§ Mrs. Winifred Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of the methods by which the United Kingdom Government at present hold the EEC Commission accountable for decisions the Commission makes which affect the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Hattersley:The Commission's powers to take decisions addressed to member States, which are delegated to it in the Treaties or by the Council, are of limited scope. They are largely concerned with detailed implementation of Council legislation and are exercised against a background of close and constant contact with the member States. Depending on the nature of the decision in question, Her Majesty's Government might discuss it directly with the Commission or might raise the matter in the Council of Ministers or in an appropriate committee. Under Article 173 of the EEC Treaty it is open to a member State to bring an action against the Commission in the European Court, should the circumstances warrant it.