§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many times his Department was represented at EEC Council of Ministers meetings in 1975; and how many times in 1976 to the nearest available date;
(2) how many times his Department has been represented at EEC Council of Ministers meetings when that body has been discussing the common fisheries policy; and at what level was the Ministerial representations at these meetings.
§ Mr. HattersleyUnited Kingdom Ministers attending meetings of the Council of Ministers represent Her Majesty's Government as a whole. Details of ministerial attendance at Council meetings between 1st January and 30th October 1975 were published in the White Paper on Developments in the European Communities, April-October 1975 (Cmnd. 217W 6349). Information on attendances to the end of April 1976 will appear in the next report on Developments in the European Communities, which is expected to be published soon.
§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish details showing the number of EEC Council of Ministers meetings held in March and April of this year, the subjects covered, the major policy decisions taken, if any, the Minister who led the United Kingdom delegation, other Ministers in attendance and the Scottish Office Departments represented by civil servants.
§ Mr. HattersleyThe details of the meetings and the Ministers who attended are given below. The subjects covered were broadly in line with the forecasts of Council business deposited in the House and my statements on 25th February and 24th March. Particulars of major policy decisions taken by the Council are included in statements to the House. Statements were made on 8th March and 3rd May on the Agricultural Councils of 2nd to 6th March and 29th April respectively and on 3rd May on the Development Council. Scottish Office officials were included in the United Kingdom delegation to the Agricultural Council on 2nd to 6th March and the Foreign Affairs Council on 6th April.
1st/2nd March
Foreign Affairs: Right hon. James Callaghan MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
Right hon. Peter Shore MP, Secretary of State for Trade.
2nd/6th March
Agriculture: Right hon. Fred Peart MP, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
Right hon. John Morris QC MP, Secretary of State for Wales.
15th March
FinanceRight hon. Dennis Healey MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer.
25th March
Energy: Right hon. Anthony Wedgwood Benn MP, Secretary of State for Energy.
Mr. John Smith MP. Minister of State, Department of Energy.
5th April
Joint Foreign Affairs/FinanceRight hon. Roy Hattersley MP, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
218WRight hon. Joel Barnett MP, Chief Secretary, Treasury.
Mr. John Tomlinson MP, Under Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
5th /6th April
Agriculture: Right hon. Fred Peart MP, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
6th April
Foreign Affairs: Right hon. William Ross MP, Secretary of State for Scotland.
Right hon. Roy Hattersley MP, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
Right hon. Joel Barnett MP, Chief Secretary, Treasury.
Mr. John Tomlinson MP, Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
8th April
Development: Mr. John Grant M Parliamentary Secretary Ministry of Overseas Development.
29th April
Agriculture:Right hon. Fred Peart Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
30th April
Social Affairs: Mr. John Grant MP, Under-Secretary of State for Employment.