HC Deb 09 November 1992 vol 213 cc620-1
36. Mr. Enright

To ask the Lord President of the Council what proposals he has to extend the ability of individual members of the European Legislation Committee to visit Brussels.

Mr. Newton

Individual members of the European Legislation Committee can benefit from the arrangements agreed in the resolution of the House of 6 December 1991 on travel by members to European Community institutions providing for one trip per member each year to visit one of the Community institutions. As those arrangements were introduced only last December, it would be premature to consider extending them.

Mr. Enright

Does the Lord President agree that that puts Members of this House at a considerable disadvantage, for example, in relation to our German counterparts? If we are to be enabled to fulfil subsidiarity properly, we should be able to travel appropriately in relation to the amount of legislation being considered by the Community at any particular time.

Mr. Newton

As I have said, it is still less than a year since, on a motion moved by my predecessor, the House agreed to the improved arrangements that I have just outlined in my reply. The European Legislation Committee collectively is free to apply, under the usual arrangements, for funding of overseas travel by Select Committees.