§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what would be the average population per representative in the European Parliament for each member State if the allocation proposals outlined in paragraph 16 of Command Paper No. 6399 were adopted.
§ Mr. HattersleyBased on the 1973 population figures which were used by the European Assembly in preparing its proposals on direct elections, the approximate figures would be:
671W
Belgium 422,000 Denmark 294,000 Germany 869,000 France 795,000 Ireland 231,000 Italy 823,000 Luxembourg 58,000 Netherlands 493,000 United Kingdom 833,000
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his colleagues in the EEC relative to those persons standing for election to the European Parliament who may also be members of the Welsh and Scottish National Assemblies.
§ Mr. HattersleyI see no need for discussion of this point in the Community. The question of eligibility for election to the European Assembly is dealt with in paragraphs 26 and 36 of the Green Paper (Cmnd. 6399).
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many seats in a European
672WAssembly Wales would have under the draft Convention proposals of the Assembly (a) as part of the United Kingdom, and (b) as a separate self-governing State.
§ Mr. HattersleyThe Assembly's proposal is one of a number which have been put forward for the distribution of seats between the member States. After agreement has been reached in the Community it will be for national decision how the seats allocated to the United Kingdom should be distributed. In considering these arrangements there can be no question of envisaging the break up of the United Kingdom or of any other member State.