§ 3.2 p.m.
§ BARONESS LLEWELYN-DAVIES OF HASTOEMy Lords, with the leave of the House, may I say that a Statement is being made in another place to-day about business to be taken in the EEC Council of Ministers during December. It has been agreed through the usual channels that it would be helpful for the House if the Statement were to be made available in the OFFICIAL REPORT, and with the leave of the House I will arrange for this to be done.
§ Following is the Statement referred to.
§ "With your permission, Mr. Speaker, I will make a statement about business to be taken in the Council of Ministers of the European Community during December. The monthly forecast for December was deposited yesterday.
§ "At present seven meetings of the Council of Ministers are proposed for December. Foreign Ministers will meet on the 2nd and 3rd of December; Agriculture Ministers on the 9th and 10th; Transport Ministers on the 11th; Energy Ministers on the 17th; Finance Ministers on the 19th; Social Affairs Ministers and Development Ministers on dates yet to be set. There may also be a ministerial meeting on the 19th to consider preparations for the multilateral Trade Negotiations.
§ "At the Foreign Ministers' Council we expect discussion of the British case on the Budget to be resumed on the basis of the Commission's stocktaking report. Foreign Ministers may also discuss preparations for the Summit meeting which is expected to take place on 9th and 10th December, though much of the preparatory work is taking place outside the Council. They will also consider relations with Greece, the Protocol 22 negotiations and, possibly, relations with Portugal, as well as Commisssion proposals for the use of the first tranche of the Community contribution to the U.N. Emergency Measures. They may also review the progress of negotiations with certain Mediterranean countries.
§ "Agriculture Ministers will give preliminary consideration to Community Farm Prices for 1975–76, and are also expected to consider the new beef régime. It will also be necessary to complete the detailed arrangements for sugar, following the general agreement reached on this subject at the November Council.
§ "Finance Ministers, in addition to their usual monthly discussion on the economic situation in the Community and the convergence of national economic policies, will have a preliminary exchange of views on the draft 6th Directive on Value Added Tax and draft Directives on the harmonisation of excise duties, and also a report on the French Presidency's September Proposals for new monetary measures.
1406§ "The Energy Council will review progress towards a Community Energy Policy and consider draft Directives on the maintenance of minimum fuel stocks at power stations, limiting the use of natural gas and petroleum products in power stations and a draft Council Decision adopting a Euratom research and training programme on plutonium recycling in light-water reactors.
§ "Transport Ministers are expected to discuss a draft Council Decision on Government/Railway relations and two draft Regulations to extend respectively the system of bracket tariffs and the Community quota affecting the carriage of goods by road between Member States. Development Ministers will discuss two Commission papers on Food Aid Policy and a new Aid Framework for the Community. Social Ministers are likely to discuss the draft Directives on equal pay and mass dismissals and draft Regulations concerned with the establishment of a European Vocational Training Centre and a European Foundation for the improvement of working and living conditions."