§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Energy pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy, Official Report, 2 December, column 544, whether he received an invitation to meet the European Parliament Energy, Research and Technology Committee in November or December in the current year; whether he has recently received any communication from the chairman of that Committee, Mr. Poniatowski; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerI was invited to meet the Energy, Research and Technology Committee on 15 or 16 December. Neither date was feasible. I have commitments in this House on 15 December, and am travelling to the Soviet Union on 16 December at the invitation of the Soviet Government. Alternative dates were suggested to the Committee but these were unacceptable. My right honourable Friend the Minister of State for Energy offered to appear before the Committee in my stead but this was also refused. Following this the chairman of the Committee indicated that he did not wish to proceed with a meeting.