HC Deb 04 March 1976 vol 906 cc753-4W
Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the average population per representative in the European Parliament for each of the nine States represented there at present.

Mr. Hattersley

Based on the 1973 population figures which were used by the European Assembly in preparing its proposals for direct elections, the approximate figures are:

Belgium … 693,000
Denmark … 500,000
Germany … 1,714,000
France … 1,436,000
Ireland … 300,000
Italy … 1,508,000
Luxembourg … 58,000
Netherlands … 950,000
United Kingdom 1,550,000