§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes are proposed in the Treaty, signed in Brussels on 22nd July, concerning the procedures related to the EEC Budget; if this requires amendments to the Treaty of Rome; and by what means he proposes to place any such amendments before the House of Commons.
§ Mr. HattersleyThe Treaty provides for the establishment of a Community Audit Court. It will also have the effect of correcting certain anomalies in the existing budgetary procedures; granting the Assembly in certain circumstances the power to reject the draft budget as a whole and to ask for a new draft; and providing for the Assembly to give a discharge to the Commission in respect of the implementation of the Budget. These changes are expressed as amendments to the Community Treaties. The full text of the Treaty was laid before the House of 21st October under the normal procedures as a White Paper—Cmnd. 6252—and it will be subject to the Affirmative Resolution procedure provided for in Section 1(3) of the European Communities Act.