HL Deb 21 November 1972 vol 336 cc914-5

2.44 p.m.

THE EARL OF LAUDERDALE

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how they propose to inform Parliament both of the text of the E.E.C. Corn-mission's Draft Directive on the Collective Dismissal of Workers, and of their own views upon it, other than placing a few copies of the relevant text in the Libraries of the two Houses.

THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN

My Lords, the Government's proposal for an ad hoc Select Committee to consider arrangements for Parliamentary scrutiny and control of Community instruments is at present under discussion through the usual channels. The House will not, therefore, wish me to comment on these matters at this stage.

THE EARL OF LAUDERDALE

My Lords, in thanking my noble friend for that reply, may I ask him whether he is aware that this is one of a number of examples raising a serious question; namely, how we can know what goes on. Will the Government at least put copies of these documents in the Library, and will they make available sufficient copies so that the one thousand or so working Members of the two Houses can have a chance to look at them, and look at them in English?

THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN

My Lords, my noble friend has touched on a very important point, and I think I can assure him on this matter. As he is probably aware, this particuler Directive has not yet been published in the Official Journal. A copy has been received in the Department of the Environment, and I shall be very glad to arrange for a copy of this to be made available in the Library. So far as the Official Journal is concerned, as from January 1, when it is published in the English language, copies will, of course, be available in the Printed Paper Office for any noble Lord who wishes to obtain one.

THE EARL OF LAUDERDALE

My Lords, thanking my noble friend, I appreciate, of course, that we are to get the Official Journal from January 1. In the meantime, these documents are being produced and they are reported in the Press. It is reasonable that those of us from this side who propose to try to take a constructive part in what is going on in Europe should know what is happening. While I appreciate my noble friend's readiness to give me a copy, is one copy sufficient for the whole of Parliament? I think not.

THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN

My Lords, I will certainly take note of what the noble Earl has said. Though I refer to "a copy", I have no doubt that copies of that copy could be made.

LORD SHINWELL

My Lords, may I ask the noble Marquess this question? As it is not unlikely that Members of your Lordships' House will have some difficulty in obtaining information about the various transactions at the E.E.C.? If and when your Lordships' House decides that a number of Peers will represent the United Kingdom at Strasbourg, will those noble Lords be instructed to report to your Lordships' House from time to time so that we can ask them questions about what is going on there?

THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN

My Lords, I think that is a little wide of the original Question, but I am certain that my noble friend the Leader of the House will take note of what the noble Lord has said.