§ The Earl of LAUDERDALEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will publish the statements made by United Kingdom Ministers in Sessions of the Council of the European Community.
The PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE, FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (Lord Goronwy Roberts)My Lords, Council meetings are necessarily confidential. It would not, therefore, normally be appropriate for Her Majesty's Government to publish such statements.
§ The Earl of LAUDERDALEMy Lords, in thanking the noble Lord for that reply—particularly for the adverb "normally", which is a helpful qualification—may I ask whether he would agree with the analysis of the Maybray- King Report that Council meetings are in no way analogous to Cabinet meetings, inasmuch as the Council Ministers meet for negotiating and deliberative activities as well as for legislative activities binding upon every citizen? Therefore, would it not be proper that at least their legislative activities should be open to the public gaze?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I would agree with the general analysis which the noble Earl has offered. As to publication of legislative proposals, the Commission's proposals for Council 1082 legislation are made public and are available to this House.
§ Baroness TWEEDSMUIR of BELHELVIEMy Lords, is the Minister aware, since this Question refers to statements by United Kingdom Ministers, that the world's Press are in attendance outside the Council Chambers; therefore, interviews are often sought, and many noble Lords learn the result of Council meetings from the public Press. Would it therefore not be better to publish the exact statement so that every noble Lord can peruse it?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, it is undoubtedly a fact that these Press conferences are held at the conclusion of Council meetings, and it is a point for serious consideration as to whether or not an extension of the exceptional practice of publishing statements should be considered. So far we have published, exceptionally, on 1st April and 4th June last year, two basic statements which led us into renegotiation; but the point made by the noble Baroness is really one for consideration.
§ The Earl of LAUDERDALEMy Lords, can the noble Lord go a stage further and take this interrogative point? Since it is agreed that decisions and resolutions of the Council are matters for publication, would it not also be proper, if a British Minister, in assenting to a resolution or a decision, enters a reservation—as happened at the Energy Minister's meeting last month—that that, too, should be made public?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, with regard to the reservation being published as a statement, I should like to consider that point very closely. I am sure the noble Earl would not expect me to comment at this moment on that rather detailed point.
§ Lord BROCKWAYMy Lords, may I ask the Minister whether, in view of the controversial statements which are made to the Press, it would not be better to issue a much fuller communiqué than is now issued, one containing a summary of the points of view which are made?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I have considerable sympathy with what my noble friend has said to the effect that statements—not necessarily 1083 published texts—might well be reconsidered to see whether a fuller statement of what actually has happened could be made, possibly through a Press conference or by some other means.
§ Lord SLATERMy Lords, can my noble friend tell me how it is that we keep talking about a "Commission", which seems to be in the complete jargon of the countries on the continent of Europe? Is he further aware that this is the jargon that is used in the Council at Strasbourg, where, in fact, we use the term "Committees" and not "Commissions"? Does not my noble friend think that we ought to keep to language that we understand and not simply follow what is happening at Strasbourg?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, as a Welsh-speaking Welshman, I am always in favour of sticking to the purest possible English.