HC Deb 16 January 1978 vol 942 cc25-6W
Mr. Marten

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions in 1977 a Treasury Minister attended a Council of Ministers meeting in the EEC; and on how many occasions an oral statement was made by a Treasury Minister in the House of Commons after such meetings.

Mr. Joel Barnett

In 1977 Treasury Ministers attended eight meetings of the Finance Council, one meeting of the Fiscal Council, two meetings of the Budget Council and three meetings of the Joint Foreign/Finance Council. Written statements were made to Parliament after two meetings of the Finance Council, the two Budget Councils and one of the Joint Council meetings; an oral statement was made by the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, after another of the Joint Council meetings.