HL Deb 04 April 1990 vol 517 cc1405-7

2.52 p.m.

Lord Stoddart of Swindon asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether copies of agreed "common positions", declarations, opinions, revised decisions, regulations, amended regulations and directives or amended directives will be deposited in Parliament as soon as possible after each meeting of the European Council or the Council of Ministers.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Brabazon of Tara)

My Lords, copies of the English language version of all Commission proposals for legislation and other documents that are published for submission to the Council of Ministers and the European Council are deposited in Parliament within two working days of their receipt in London.

Lord Stoddart of Swindon

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that I do not know whether that is a helpful Answer or not? I shall have to consider it. Is he further aware that documents are sometimes not available in their translated form for weeks after important decisions have been made and in some cases implemented? Will he have another look at the matter? Will the Government also examine the Kremlinesque way in which these decisions are taken, in secret and without Parliament knowing anything about them?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, I am sorry that the noble Lord did not know whether my Answer was helpful or not. I thought it would be helpful for him and other noble Lords to know that the documents to which he referred in his Question are deposited in Parliament within two working days. I shall of course take note of what he has said and see if any further improvement can be made.

Baroness Elles

My Lords, does my noble friend agree that if the European Parliament had rather more power many of these decisions would not be taken in secret? Matters would be monitored by the European Parliament before the decisions were taken.

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, that is a very interesting question from my noble friend, but it is wide of the Question on the Order Paper.

Baroness Ewart-Biggs

My Lords, the Minister has given very good news about the speed with which the documents arrive before Parliament. Can he say who outside Parliament has access to those documents? With regard to the Commission inquiry into the Rover Group, can he say when documents relating to that matter will be put before Parliament?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, I cannot give an answer in regard to the specific case raised by the noble Baroness. I am not sure whether that document is one of those referred to. As to availability outside Parliament, I do not know how that takes place. But I am sure that those interested would be able to get hold of the documents as soon as they liked.

Lord Stoddart of Swindon

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that, in relation to the supplementary question asked by his noble friend Lady Elles, the proper place for decisions to be made regarding the people of this country is at Westminster and not at the upstart, polyglot assembly in Strasbourg?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, much as I would enjoy debating the subject with the noble Lord, it is probably not appropriate to do so on this Question.

Baroness Elles

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that decisions affecting the whole of Europe, from Sicily to the Orkneys, and from Portugal right across Western Europe, are not necessarily taken only in the Parliament at Westminster?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, I am beginning to find myself somewhat superfluous to this exchange.

Lord Glenamara

My Lords, is it not obvious from this torrent of declarations, directives and so on from Brussels that this country is inexorably being sucked into a European federation for which no party in this country has a mandate? Does the noble Lord recollect that the referendum asked the question: are you in favour of Britain entering the EEC (Common Market)? The Government have a mandate to take this country into a common market but not into a federation which seeks to limit every aspect of our national life, from the length of sausages to the specific gravity of beer? Is it not time that we had another referendum about it?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, that is well wide of the Question on the Order Paper. But I can assure the noble Lord that if there are any documents relating to the length of sausages or the specific gravity of beer they will be deposited in English in Parliament within two working days.

Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone

My Lords, does my noble friend recall that the matter is regulated by statute, namely, the European Communities Act 1972?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, I am grateful to my noble and learned friend for reminding the House of that.