Mr. John David Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who represented the Northern Ireland Office at the meeting in London on 24 April with a delegation from the European Parliament about European institutions; and if he will make a statement on the views expressed by the Northern Ireland Office representative on the proposals for (a) European union, (b) United Kingdom membership of the European monetary system, (c) a reduced role for the use of the national veto in decisions by the European Economic Community Council of Ministers and (d) the suggested Inter-Governmental Conference for a new European Economic Community treaty and reformed institutions.
§ Mr. HurdMy right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, assisted by my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind), received the delegation and gave the views of the Government as a whole on the specific matters referred to, which have been explained in the House on several occasions recently. My Department was not separately represented at the meeting.