§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state the source of the statement contained in paragraph 29 of the White Paper on the United Kingdom and the European Communities, Command Paper No. 4715, that where vital national interests are concerned decisions should be unanimous, and publish the relevant extract from the document concerned in the Official Report.
§ Mr. RipponThe statement in paragraph 29 of Cmnd. 4715 is based on the communiqué issued on 29th January, 1966, after a meeting of the Council of Ministers of the European Economic Community. It also reflects the practice of the Council of Ministers since that date. The relevant passage of this communiqué states that: "Where, in the case of decisions which may be taken by majority vote on a proposal of the Commission, very important interests of one or more partners are at stake, the Members of the Council will endeavour, within a reasonable time, to reach solutions which can be adopted by all the Members of the Council while respecting their mutual interests and those of the Community, in accordance with Article 2 of the Treaty".