§ Lord O'HAGANMy 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 whether they will press for a permanent site in Brussels for the European Parliament.
§ The MINISTER of STATE, FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (Lord Goronwy-Roberts)My Lords, in the first instance it is for the Assembly itself to consider what is needed. I understand the Assembly's Political Affairs Committee is preparing a report on the question. When the time comes Her Majesty's Government will play their full part in any discussions between Member States.
§ Lord O'HAGANMy Lords, in thanking the Minister for that slightly circumlocutory Answer, may I ask him whether his answer to the Question on the Order Paper is Yes or No?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, the Question on the Order Paper asks whether we will press for a permanent site in Brussels for the European Parliament. The answer is, first, that what is needed is, in the first instance for the Assembly to decide. Secondly, the Assembly, through its Political Affairs Committee, is examining this. When the Committee reports, we, like other Members of the Community, will consider their recommendations.
§ Lord O'HAGANMy Lords, can we take it that the Government are not in favour of having a directly elected European Parliament perpetually condemned to being an itinerant Assembly?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, the noble Lord is usually so punctilious about these matters that I hesitate to suggest that there is a slight non sequitur in what he has just said. I do not see that the locale of the European Assembly is in any way related to how it will be elected.
§ Lord PARGITERMy Lords, would my noble friend agree that having regard to its position and its lack of communication facilities, Strasbourg is hardly a suitable place for a permanent Assembly?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I doubt whether there would be any unanimity about the ideal site for this or any other new Assembly. Indeed, our friends and allies the French would probably disagree very strongly with what my noble friend has just said.
§ Lord SLATERMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that it can be said that the noble Lord, Lord O'Hagan, who asked this Question has not moved one inch away from his former views in the Council of Europe? This is exhibited by the stand that he has taken on this occasion which, although many of us do not agree with him, can be commended.
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for what he has just said. I see no reason to dissent from anything he has said.