been recognised, reaffirmed and expanded. There is a commitment to greater openness in the Council of Ministers. The Community is to have an ombudsman. Those are all the result of British efforts and British initiatives to try to do as my hon. Friend suggests.