§ 40. Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many regulations were made last year by the European Economic Community Commission without reference either to the Council of Ministers or to the European Parliament.
§ Mr. RipponIn 1971 approximately 2,500 regulations were made by the commission mainly making detailed provision of a routine nature for giving effect to instruments already made by the Council of Ministers. These regulations, the majority of which are in the field of agriculture, are not referred to the Council of Ministers or to the European Parliament.
§ 50. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will seek to arrange to visit France during the period between the last week in April and the first week in May for the purposes of discussing matters of topical interest concerning Great Britain's entry into the Common Market.
§ Mr. RipponNeither my right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary nor I have any plans to make such a visit.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date he received the communication dated 22nd March from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, regarding the European Economic Community directive proposed to the Council of Ministers by the Commission on 3W 24th June, 1970, Journal Official No. C.105/14, dated 15th August, 1970; why an English translation of this directive is not available; and when it will be made available.
§ Mr. RipponThe hon. Member's letter of 22nd March addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs was received on 23rd March.
The instrument in question is a draft. If it is adopted by the Council of Ministers it will be translated and published in English.
After accession the Official Journal will of course be published in English as well as in the existing Community languages.