§ Mr. Geoffrey Finsbergasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many vacancies there are for British representatives on the 187W Economic and Social Committee of the EEC; in which categories; for how long they have existed; what representations he has received to fill the vacancies; and if he will now take urgent steps to nominate for the vacancies.
§ Mr. HattersleyThere are 11 vacancies, two in Group I (Employers) and one in Group III (Other Interests) which have been unfilled since 23rd August 1974, and eight in Group II (Employees) which have been unfilled since the United Kingdom's accession to the EEC. Several organisations and individuals have made proposals about nominations to the Committee. The Government's view remains that it is not appropriate at present to consider the nomination of new members to fill the vacancies.